Review of Cancer Risk from Arsenic in Drinking Water
Author Information
Author(s): Gibb Herman, Haver Cary, Gaylor David, Ramasamy Santhini, Lee Janice S., Lobdell Danelle, Wade Timothy, Chen Chao, White Paul, Sams Reeder
Primary Institution: Tetra Tech Sciences
Hypothesis
Are recent studies consistent with the NRC's assessment of cancer risk from low concentrations of arsenic in drinking water?
Conclusion
Recent studies suggest that lung and bladder cancer risks may increase at arsenic concentrations below 100 μg/L, but many studies lack the statistical power to confirm this.
Supporting Evidence
- Fourteen epidemiologic studies were identified as potentially useful for the analysis.
- Recent studies indicate increased cancer risks at arsenic concentrations < 100 μg/L.
- Sample sizes needed to detect cancer risks are large, making it difficult to validate NRC estimates.
- Synergistic effects of arsenic and smoking were noted in several studies.
- Data from Taiwan provide the best basis for quantitative risk assessment of arsenic-related cancers.
Takeaway
This study looks at how drinking water with arsenic might cause cancer, especially in the lungs and bladder, and finds that more research is needed to understand the risks.
Methodology
The authors reviewed epidemiologic studies published from 2001 to September 2010 that assessed lung and bladder cancer risks from low arsenic exposure in drinking water.
Potential Biases
Exposure misclassification may have reduced the ability to detect true associations between arsenic exposure and cancer risk.
Limitations
Many studies had small sample sizes and were unable to detect the NRC-estimated cancer risks due to short exposure durations and potential exposure misclassification.
Participant Demographics
The studies included diverse populations from various regions, including Taiwan, Denmark, Argentina, and the USA.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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