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Risk of internal cancers from arsenic in drinking water
1Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Environmental Health Perspectives
|July 21, 2000
Summary
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should lower the arsenic in drinking water standard. Current levels pose a significant cancer risk, particularly for bladder, liver, and lung cancers, indicating the 50 microg/L limit is not protective.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is mandated to revise the national standard for arsenic in drinking water.
- Arsenic exposure through drinking water is a known risk factor for various cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a risk assessment for bladder, liver, and lung cancers associated with arsenic exposure in drinking water.
- To evaluate the adequacy of the current EPA standard of 50 microg/L.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 42 villages in an arseniasis-endemic region of Taiwan.
- Employed generalized linear models and the multistage-Weibull model to estimate excess lifetime cancer risks.
- Assessed sensitivity of risk estimates to model choice and comparison population selection.
Main Results:
- Cancer risk estimates varied based on the chosen statistical model and the definition of the comparison population.
- Quantitative evaluation of factors like data ecologic nature, nutritional status, and dietary arsenic intake was not possible.
- The analysis indicates that the current 50 microg/L standard is linked to substantial cancer risk.
Conclusions:
- The current U.S. drinking water standard for arsenic is not sufficiently protective of public health.
- A revised, lower standard is necessary to mitigate significant cancer risks from arsenic exposure.