Reduction in urinary arsenic with bottled-water intervention

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Toxicology
• Public Health

Background:

• Arsenic exposure from drinking water is a significant public health concern.
• High arsenic levels in tap water were previously documented in Ajo, Arizona.
• Arsenic exposure can lead to various adverse health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of providing bottled water in reducing arsenic exposure.
• To compare arsenic levels in urine and toenails before and after an intervention.
• To assess the impact of arsenic reduction on biomarkers of exposure.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study involving non-smoking adults in Ajo and Tucson, Arizona.
• Collection of urine, tap water, and toenail samples for arsenic analysis.
• Intervention group in Ajo received bottled water for 12 months.

Main Results:

• Tap water in Ajo had significantly higher arsenic levels (20.3 microg/L) than in Tucson (4.0 microg/L).
• Baseline urinary inorganic arsenic was significantly higher in Ajo residents compared to Tucson residents.
• After 12 months of bottled water consumption, urinary inorganic arsenic in Ajo decreased by 21% (p=0.026).

Conclusions:

• Provision of arsenic-free bottled water led to a modest reduction in urinary total inorganic arsenic.
• The intervention did not significantly alter creatinine-adjusted urinary arsenic or toenail arsenic levels.
• Bottled water can be an effective strategy for reducing arsenic exposure from contaminated drinking water sources.