SEMINAR ON WORLD WIDE DANGER OF ARSENIC

POISONING IN WATER AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

ORGANIZED BYACADEMY OF HEALTHY WATER, ECOSYSTEM AND ENVIRONMENT

DERBY, KANSAS, USA

CANCER RISKS FROM ARSENIC IN DRINKING WATER

Environmental exposures

Cancer risks: Tobacco smokeRadon in homesArsenic

Lifetime risks of dying from cancer due to environmental exposures

Tobacco smoke: Low exposure = 4/1000 High exposure = 10/1000

Radon in homes: Average exposure = 3/1000 High exposure = 20/1000

Arsenic in drinking water: U.S. estimated average =

1/1000 U.S. water standard =

21/1000

ARSINIC Organic form Inorganic forms

More toxic

Drinking water contaminated with

Arsenic Skin Lung Liver Kidney Other organs

SKIN CANCER First described in 1888 in patients

treated with arsenical mixtures for skin conditions

Arsenic from water supplies and drugs is known to cause skin cancer

Prevalence among highly exposed males aged >60 reached 25%

Liver cancer Liver Cancer

Angiosarcoma Supported by a series of

case reportsWinegrowers in GermanyTaiwan

Lung Cancer Ingestion:

Water supplies Comparable to tobacco smoke and radon

Inhalation: Smelters

Kidney and Bladder Cancer

There is a clear relationship between arsenic water levels and bladder and kidney cancer

CONCLUSION Results from epidemiological studies,

showed persuasive evidence that inorganic arsenic is a cause of human cancer at several sites.

There is strong evidence supporting a causal relationship between ingested arsenic and cancer of skin, liver, lung cancer.

There is some evidence from Taiwan supporting a causal relationship between ingested arsenic and cancer of kidney and bladder cancer.

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Is Arsenic Useful?

Industry Medicine

Leukemia (Arsenic Trioxide, Trisenox)

Autoimmune diseases