Smith A H, Hopenhayn-Rich C, Bates M N, Goeden H M, Hertz-Picciotto I, Duggan H M, Wood R, Kosnett M J, Smith M T
Department of Biomedical and Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
Environ Health Perspect. 1992 Jul;97:259-67. doi: 10.1289/ehp.9297259.
Ingestion of arsenic, both from water supplies and medicinal preparations, is known to cause skin cancer. The evidence assessed here indicates that arsenic can also cause liver, lung, kidney, and bladder cancer and that the population cancer risks due to arsenic in U.S. water supplies may be comparable to those from environmental tobacco smoke and radon in homes. Large population studies in an area of Taiwan with high arsenic levels in well water (170-800 micrograms/L) were used to establish dose-response relationships between cancer risks and the concentration of inorganic arsenic naturally present in water supplies. It was estimated that at the current EPA standard of 50 micrograms/L, the lifetime risk of dying from cancer of the liver, lung, kidney, or bladder from drinking 1 L/day of water could be as high as 13 per 1000 persons. It has been estimated that more than 350,000 people in the United States may be supplied with water containing more than 50 micrograms/L arsenic, and more than 2.5 million people may be supplied with water with levels above 25 micrograms/L. For average arsenic levels and water consumption patterns in the United States, the risk estimate was around 1/1000. Although further research is needed to validate these findings, measures to reduce arsenic levels in water supplies should be considered.
已知从供水系统和药物制剂中摄入砷会导致皮肤癌。此处评估的证据表明，砷还会引发肝癌、肺癌、肾癌和膀胱癌，而且美国供水系统中的砷所导致的人群癌症风险可能与家庭环境中的烟草烟雾和氡气所造成的风险相当。在台湾某井水砷含量较高（170 - 800微克/升）的地区开展了大规模人群研究，以确定癌症风险与供水系统中天然存在的无机砷浓度之间的剂量反应关系。据估计，按照美国环境保护局目前50微克/升的标准，每天饮用1升水，死于肝癌、肺癌、肾癌或膀胱癌的终生风险可能高达千分之十三。据估计，美国可能有超过35万人的供水含砷量超过50微克/升，超过250万人的供水含砷量高于25微克/升。就美国的平均砷含量和用水模式而言，风险估计约为千分之一。尽管需要进一步研究来验证这些发现，但应考虑采取措施降低供水系统中的砷含量。
