The content of elements in rainwater and its relation to the frequency of hospitalization for gastric and duodenal peptic ulcers in Opole Voivodship, Poland, during 2000-2002.

The relationship between chemical elements in rainwater and the frequency of hospitalizations for gastric and duodenal peptic ulcers was studied on the population of the province (Voivodship) of Opole, Poland, during the years 2000-2002. There is a high positive correlation between hospitalized cases of gastric peptic ulcers with chromium in rainwater (r = 0.71), cadmium (r = 0.63), and lead (r = 0.70). Mild positive correlations were found with zinc (r = 0.55), copper (r = 0.56), iron (r = 0.57), chloride (r = 0.60), and sulfate (r = 0.52). These correlations were higher on men, suggesting that there are gender correlations involved. In duodenal peptic ulcers, we observed a high positive correlation between chromium in rainwater and hospitalized cases (r = 0.61) and mild positive correlations with lead (r = 0.57), copper (r = 0.52), and cadmium (r = 0.51). Significant gender differences were not found. These positive correlations may be due to the biological activity of the elements, such as their cytotoxic activity, enhanced local adrenergic stimulation on mucosal vasculature, ion channel (mainly calcium channels) remodeling, and, for example promoting infection by Helicobacter pylori.