Fawell J K, Young W F
Water Research Centre, Marlow, Bucks, United Kingdom.
Ann Ist Super Sanita. 1993;29(2):313-6.
Both organic and inorganic contaminants which have been implicated in causing cancer in man or, more commonly, in laboratory animals can be found in drinking water. Apart from arsenic there are none for which there is convincing epidemiological evidence of a significant risk to man. However environmental epidemiology is fraught with difficulties. There are also difficulties in interpreting laboratory animal data and extrapolating this to the low concentrations found in drinking water although mathematical models can be very useful if used sensibly. There is a danger that the rather extreme public perception of cancer could lead to over regulation of some contaminants in water, possibly with an increase in risk from other hazards such as microbiological contamination.
在饮用水中可发现多种有机和无机污染物，它们被认为会导致人类患癌，或者更常见的是，导致实验动物患癌。除了砷之外，没有其他污染物有令人信服的流行病学证据表明会给人类带来重大风险。然而，环境流行病学充满了困难。在解释实验动物数据并将其外推至饮用水中的低浓度情况时也存在困难，不过如果合理使用，数学模型会非常有用。存在一种风险，即公众对癌症的极端认知可能导致对水中某些污染物的过度监管，这可能会增加来自其他危害（如微生物污染）的风险。
