RISK-FACTORS FOR EXPOSURE TO ARSENIC AT A HAZARDOUS-WASTE SITE

Communities surrounding the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA), a Superfund site in Colorado, were studied in order to determine whether exposures to arsenic were greater among persons who resided there than among re sidents of a comparison area. A census was conducted in areas adjacent to the RMA and in a comparison area 12-15 miles distant. From a strat ified random sample, 469 persons were interviewed and urine samples ob tained. Arsenic was detected in urine from 43 (9.2 %) of the 469 perso ns sampled at a detection limit of 10 ppb. Trace levels of arsenic (de tectable, but non-quantifiable) were found in 184 (39.2 %) of those pe rsons sampled. Neither the frequency of detection, the arithmetic mean nor the geometric mean values for urine arsenic was found to be stati stically different when persons living near the site were compared to persons from the more distant comparison area. Therefore, the data wer e pooled across the study areas to evaluate risk factors for exposure to arsenic in this population-based sample. Multivariate logistic regr ession analyses were conducted to evaluate the risk of arsenic exposur e associated with variables included in the interviews while controlli ng for confounding. Pathways for exposure to arsenic were evaluated th rough analysis of residence history, occupation, hobbies, dietary habi ts, water supply, housing and activity patterns. Children of Hispanic origin or non-white race, children who drank less than three glasses o f water daily, and children who spent more time outdoors had an increa sed risk of having greater-than-or-equal-to 10 ppb of arsenic in their urine. Among adults, younger persons, especially those less than 40 y ears of age, persons of Hispanic origin or nonwhite race, and those em ployed in occupations where arsenic is likely to be found had an incre ased risk of having greater-than-or-equal-to 10 ppb of urine arsenic. Consumption of red wine or fish during the week prior to sampling was associated with trace levels of arsenic in urine.