MARKED INCREASE IN BLADDER AND LUNG-CANCER MORTALITY IN A REGION OF NORTHERN CHILE DUE TO ARSENIC IN DRINKING-WATER

Studies in Taiwan and Argentina suggest that ingestion of inorganic ar senic from drinking water results in increased risks of internal cance rs, particularly bladder and lung cancer. The authors investigated can cer mortality in a population of around 400,000 people in a region of Northern Chile (Region II) exposed to high arsenic levels in drinking water in past years. Arsenic concentrations from 1950 to the present w ere obtained. Population-weighted average arsenic levels reached 570 m u g/liter between 1955 to 1969, and decreased to less than 100 mu g/li ter by 1980. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated for the years 1989 to 1993. Increased mortality was found for bladder, lun g, kidney, and skin cancer. Bladder cancer mortality was markedly elev ated (men, SMR = 6.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.8-7.4); women, SM R = 8.2 (95% CI 6.3-10.5)) as was lung cancer mortality (men, SMR = 3. 8 (95% CI 3.5-4.1); women, SMR = 3.1 (95% CI 2.7-3.7)). Smoking survey data and mortality rates from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease p rovided evidence that smoking did not contribute to the increased mort ality from these cancers. The findings provide additional evidence tha t ingestion of inorganic arsenic in drinking water is indeed a cause o f bladder and lung cancer. It was estimated that arsenic might account for 7% of all deaths among those aged 30 years and over. If so, the i mpact of arsenic on the population mortality in Region II of Chile is greater than that reported anywhere to date from environmental exposur e to a carcinogen in a major population.