Mortality for certain diseases in areas with high levels of arsenic in drinking water

Blackfoot disease was prevalent in a limited area on the southwest coast of Taiwan, where artesian well water containing arsenic (median = 0.78 ppm ar senic) had been used for many years. Previous studies of arsenic exposure i n the blackfoot disease endemic area have been focused on malignant tumors. We, therefore, conducted this study to analyze mortality of all death caus es in blackfoot disease endemic areas and to determine other neglected canc ers or noncancer diseases related to artesian well water containing high le vels of arsenic. We calculated standardized mortality ratios for cancer and noncancer diseases, by sex, during the period from 1971 to 1994 and compar ed them to the local reference group (i.e, Chiayi-Tainan County) and the na tional reference group (i.e., Taiwan population). The results revealed mark ed standardized mortality ratio differences for the 2 reference groups. Gre ater mortality was found for males and females with bladder, kidney, skin, lung, nasal-cavity, bone, liver, larynx, colon, and stomach cancers, as wel l as lymphoma than in the local reference population. With respect to nonca ncer diseases, we found greater mortality for males and females who had vas cular disease, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and bronchitis th an in the local reference group. Mortalities for other diseases-including r ectal cancer, cerebrovascular disease, and other diseases-were higher among cases than the local reference group. Our results indicated that the hazar dous effect of arsenic is systemic. Diseases related to arsenic exposure in cluded those reported previously by other investigators, as well as disease s reported in the present study.