Abstract
In order to compare risk of various internal organ cancers induced by ingested inorganic arsenic and to assess the differences in risk between males and females, cancer potency indices were calculated using mortality rates among residents in an endemic area of chronic arsenicism on the southwest coast of Taiwan, and the Armitage-Doll multistage model. Based on a total of 898,806 person-years as well as 202 liver cancer, 304 lung cancer, 202 bladder cancer and 64 kidney cancer deaths, a significant dose-response relationship was observed between arsenic level in drinking water and mortality of the cancers. The potency index of developing cancer of the liver, lung, bladder and kidney due to an intake of 10 micrograms kg day of arsenic was estimated as 4.3 x 10(-3), 1.2 x 10(-2), 1.2 x 10(-2), and 4.2 x 10(-3), respectively, for males; as well as 3.6 x 10(-3), 1.3 x 10(-2), 1.7 x 10(-2), and 4.8 x 10(-3), respectively, for females in the study area. The multiplicity of inorganic arsenic-induced carcinogenicity without showing any organotropism deserves further investigation.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, CJ., Chen, C., Wu, MM. et al. Cancer potential in liver, lung, bladder and kidney due to ingested inorganic arsenic in drinking water. Br J Cancer 66, 888–892 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1992.380
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1992.380
This article is cited by
-
Bifunctional protein ArsRM contributes to arsenite methylation and resistance in Brevundimonas sp. M20
BMC Microbiology (2023)
-
Assessment of heavy metal contamination in street dust: concentrations, bioaccessibility, and human health risks in coal mine and thermal power plant complex
Environmental Geochemistry and Health (2023)
-
Risk of urinary tract cancers following arsenic exposure and tobacco smoking: a review
Environmental Geochemistry and Health (2023)
-
Risk perceptions of drinking bottled vs. tap water in a low-income community on the US-Mexico Border
BMC Public Health (2022)
-
Arsenic exposure in Indo Gangetic plains of Bihar causing increased cancer risk
Scientific Reports (2021)