Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Research
  • Published:

House dust and inorganic urinary arsenic in two Arizona mining towns

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 13, pages 211–218 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Residents of copper mining and smelting towns may have increased risk of arsenic exposure from elevated arsenic contained in environmental media. To determine the relation of arsenic in house dust to inorganic urinary arsenic concentrations, a door-to-door survey was conducted in Hayden and Winkelman, Arizona. A total of 122 households (404 individuals) participated; 85 provided dust samples. Urine was collected at first morning void and analyzed for total and speciated arsenic. Speciation of arsenic was performed in samples with total arsenic above 10 μg/l (N=106). The generalized estimating equation was used to determine the relation between urinary and house dust arsenic concentrations, allowing adjustment for the correlation of measurements obtained from the same home. Seafood consumption during the past 3 days and smoking contributed significantly to inorganic urinary arsenic, after adjusting for age and gender. Arsenic in house dust was not significantly associated with inorganic urinary arsenic measurements in this population.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological Profile for Arsenic. US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, TP-92/02, 1993, pp. 5,105.

  • Baker E.L., Hayds C.G., Landrigan P.J., Handke J.L., Leger R.T., and Housworth W.J. A nationwide survey of heavy metal absorption in children living near primary copper, lead, and zinc smelters. Am J Epidemiol 1977: 106: 261–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bates M.N., Smith A.H., and Cantor K.P. Case-control study of bladder cancer and arsenic in drinking water. Am J Epidemiol 1995: 141: 523–530.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bates M.A., Smith A.H., and Hopenhayn-Rich C. Arsenic ingestion and internal cancers: a review. Am J Epidemiol 1992: 135: 462–474.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Binder S., Forney D., Kaye W., and Paschal D. Arsenic exposure in children living near a former copper smelter. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 1987: 39: 114–121.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blot W.J., and Fraumeni J.F. Arsenical air pollution and lung cancer. Lancet 1975: 2: 142–144.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buchet J.P., Lauwerys R., and Roels H. Urinary excretion of inorganic arsenic and its metabolites after repeated ingestion of sodium metaarsenite by volunteers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1981: 48: 111–118.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US Bureau of the Census (Census). Census Lookup. 1990 http:www.venus.census.gov (cited 24 April 2001).

  • Chen C.J., Chen C.W., Wu M.M., and Kuo T.L. Cancer potential in liver, lung, bladder and kidney due to ingested inorganic arsenic in drinking water. Br J Cancer 1992: 66: 888–892.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen C.J., Chuang Y.C., Lin T.M., and Wu H.Y. Malignant neoplasms among residents of a blackfoot disease-endemic area in Taiwan: high arsenic artesian well water and cancers. Cancer Res 1985: 45: 5895–5899.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen C.J., Chuang Y.C., You S.L., Lin T.M., and Wu H.Y. A retrospective study on malignant neoplasms of bladder, lung and liver in blackfoot disease endemic area in Taiwan. B J Cancer 1986: 53: 399–405.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crecelius E.A. Changes in the chemical speciation of arsenic following ingestion by man. Environ Health Perspect 1977: 19: 147–150.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz-Barriga F., Batres L., Calderon J., Lugo A., Galvao L., Lara I., Rizo P., Arroyave M.E., and McConnell R. The El Paso smelter 20 years later: residual impact on Mexican children. Environ Res 1997: 74: 11–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greaves W.W., Rom W.N., Lyone J.L., Varley G., Wright D.D., and Chiu G. Relationship between lung cancer and distance of residence from nonferrous smelter stack effluent. Am J Ind Med 1981: 2: 15–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartwell T.D., Handy R.W., Harris B.S., Williams S.R., and Gehlbach S.H. Heavy metal exposure in populations living around zinc and copper smelters. Arch of Environ Health 1983: 38: 284–295.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes J.P., Polissar L., and VanBelle G. Evaluation and synthesis of health effects studies of communities surrounding arsenic producing industries. Int J Epidemiol 1988: 17: 407–413.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang Y.H., Bornschein R.L., Grote J., Menrath W., and Roda S. Environmental arsenic exposure of children around a former copper smelter site. Environ Res 1997: 72: 72–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jarup L., and Pershagen G. Arsenic exposure, smoking, and lung cancer in smelter workers: a case–conrol study. Am J Epidemiol 1991: 134: 545–551.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee-Feldstein A. Arsenic and respiratory cancer in humans: follow-up of copper smelter employees in Montana. J Natl Cancer Inst 1983: 70: 601–609.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh G.M., Stone R.A., Esmen N.A., Gula M.J., Gause C.K., Petersen N.J., Meaney F.J., Rodney S., and Prysylsk D. A case–control study of lung cancer mortality in four rural Arizona smelter towns. Arch Environ Health 1998: 53: 15–28.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Milham S., and Strong T. Human arsenic exposure in relation to a copper smelter. Environ Res 1974: 7: 176–182.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morton W., Starr G., Pohl D., Stoner J., Wagner S., and Weswig P. Skin cancer and water arsenic in Lane County, Oregon. Cancer 1976: 37: 2523–2532.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pershagen G. Lung cancer mortality among men living near an arsenic-emitting smelter. Am J Epidemiol 1985: 122: 684–694.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pershagen G., Elinder C.G., and Bolander A.M. Mortality in a region surrounding an arsenic emitting plant. Environ Health Perspect 1977: 19: 133–137.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto S.S., Varmer M.O., Nelson K.W., Labbe A.L., and White L.D. Arsenic trioxide absorption and excretion in industry. J Occup Med 1976: 18: 677–680.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pollisar L., Lowry-Coble K., Kalman D.A., Hughes J.P., vanBelle G., Covert D.S., Burbacher T.M., Blogiano D., and Mottet N.K. Pathways of human exposure to arsenic in a community surrounding a copper smelter. Environ Res 1990: 53: 29–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rom W.N., Varley G., Lyon J.L., and Shopkow S. Lung cancer mortality among residents living near the El Paso smelter. Br J Ind Med 1982: 39: 269–272.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Smith A.H., Goycolea M., Hague R., and Briggs M.L. Marked increase in bladder and lung cancer mortality in a region of northern Chile due to arsenic in drinking water. Am J Epidemiol 1998: 147: 660–669.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith T.J., Crecelius E.A., and Reading J.C. Airborne arsenic exposure and excretion of methylated arsenic compounds. Environ Health Perspect 1977: 19: 89–93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tam G.K.H., Bryce C.F., Pomroy C., and Sandi E. Metabolism of inorganic arsenic (74As) in humans following oral ingestion. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1979: 50: 319–322.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tondel M., Rahman M., Magnunson A., Chowdhury I.A., Faruguee M.H., and Ahmad S.A. The relationship of arsenic levels in drinking water and the prevalence rate of skin lesions in Bangladesh. Environ Health Perspect 1999: 107: 727–729.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng W. Effects and dose–response relationships of skin cancer and blackfoot disease with arsenic. Environ Health Perspect 1977: 19: 109–119.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng W.P., Chu H.M., How S.W., Fong J.M., Lin C.S., and Yeh S. Prevalence of skin cancer in an endemic area of chronic arsenicism in Taiwan. J Natl Cancer Inst 1968: 40: 453–463.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to my advisors and thesis committee members Drs. Mary Kay O'Rourke, Jeff Burgess, Robin Harris, and Michael Lebowitz. I would also like to recognize the field crew and lab coordinator without whom this work would not have been possible: Carmelita Grobowski, Octovio Bojorguez, Mari Bartlett, and Holli Robely. Thanks also to Seumas Rogan for all his help and guidance. Lastly, a much deserved thank you to the residents of Hayden and Winkelman, who allowed me to carry out this study in their homes. This study was conducted under Arizona Department of Health Services Contract #952027.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. California Air Resources Board, PO Box 2815, 1001 I. St., Sacramento, 95812, California, USA

    Tracy A Hysong

  2. Department of Community and Environmental Health Practice and Policy, College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    Jefferey L Burgess & Mary Kay O'Rourke

  3. Departamento De Farmacologia y Toxicologia, Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico, DF

    Mariano E Cebrián Garcia

Authors
  1. Tracy A Hysong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jefferey L Burgess
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mariano E Cebrián Garcia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mary Kay O'Rourke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tracy A Hysong.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hysong, T., Burgess, J., Cebrián Garcia, M. et al. House dust and inorganic urinary arsenic in two Arizona mining towns. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 13, 211–218 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500272

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500272

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links