Arsenic Methylation and Skin Cancer Risk in Southwestern Taiwan

Abstract

Arsenic is a known carcinogen, but data are especially lacking on the health effects of low-level exposure, and on the health significance of methylation ability. We conducted a case-control study (76 cases and 224 controls from 1996 to 1999) in southwestern Taiwan to explore the association among primary and secondary arsenic methylation index (PMI and SMI, respectively), cumulative arsenic exposure (CAE), and the risk of skin cancer. As compared with the controls, the skin cancer group reported more sun exposure (P = 0.02) and had a lower BMI (P = 0.03), as well as lower education level (P = 0.01). Skin cancer patients and controls were similar with regard to age, gender, smoking and alcohol consumption. Given a low SMI (< or = 5), CAE > 15 mg/L-year was associated with an increased risk of skin cancer (OR, 7.48; 95% CI, 1.65-33.99) compared to a CAE < or = 2 mg/L-year. Given the same level of PMI, SMI, and CAE, men had a higher risk of skin cancer (OR, 4.04; 95% CI, 1.46-11.22) when compared to women. Subjects with low SMI and high CAE have a substantially increased risk of skin cancer. Males in all strata of arsenic exposure and methylation ability had a higher risk of skin cancer than women.

Urinary arsenic species, toenail arsenic, and arsenic intake estimates in a Michigan population with low levels of arsenic in drinking water

“…It is worth mentioning, however, that MMA has the highest correlation coefficient among the metabolites. MMA excretion has been associated with an increased risk of arsenic-related diseases such as bladder and skin cancer (Hopenhayn-Rich et al, 1996;Chen et al, 2003;Steinmaus et al, 2006). This information supports the hypothesis that arsenic drinking water concentrations are, to some extent, good surrogates of arsenic exposure, even in populations exposed to relatively low levels of arsenic in drinking water (o50 mg/l).…”

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use and risk of bladder cancer in the health professionals follow‐up study

“…2 Cigarette smoking, 4,5 occupational exposures to aromatic amines [6][7][8] and schistosomal infections 9,10 have been associated with risk of bladder cancer. Other environmental factors, including selenium intake, 8 chlorination by-products 11,12 and low dose arsenic levels in water sources, 13,14 have also been associated with bladder cancer, but are less well-established.…”

Accumulation of arsenic in plants from arsenic contaminated irrigation water

“…Arseniğin vücuda alınmasıyla birlikte çok farklı organlar etkilenmektedir (cilt, solunum, kalp ve damar, bağışıklık, genital ve üriner sistemler, üreme, sindirim sistemi ve sinir sistemi) [24], [40]. Yapılan çeşitli çalışmalar, havadaki arseniğin solunması ve içme suyu ile alınması neticesinde; insanlarda çeşitli deri lezyonlari, deri ve akciğer kanseri başta olmak üzere kanserojenik etkiler gösterdiğini kanıtlamıştır [16], [39], [41]- [43]. Kısa dönemde arseniğe maruz kalan insanlarda görülen sağlık problemleri: mide ağrısı, çiğnemede zorlanma, kusma, kan basıncında düşme, deri lezyonları, epilepsi (nöbet geçirme), pigmentasyon (cilt renginde koyulaşma), midebağırsak problemleridir.…”