Increased Mortality from Lung Cancer and Bronchiectasis in Young Adultsafter Exposure to Arsenic in Utero and in Early Childhood

Abstract

Arsenic in drinking water is an established cause of lung cancer, and preliminary evidence suggests that ingested arsenic may also cause nonmalignant lung disease. Antofagasta is the second largest city in Chile and had a distinct period of very high arsenic exposure that began in 1958 and lasted until 1971, when an arsenic removal plant was installed. This unique exposure scenario provides a rare opportunity to investigate the long-term mortality impact of early-life arsenic exposure. In this study, we compared mortality rates in Antofagasta in the period 1989–2000 with those of the rest of Chile, focusing on subjects who were born during or just before the peak exposure period and who were 30–49 years of age at the time of death. For the birth cohort born just before the high-exposure period (1950–1957) and exposed in early childhood, the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for lung cancer was 7.0 [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.4–8.9; p < 0.001] and the SMR for bronchiectasis was 12.4 (95% CI, 3.3–31.7; p < 0.001). For those born during the high-exposure period (1958–1970) with probable exposure in utero and early childhood, the corresponding SMRs were 6.1 (95% CI, 3.5–9.9; p < 0.001) for lung cancer and 46.2 (95% CI, 21.1–87.7; p < 0.001) for bronchiectasis. These findings suggest that exposure to arsenic in drinking water during early childhood or in utero has pronounced pulmonary effects, greatly increasing subsequent mortality in young adults from both malignant and nonmalignant lung disease.

Cancer excess after arsenic exposure from contaminated milk powder

“…In contrast, we did not find an increased risk of lung and bladder/kidney cancers otherwise shown to be associated with chronic arsenic exposure [2,3] or early-life arsenic exposure [20]. The lack of association might be derived from dilution in a population less than 53 years of age, or the effects of intensive follow-up of affected patients, where early detection may concentrate on lung and bladder/kidney cancers, which might lead to better prognosis (since these cancers are suspected effects of arsenic).…”

Inuteroarsenic exposure and epigenome-wide associations in placenta, umbilical artery, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells

“…[8][9][10] Furthermore, exposure to high levels of arsenic in utero is associated with higher risk of respiratory diseases, including bronchiolitis and lung cancer. 11,12 Lastly, latent adverse neurological health outcomes have also been documented with maternal exposure to arsenic during pregnancy. 13,14 The exact molecular mechanisms of the toxicological effects attributed to arsenic exposure remains elusive and no single mechanism has been identified in the development of arsenic associated diseases and the observed latency of health effects.…”

Poisoning the mind: Arsenic contamination of drinking water wells and children's educational achievement in rural Bangladesh

“…There is evidence that chronic arsenic exposure causes adverse pregnancy outcomes in terms of spontaneous abortion, still birth and pre-term birth rates (Ahmad et al, 2001;Ehrenstein et al, 2006). Smith et al (2006) find significant increases in mortality from lung cancer and bronchiectasis in persons with probable exposure to high concentrations of arsenic in drinking water in early childhood. For various reasons, arsenic exposure is a public health concern for children and infants as well.…”