Arsenic in Drinking Water: Impact on Human Health

Research Article| April 01, 2006 Arsenic in Drinking Water: Impact on Human Health Claudia Hopenhayn Claudia Hopenhayn 1College of Public Health, University of Kentucky 2365 Harrodsburg Rd, Suite 100 Lexington, KY 40504, USA E-mail: cmhope0@uky.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Claudia Hopenhayn 1College of Public Health, University of Kentucky 2365 Harrodsburg Rd, Suite 100 Lexington, KY 40504, USA E-mail: cmhope0@uky.edu Publisher: Mineralogical Society of America First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1811-5217 Print ISSN: 1811-5209 © 2006 by the Mineralogical Society of America Elements (2006) 2 (2): 103–107. https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.2.2.103 Article history First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Claudia Hopenhayn; Arsenic in Drinking Water: Impact on Human Health. Elements 2006;; 2 (2): 103–107. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.2.2.103 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyElements Search Advanced Search Abstract In terms of its impact on human health, arsenic is unique in that most of the evidence linking it to diseases comes from epidemiological work; animal studies have not provided good models. It is also unique in causing a large number of different damaging effects and, as more studies are conducted, more such effects are found. To date, we know that arsenic from drinking water can cause severe skin diseases including skin cancer; lung, bladder, and kidney cancers, and perhaps other internal tumors; peripheral vascular disease; hypertension; and diabetes. It also seems to have a negative impact on reproductive processes (infant mortality and weight of newborn babies). The toxicology of arsenic involves mechanisms that are still not completely understood, but it is clear that a number of factors can affect both individual and population-level susceptibility to the toxic effects of arsenic-contaminated drinking water. Current research is addressing some of these, including genetic susceptibility and lifestyle factors that may increase arsenic's toxic effects, such as smoking, diet, and concurrent exposure to other substances. The reversibility of some effects upon cessation of exposure is also being investigated. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.