Uncertainty in cancer risk at low doses of inorganic arsenic |
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| Authors: | Kenneth G Brown How‐Ran Guo Howard L Greene |
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| Institution: | 1. Kenneth G. Brown Inc. , P. O. Box 16608, Chapel Hill, NC, 27516 Phone: (919) 408–8067 Fax: (919) 408–8067 E-mail: KBInc@mindspring.com;2. Department of Environmental Health , University of Cincinnati , OH;3. Atlantic Richfield Company , Los Angeles, CA |
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| Abstract: | It is unknown whether inorganic arsenic in drinking water concentrations at the current maximum contaminant level of 50 μg/1 poses a cancer risk in the United States. Data from two large epidemiological studies of cancer and arsenic in drinking water in Taiwan indicate a dose‐response relationship, but the magnitude of risk at low concentrations is highly uncertain. Four sources of uncertainty are described: model choice, data aggregation, intra‐village variability of arsenic in well water, arsenic intake from food. New data from an appropriately designed epidemiological study are needed to improve dose‐response assessment. |
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| Keywords: | arsenic skin cancer drinking water Taiwan |
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