Abstract
Worldwide chronic arsenic (As) toxicity has become a human health threat. Arsenic exposure to humans mainly occurs from the ingestion of As contaminated water and food. This communication presents a review of current research conducted on the adverse health effects on humans exposed to As-contaminated water. Chronic exposure of As via drinking water causes various types of skin lesions such as melanosis, leucomelanosis, and keratosis. Other manifestations include neurological effects, obstetric problems, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, diseases of the respiratory system and of blood vessels including cardiovascular, and cancers typically involving the skin, lung, and bladder. The skin seems to be quite susceptible to the effects of As. Arsenic-induced skin lesions seem to be the most common and initial symptoms of arsenicosis. More systematic studies are needed to determine the link between As exposure and its related cancer and noncancer end points.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahamed, S., Sengupta, M. K., Mukherjee, A., et al. (2006a). Arsenic groundwater contamination and its health effects in the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) in upper and middle Ganga plain, India: A severe danger. Science of the Total Environment, 370, 310–322.
Ahamed, S., Sengupta, M. K., Mukherjee, S. C., et al. (2006b). An eight year study report on arsenic contamination in groundwater and health effects in Eruani village, Bangladesh and an approach for its mitigation. Journal of health, population and Nutrition, 24, 129–141.
Ahmad, S. A., Sayed, M. H. S. U., Barua, S., et al. (2001). Arsenic in drinking water and pregnancy outcomes. Environmental Health Perspectives, 109, 629–631.
Ahsan, H., Perrin, M., Rahman, A., et al. (2000). Associations between drinking water and urinary arsenic levels and skin lesions in Bangladesh. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 42, 1195–1201.
Aschengrau, A., Zeiler, S., & Cohen, A. (1989). Quality of community drinking water and the occurrence of spontaneous abortion. Archives of Environmental Health, 44, 283–289.
Astolfi, E., Maccagno, A., Fernandez, J. C. G., et al. (1981). Relation between arsenic in drinking water and skin cancer. Biological Trace Element Research, 3, 133–143.
Basu, D., Dasgupta, J., Mukherjee, A., et al. (1996). Chronic neuropathy due to arsenic intoxication from geo-chemical source—a five year follow up. JANEI, 1, 45–47.
Bates, M. N., Smith, A. H., & Cantor, K. P. (1995). Case control study of bladder cancer and arsenic in drinking water. American Journal of Epidemiology, 141, 523–530.
Borgono, J. M., Vicent, P., Venturino, H., et al. (1977). Arsenic in the drinking water of the city of Antofagasta: Epidemiological and clinical study before and after the installation of a treatment plant. Environmental Health Perspectives, 19, 103–105.
Chakraborti, D., Biswas, B. K., Roy Chowdhury, T., et al. (1999). Arsenic groundwater contamination and sufferings of people in Rajnandangao, Madhya Pradesh, India. Current Science, 77, 502–504.
Chakraborti, D., Mukherjee, S. C., Pati, S., et al. (2003). Arsenic groundwater contamination in middle Ganga plain, Bihar, India: A future danger. Environmental Health Perspectives, 111, 1194–1201.
Chakraborti, D., Rahman, M. M., Paul, K., et al. (2002). Arsenic calamity in the Indian subcontinent—what lessons have been learned? Talanta, 58, 3–22.
Chakraborti, D., Sengupta, M. K., Rahman, M. M., et al. (2004). Groundwater arsenic contamination and its health effects in the Ganga–Meghna–Brahmaputra plain. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 6, 74–83.
Chakraborty, A. K., & Saha, K. C. (1987). Arsenical dermatosis from tubewell water in West Bengal. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 85, 326–334.
Chen, C. J., Chuang, Y. C., Lin, T. H., et al. (1985). Malignant neoplasms among residents of a blackfoot disease endemic area in Taiwan: High arsenic artesian well water and cancers. Cancer Research, 45, 5895–5899.
Chen, C. J., Hsueh, Y. M., Lai, M. S., et al. (1995). Increased prevalence of hypertension and long term arsenic exposure. Hypertension, 25, 53–60.
Chen, C. J., Wang, S. L., Chiou, J. M., et al. (2007). Arsenic and diabetes and hypertension in human populations: A review. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 222, 298–304.
Chiou, H. Y., Chiou, S. T., Hsu, Y. H., et al. (2001). Incidence of transitional cell carcinoma and arsenic in drinking water: A follow up study of 8102 residents in an arseniasis-endemic area in Northern Taiwan. American Journal of Epidemiology, 153, 411–418.
Chiou, H. Y., Huang, W. I., Su, C. L., et al. (1997). Dose response relation between prevalence of cerebrovascular diseases and ingested inorganic arsenic. Stroke, 28, 1717-1723.
Chowdhury, U. K., Biswas, B. K., Roychowdhury, T., et al. (2000). Groundwater arsenic contamination in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India. Environmental Health Perspectives, 108, 393–396.
Concha, G., Vogler, G., Lezcano, D., et al. (1998). Exposure to inorganic arsenic metabolites during early human development. Toxicological Sciences, 44, 185–190.
Coronado Gonzalez, J. A., Del Razo, L. M., Garcia-Vargas, G., et al. (2007). Inorganic arsenic exposure and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Mexico. Environmental Research, 104, 383–389.
Engel, R. R., & Smith, A. H. (1994). Arsenic in drinking water and mortality from vascular disease: An ecological analysis in 30 counties in the United States. Archives of Environmental Health, 49, 418–427.
Ferreccio, C., Gonzalez, C., Solari, J., et al. (2000). Lung cancer and arsenic concentrations in drinking water in Chile. Epidemiology, 11, 673–679.
Guha Mazumder, D. N., Chakraborty, A. K., Ghosh, A., et al. (1988). Chronic arsenic toxicity from drinking tubewell water in rural West Bengal. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 66, 499–506.
Guha Mazumder, D. N., Das Gupta, J., & Santra, A. (1997). Arsenic exposure and health effects. In C. O. Abernathy, R. L. Calderon, W. R. Chappell, et al. (Eds.), Non-cancer effects of chronic arsenicosis with special reference to liver damage (pp. 112–123). London: Chapman and Hall.
Guha Mazumder, D. N., Haque, R., Ghosh, N., et al. (1998). Arsenic levels in drinking water and the prevalence of skin lesions in West Bengal, India. International Journal of Epidemiology, 27, 871–877.
Guha Mazumder, D. N., Haque, R., Ghosh, N., et al. (2000). Arsenic in drinking water and the prevalence of respiratory effects in West Bengal, India. International Journal of Epidemiology, 29, 1047–1052.
Guo, X., Fujino, Y., Kaneko, S., et al. (2001). Arsenic contamination of groundwater and prevalence of arsenical dermatosis in the Hetao plain area, Inner Mongolia, China. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 222, 137–140.
Guo, J. X., Hu, L., Yand, P. Z., et al. (2007). Chronic arsenic poisoning in drinking water in Inner Mongolia and its associated health effects. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, 42, 1853–1858.
Guo, X., Liu, Z., Huang, C., et al. (2006). Levels of arsenic in drinking water and cutaneous lesions in Inner Mongolia. Journal of health, population and Nutrition, 24, 214–220.
Harrington, J. M., Middaugh, J. P., Morse, D. L., et al. (1978). A survey of a population exposed to high concentrations of arsenic in well water in Fairbanks, Alaska. American Journal of Epidemiology, 108, 377–385.
Hernandez-Zavala, A., Del Razo, L. M., Aguiler, C., et al. (1998). Alteration in bilirubin excretion in individuals chronically exposed to arsenic in Mexico. Toxicology Letters, 99, 79–84.
Hernandez-Zavala, A., Del Razo, L. M., Garcia-Vargas, G. G., et al. (1999). Alter activity of heme biosynthesis pathways enzymes in individuals chronically exposed to arsenic in Mexico. Archives of Toxicology, 73, 90–95.
Hopenhayn Rich, C., Browning, S. R., Hertz-Picciotto, I., et al. (2000). Chronic arsenic exposure and risk of infant mortality in two areas of Chile. Environmental Health Perspectives, 108, 667–673.
Hopenhayn-Rich, C., Biggs, M. L., & Smith, A. (1998). Lung and kidney cancer mortality associated with arsenic in drinking water in Cordoba, Argentina. International Journal of Epidemiology, 27, 561–569.
Hopenhayn Rich, C., Ferreccio, C., Browning, S. R., et al. (2003). Arsenic exposure from drinking water and birth weight. Epidemiology, 14, 593–602.
IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer). (2004). IARC monograph 84: Some drinking water disinfectants and contaminants including arsenic. Lyon: World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Islam, L. N., Nabi, A. H. M. N., Rahman, M. M., et al. (2007). Association of respiratory complications and elevated serum immunoglobulins with drinking water arsenic toxicity in human. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, 42, 1807–1814.
Kapaj, S., Peterson, H., Liber, K., et al. (2006). Human health effects from chronic arsenic poisoning—a review. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, 41, 2399–2428.
Kurttio, P., Pukkala, E., Kahelin, H., et al. (1999). Arsenic concentrations in well water and risk of bladder and kidney cancer in Finland. Environmental Health Perspectives, 107, 705–710.
Kwok, R. K., Kaufmann, R. B., & Jakariya, M. (2006). Arsenic in drinking water and reproductive health outcomes: A study of participants in the Bangladesh integrated nutrition programme. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 24, 190–205.
Lai, M. S., Hsueh, Y. M., Chen, C. J., et al. (1994). Ingested inorganic arsenic and prevalence of diabetes mellitus. American Journal of Epidemiology, 139, 484–492.
Lewis, D. R., Southwick, J. W., Ouellet-Hellstrom, R., et al. (1999). Drinking water arsenic in Utah: A cohort mortality study. Environmental Health Perspectives, 107, 359–365.
Mandal, B. K., & Suzuki, K. T. (2002). Arsenic round the world: A review. Talanta, 58, 201–235.
Michigan Department of Public Health. (1982). Arsenic in drinking water-A study of exposure and a clinical survey. Division of Environmental Epidemiology, Bureau of Disease Control and Laboratory Services. Environmental Health Statistics Unit, Technical Services Section, Office of Vital and Health Statistics, Department of Public Health, Lansing, Michigan.
Milton, A. H., Hasan, Z., Rahman, A., et al. (2001). Chronic arsenic poisoning and respiratory effects in Bangladesh. Journal of Occupational Health, 43, 136–140.
Milton, A. H., Hasan, Z., Rahman, A., et al. (2003). Non-cancer effects of chronic arsenicosis in Bangladesh: Preliminary results. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, 38, 301–305.
Milton, A. H., & Rahman, M. (2002). Respiratory effects and arsenic contaminated well water in Bangladesh. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 12, 175–179.
Milton, A. H., Smith, W., Rahman, B., et al. (2005). Chronic arsenic exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes in Bangladesh. Epidemiology, 16, 82–86.
Morton, W. E., & Dunnette, D. A. (1994). Health effects of environmental arsenic. In J. O. Nriagu (Ed.), Arsenic in the environment. Part II: Human health and ecosystem effects (pp. 17–34). New York: Wiley.
Mukherjee, S. C., Rahman, M. M., Chowdhury, U. K., et al. (2003). Neuropathy in arsenic toxicity from groundwater arsenic contamination in West Bengal-India. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, 38, 165–183.
Mukherjee, S. C., Saha, K. C., Pati, S., et al. (2005). Murshidabad—one of the nine arsenic-affected districts of West Bengal, India. Part II: Dermatological, neurological, and obstetric findings. Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology, 43, 835–848.
Naqvi, S. M., Vaishnavi, C., & Singh, H. (1994). Toxicity and metabolism of arsenic in vertebrates. In J. O. Nriagu (Ed.), Arsenic in the environment. Part II: Human health and ecosystem effects (pp. 55–92). New York: Wiley.
National Research Council (NRC). (1999). Arsenic in drinking water. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
National Research Council (NRC). (2001). Arsenic in drinking water—2001 update. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Ng, J. C., Wang, J., & Shraim, A. (2003). A global health problem caused by arsenic from natural sources. Chemosphere, 52, 1353–1359.
Ostrosky-Wegman, P., Gonsebatt, M. E., Montero, R., et al. (1991). Lymphocyte proliferation kinetics and genotoxic findings in a pilot study on individuals chronically exposed to arsenic in Mexico. Mutation Research, 250, 477–482.
Rahman, M. M., Chowdhury, U. K., Mukherjee, S. C., et al. (2001). Chronic arsenic toxicity in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India—a review and commentary. Clinical Toxicology, 39, 683–700.
Rahman, M. M., Sengupta, M. K., Ahamed, S., et al. (2005). The magnitude of arsenic contamination in groundwater and its health effects to the inhabitants of the Jalangi—one of the 85 arsenic affected blocks in West Bengal, India. Science of the Total Environment, 338, 189–200.
Rahman, M., Tondel, M., Ahmad, S. A., et al. (1998). Diabetes mellitus associated with arsenic exposure in Bangladesh. American Journal of Epidemiology, 148, 198–203.
Rahman, M., Tondel, M., Ahmed, S. A., et al. (1999a). Hypertension and arsenic exposure in Bangladesh. Hypertension, 33, 74–78.
Rahman, M., Tondel, M., Chowdhury, I. A., et al. (1999b). Relations between exposure to arsenic, skin lesions and glucosuria. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 56, 277–281.
Rahman, A., Vahter, M., Ekstrom, E. C., et al. (2007). Association of arsenic exposure during pregnancy with fetal loss and infant death: A cohort study from Bangladesh. American Journal of Epidemiology, 165, 1389–1396.
Rudnai, P., & Gulyas, E. (1998). Adverse effects of drinking water related arsenic exposure on some pregnancy outcomes in Karcag, Hungary, In: Book of Abstracts, 3rd International Conference on Arsenic Exposure and Health Effects (116 pp), July 12–15, San Diego, CA, 1998.
Sakurai, T., Kaise, Y., & Matsubara, C. (1998). Inorganic and methylated arsenic compounds induce death in murine macrophages via different mechanisms. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 11, 273–283.
Santra, A., Dasgupta, J., De, B. K., et al. (1999). Hepatic manifestations in chronic arsenic toxicity. Indian Journal of Gastroenterology, 18, 152–155.
Smith, A., Goycolea, M., Haque, R., et al. (1998). Marked increase in bladder and lung cancer mortality in a region of Northern Chile due to arsenic in drinking water. American Journal of Epidemiology, 147, 660–669.
Smith, A. H., Hopemhayn-Rich, C., Bates, M. N., et al. (1992). Cancers risks from arsenic in drinking water. Environmental Health Perspectives, 97, 259–267.
Smith, A. H., Lopipero, P. A., Bates, M. N., et al. (2002). Arsenic epidemiology and drinking water standards. Science, 296, 2145–2146.
Terada, H., Sasaga, T., Saito, H., et al. (1962). Chronic arsenical poisoning and hematopoietic organs. Acta Medica et Biologica, 9, 279–292.
Tondel, M., Rahman, M., Magnuson, A., et al. (1999). The relationship of arsenic levels in drinking water and the prevalence rate of skin lesions in Bangladesh. Environmental Health Perspectives, 107, 727–729.
Tsai, S. Y., Chou, H. Y., The, H. W., et al. (2003). The effects of chronic arsenic exposure from drinking water on the neurobehavioral development in adolescence. Neuro Toxicology, 24, 747–753.
Tsai, S. M., Wang, T. N., & Ko, Y. C. (1999). Mortality for certain diseases in areas with high level of arsenic in drinking water. Archives of Environmental Health, 54, 186–193.
Tseng, C. H., Chong, C. K., Chen, C. J., et al. (1996). Dose–response relationship between peripheral vascular disease and ingested arsenic among residents in blackfoot disease endemic villages in Taiwan. Atherosclerosis, 120, 125–133.
Tseng, C. H., Tai, T. Y., Ching, C. P., et al. (2000). Long term arsenic exposure and incidence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: A cohort study in arseniasis hyperendemic villages in Taiwan. Environmental Health Perspectives, 108, 847–851.
Tsuda, T., Babazono, A., Yamamoto, E., et al. (1995). Ingested arsenic and internal cancer: A historical cohort study followed for 33 years. American Journal of Epidemiology, 141, 198–209.
Tucker, S. B., Lamm, S. H., Li, F. X., et al. (2001). Relationship between consumption of arsenic contaminated well water and skin disorders in huhhot, Inner Mongolia. Inner Mongolia Cooperative Arsenic Project Study. Final Report. Department of Dermatology, University of Texas, Houston and Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, Beijing, China, July 5.
USEPA (US Environmental Protection Agency). (1992). Draft drinking water criteria document on arsenic submitted by Human Risk Assessment Branch, Health and Ecological Criteria Division, Office of Science and Technology, Office of water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.
Von Ehrenstein, O. S., Guha Mazumder, D. N., Smith, M. H., et al. (2006). Pregnancy outcomes, infant mortality and arsenic in drinking water in West Bengal, India. American Journal of Epidemiology, 163, 662–669.
Wang, C. H., Hsiao, C. K., Chen, C. L., et al. (2007). A review of the epidemiologic literature on the role of environmental arsenic exposure and cardiovascular diseases. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 222, 315–326.
Wang, J. P., Wang, S. L., Lin, Q., et al. (2008). Association of arsenic and kidney dysfunction in people with diabetes and validation of its effects in rats. Environmental International. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2008.07.015.
Wasserman, G. A., Liu, X., Parvez, F., et al. (2004). Water arsenic exposure and children’s intellectual function in Araihazar, Bangladesh. Environmental Health Perspectives, 112, 1329–1333.
WHO (World Health Organization). (2001). IPCS environmental health criteria 224 Arsenic and arsenic compounds. Geneva: International Programme on Chemical Safety, World Health Organization.
Wu, M. M., Kuo, T. L., Hwang, Y. H., et al. (1989). Dose–response relation between arsenic concentration in well water and mortality from cancers and vascular diseases. American Journal of Epidemiology, 130, 1123–1132.
Yang, C. Y. (2006). Does arsenic exposure increase the risk of development of peripheral vascular diseases in humans? Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 69, 1797–1804.
Yang, C. H., Chang, C. C., Tsai, S. S., et al. (2003). Arsenic in drinking water and adverse pregnancy outcome in an arseniasis-endemic area in northeastern Taiwan. Environmental Research, 91, 29–34.
Yoshida, T., Yamauchi, H., & Sun, G. F. (2004). Chronic health effects in people exposed to arsenic via the drinking water: Dose–response relationships in review. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 198, 243–252.
Zierold, K. M., Knobeloch, L., & Anderson, L. (2004). Prevalence of chronic diseases in adults exposed to arsenic-contaminated drinking water. American Journal of Public Health, 94, 1936–1937.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rahman, M.M., Ng, J.C. & Naidu, R. Chronic exposure of arsenic via drinking water and its adverse health impacts on humans. Environ Geochem Health 31 (Suppl 1), 189–200 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-008-9235-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-008-9235-0