Scientists sound alarm about arsenic contamination: metal increasingly found in tap water causes cancer and is widespread in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico
Scientists have sounded the alarm about yet another cancer-causing toxin contaminating food and water that they call an “urgent health threat.”
Arsenic, a metal that occurs naturally in the Earth’s crust, is used in pesticides and processes such as cement production, but it is increasingly entering groundwater, where it ends up in drinking water wells.
Repeated exposure can damage DNA, weaken the immune system and lead to the formation of cancer cells, as well as high blood pressure and heart disease.
While attention has been paid to the dangers of lead and PFAS contamination in recent years, scientists at Florida International University warn that arsenic is not receiving the same amount of attention despite posing a similar health risk.
Between 2017 and 2019, about 31 states had levels of arsenic in drinking water above the legal limit, according to the Environmental Working Group.
Data from 2017 showing the concentration of arsenic in the US in the top 5 cm of soil. The highest levels are in the North, Southwest and Northeast of America, which may be due to less rainfall
The main source of exposure to arsenic is contaminated drinking water and food
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element in the Earth’s crust and is used in pesticides and processes such as cement production
In fact, a 2019 Consumer Reports study found that bottled water brands sold in America had arsenic levels above the legal limit — which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says is 10 parts per billion (ppb).
Other studies of multiple popular baby food brands also found arsenic in levels above the legal limit. There is some evidence that this may lead to lower IQ scores in children.
Write in conversationsaid the Florida scientists, “As many countries continue to be affected by high levels of arsenic, we believe exposure to arsenic is a global public health problem that requires urgent action.”
They added: ‘People living in areas with naturally high levels of arsenic in the soil and water are at particular risk.
‘In the US, for example, these are regions in the southwest, such as Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.’
a study published in 2017 by the American Chemical Society found that up to 2.1 million people are exposed to arsenic through their drinking water.
The hot spots they identified included New England (mainly Maine and New Hampshire), the upper Midwest, the Southwest (particularly Nevada, Southern Arizona, Southern and Central California, and isolated regions in all western states), and Southern -Texas.
Your body can absorb arsenic through multiple routes, such as inhalation and skin contact, but the primary source of arsenic exposure is contaminated drinking water and food.
Research indicates that it damages DNA, prevents cells from communicating with each other and impairs the immune system, creating the perfect environment for cancer to grow.
Arsenic in soil and rock can dissolve in groundwater and end up in drinking water wells. The chemical can enter food when used by farmers as a pesticide and fertilizer.
Chronic exposure to arsenic increases the risk of developing multiple types of cancer.
Research indicates that arsenic can damage DNA, disrupt cell signaling pathways and disrupt the immune system, all of which can lead to cancer.
Arsenic exposure has also been linked to the formation of cancer stem cells – cells in tumors that cause cancer to grow and spread.
Like normal stem cells in the body, cancer stem cells can turn into many different types of cells.
The point in a stem cell’s development where it gets the genetic mutation to turn into a cancer stem cell is still unknown.
But Cristina Andrade-Feraud, a PhD student, and Diana Azzam, an assistant professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Florida International University, are trying to change that.
They use cells from the same organ at different stages of cellular development to identify how the origin of cells influences the formation of cancer stem cells.
The duo warned in their paper that “preventing chronic exposure to arsenic is critical to reducing the burden of arsenic-related health effects.”
Long-term exposure to even low levels of arsenic can cause problems such as high blood pressure, thickening and discoloration of the skin, blood vessel problems, numbness or pain, and heart disease, as well as cancer.
In the short term, exposure to high levels of arsenic in drinking water can lead to stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, headache and diarrhea.