Arsenic and Cancer

Abstract

In the entire world, about 200 million people are exposed to arsenic poisoning in groundwater. In Bihar, India, about 50 million people are drinking arsenic contaminated water. Humans are exposed to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic mainly through the consumption of arsenic contaminated groundwater as drinking water and food crops are irrigated with high-arsenic water resources. This has caused various health-related problems in the population like skin diseases, anemia, bronchitis, gastrointestinal problems, hormonal imbalance and cancer. According to recent study, cancer risk is associated with daily consumption of 2 litres of water with inorganic arsenic 50 μg/L has been estimated to be 1/100 denotes that elevated blood arsenic levels in population can lead to cause various diseases including cancer. Skin and several types of internal cancers, including, bladder, kidney, liver, gall bladder, lung, uterus, and prostate, have been found associated with arsenic ingestion. This hospital-based study also correlates the cause of cancer due to arsenic contamination.