Arsenic, cancer, and thoughtless policy.
The current drinking water contaminant standard for arsenic is 50 microg/L, as an upper bound. There is no lower bound for the standard. In an analysis of three epidemiology studies, the author demonstrates a significant cancer incidence trough for arsenic near 50 microg/L. Allowing, and even requiring, a much lower arsenic standard is not a desirable health outcome. Since most water systems currently deliver arsenic at levels below 5 microg/L, an undesirable health outcome is expected. For these systems and others not near 50 microg/L, the level of arsenic should be adjusted to bring it near 50 microg/L.
1600 South Joyce Street, Suite 1411, Arlington, VA 22202, USA. k.ogrady@elsevier.com
Gary
G
Kayajanian
D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011640:Public Policy; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence
D001151:Arsenic