Ischemic heart disease mortality reduction in an arseniasis-endemic area in southwestern Taiwan after a switch in the tap-water supply system.
Arsenic has been identified as a major contributing risk factor for development of blackfoot disease (BFD), a unique peripheral vascular disease that was endemic to the southwestern coast of Taiwan, where residents imbibed artesian well water continuing high amounts of arsenic for more than 50 yr. Chronic arsenic exposure was found to be associated with ischemic heart disease (CHD) in a dose-dependent manner. A tap-water supply system was implemented in the early 1960s in the BFD-endemic areas. Artesian well water was no longer used for drinking and cooking after the mid-1970s. The objective of this study was to examine whether CHD-related mortality decreased after consumption of high-arsenic-containing artesian well water ceased and, if so, when the reduction occurred. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for CHD were calculated for the BFD endemic area for the years 1971-2000. Cumulative-sum techniques were used to detect the occurrence of changes in the SMRs. Data show that mortality attributed to CHD declined gradually for approximately 17 to 20 yr following cessation of consumption of high-arsenic artesian well water. Based on the reversibility criterion, the association between arsenic exposure an1rd CHD-related mortality is likely to be causal.
Chang
Chih-Ching
CC
Institute of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
Ho
Shu-Chen
SC
Tsai
Shang-Shyue
SS
Yang
Chun-Yuh
CY
D017677:Age Distribution; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015984:Causality; D002423:Cause of Death; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000506:poisoning*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical