title: Arsenical keratoses in Bangladesh--update and prevention strategies.
abstract: Arsenic is considered a Class I human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer because of its increased risk for skin cancer, as well as internal cancers, such as lung and bladder cancer. Arsenic contamination of drinking water in Bangladesh has been called the "largest mass poisoning of a population in history." This inorganic arsenic contamination is of natural origin, with arsenic thought to be released to the groundwater from the surrounding sediment. Arsenicosis and its risk factors and prevention and management are discussed in this article.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, IL 60637, USA. arlene.ruizdeluzuriaga@uchospitals.edu
authors.forename: Arlene M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ruiz de Luzuriaga
authors.forename: Habibul
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahsan
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Shea
mesh_terms: D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000139:chemically induced; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000139:chemically induced; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical