title: Systematic review of differential inorganic arsenic exposure in minority, low-income, and indigenous populations in the United States.
abstract: Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a human carcinogen and associated with cardiovascular, respiratory, and skin diseases. Natural and anthropogenic sources contribute to low concentrations of iAs in water, food, soil, and air. Differential exposure to environmental hazards in minority, indigenous, and low income populations is considered an environmental justice (EJ) concern, yet it is unclear if higher iAs exposure occurs in these populations. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate evidence for differential iAs exposure in the United States (US). The peer-reviewed literature was searched for studies that (1) estimated iAs exposure based on environmental concentrations of iAs in water, food, soil, or iAs biomarkers and (2) examined iAs exposure in minority, indigenous, and low income US populations. Five studies were identified that estimated exposures and provided demographic information about EJ populations. These studies reported arsenic concentrations in water, soil, or food to estimate exposure, with varied evidence of differential exposure. Additionally, six studies were identified that suggested potential arsenic exposure from environmental sources including soil, rice, private well-water, and fish, but did not report data stratified by demographic information. Evidence across these 11 studies was qualitatively integrated to draw conclusions about differential iAs exposure. The total body of evidence is limited by lack of individual exposure measures, lack of iAs concentration data, and insufficient comparative demographic data. Based upon these data gaps, there is inadequate evidence to conclude whether differential exposure to iAs is an EJ concern in the US.
authors.affiliation: ORISE Fellow, Hazardous Pollutant Assessment Group, National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joca
authors.affiliation: Environmental Media Assessment Group, National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sacks
authors.affiliation: ORISE Fellow, Hazardous Pollutant Assessment Group, National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Integrated Risk Information System Division, National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Janice S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Hazardous Pollutant Assessment Group, National Center for Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Reeder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sams
authors.affiliation: Hazardous Pollutant Assessment Group, National Center for Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. Electronic address: cowden.john@epa.gov.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cowden
mesh_terms: D001152:Arsenicals / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D044382:Population Groups; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D004785:Environmental Pollutants
keywords: Arsenic; Differential exposure; Environmental justice; Systematic review