risk increases even with low levels of arsenic in drinking water

It is not one of the known risk factors for kidney cancer, and yet arsenic would be one. According to a new study published in the journal Environmental Pollutionexposure to this component, even at low levels, increases the risk of developing this disease. In this study, the researchers focused on low levels of arsenic exposure, that is to say below the regulatory threshold of 10 µg/l.

An imperfect limit on arsenic levels to limit the risks of kidney cancer

“The currently recommended limit for arsenic in drinking water is 10 μg/l, although this value has been designated as provisional due to the practical difficulties of removing arsenic from drinking water , noted the World Health Organization (WHO). Everything must therefore be done to keep concentrations at the lowest possible level and below the recommended value when resources allow.”.

In their work, the scientists studied the health data of 28,896 people aged over 20 with kidney cancer in Texas, United States. At the same time, they also looked at water testing from the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Water Development Board. Then, they used a statistical model to calculate exposure to arsenic and its consequence, while removing other risk factors (smoking, diabetes, obesity, etc.).

Kidney cancer: 22% more risk while being below the regulatory threshold

Result: uExposure to a concentration between 1 and 5 µg/l increased the risk of kidney cancer by 6%. Exposure greater than 5 µg increased the risk by 22%. Finally, scientists also observed that the risk of kidney cancer increased by an additional 4% for each time arsenic levels in water doubled.

“Even low-level exposure to arsenic in drinking water may be associated with an increased risk of kidney cancer, consistent with previous research indicating an association between this exposure and lung, bladder, and breast cancers. the skin“, indicates Taehyun Roh, one of the authors, in a communiqué. “Our results indicate that reducing arsenic exposure could reduce the incidence of kidney cancer”, says Nishat Tasnim Hasan, one of the authors, who calls for better monitoring of arsenic levels in drinking water.

As a reminder, in France, the number of new kidney cancers in 2018 was estimated at 5,323, including 67% in men, according to the National Cancer Institute. Among the main risk factors are smoking, overweight and obesity, and dialysis treatment for more than three years.