Increased mortality associated with well-water arsenic exposure in inner Mongolia China

Abstract

Inducted a retrospective mortality study in an Inner Mongolian village ex-posed to well water contaminated by arsenic since the 1980s. Deaths occurring between January 1, 1997 and December 1, 2004 were classi?ed according to underlying cause and water samples from household wells were tested for total arsenic. Heart disease mortality was associated with arsenic exposure, and the association strengthened with time exposed to the water source. Cancer mortality and all-cause mortality were associated with well-water arsenic exposure among those exposed 10-20 years. This is the ?rst study to document increased arsenic-associated mortality in the Bayingnormen region of Inner Mongolia.