Association between Arsenic Intake and Cancer-From the Viewpoint of Epidemiological Study

Abstract

Arsenic is widely distributed in nature, and humans are exposed to arsenic through air, water, beverages, and food. On the bases of previous studies of highly exposed populations, arsenic is designated as a Group 1 human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and IARC has established a causal role for arsenic in cancers of the urinary bladder, lung, and skin in humans. However, there are very few epidemiological studies of the association between low-moderate arsenic exposure and cancer. In particular, there is only one study of the association between arsenic intake from food and cancer. Further epidemiological studies are needed.