In the largest epidemiologic study of arsenic and congenital effects to date, researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago and collaborative institutions have measured arsenic levels in U.S. private water sources. regionally and compare the rates with the results of the written birth. They found a correlation between the level of arsenic in groundwater and the risk of low birth weight. places.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring, highly toxic substance when used in contaminated water for drinking, food preparation or irrigation. All public water systems in the U.S. they are required to monitor arsenic levels, but private resources – used by 14% of the population in the country – are not regulated. As a result, there is extensive data on the extent of arsenic pollution and related health risks in the U.S.
“While they know that arsenic is dangerous, this lack of data on exposure to private sources has left some U.S. communities at high risk of serious health events due to pollution,” said study author Maria Argos, an associate professor of epidemiology and Dean’s colleague. international health at UIC School of Public Health. “Developing a way to measure these exposure risks was the first step in understanding the real risk of exposure for all people living in the U.S.
Using a number of machine learning algorithms, the researchers demonstrated the potential for a wide range of arsenic concentrations to occur in groundwater sources in almost all 3,000-plus regions in the U.S. 20,000. found across the U.S., ”says Melissa Lombard, a U.S. water resources expert and co-author of the study. The development of the models was a collaboration between hydrologists and epidemiologists to explore the link between arsenic exposure to drinking water and human health effects. “
Probabilistic model ratings and private resource usage data were linked to all live birth certificates issued in 2016. The researchers compared the models with data on birth outcomes, followed by public health departments, looking at gestational age and birth weight. Although there was no correlation during pregnancy, there was a negative correlation with birth weight, even at very low levels.
The model predicted that regions with a higher probability of concentrated arsenic concentrations of more than 5 micrograms per liter were associated with an average birth weight of 1.8 grams. Similarly, regions with a high probability that concentrated arsenic concentrations exceeded 10 micrograms per liter – a standard followed by a federal government – were associated with a reduction of 2.8 grams of birth weight, compared to the average.
The researchers said that the organization they found was somewhat limited because the analysis was based on exposure levels rather than measured at each level, but their model estimates may be undermining true relationships. “Birth results are an indication of health. building awareness exposure and expanding screening resources in communities that rely on private resources should be a priority for public health, “Argos said. The research is sponsored by USGS. John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis working group “Integrating environmental and public health data to assess the health effects of arsenic exposure to domestic and community resources.”
Source Journal Reference: Catherine M. Bulka, Molly Scannell Bryan, Melissa A. Lombard, Scott M. Bartell, Daniel K. Jones, Paul M. Bradley, Veronica M. Vieira, Debra T. Silverman, Michael Focazio, Patricia L. Toccalino, Johnni Daniel, Lorraine C. Backer, Joseph D. Ayotte, Matthew O. Gribble, Maria Argos. Arsenic in private well water and birth outcomes in the United States. Environment International, 2022; 163: 107176 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107176
