Arsenic

            Although its acute and chronic toxicity properties have been recognized over a century, very recent studies have definitively confirmed that Arsenic (As) is a far more powerful human carcinogen than previously suspected. These findings have been repeatedly confirmed since about 1996 and have vastly increased the concern in the medical, scientific, public health, and environmental regulation community.   A study performed in the fall of 2001 by the National Academy of Sciences found the excess lifetime risk of lung or bladder cancer from drinking water at the current standard of 10 ug/L to be more than 3 cases per 1,000 individuals.  The standards for other known or suspected human carcinogens, such as benzene, tetrachloroethylene, DDT, PCBs, etc., are set at a one cancer case per million population risk level (1/10⁶).   Thus, the risk from regularly drinking water at the current standard for arsenic is more than 3,000 times the cancer risk associated at the standard for most environmental toxins.

          The two most significant routes of exposure of the public to arsenic are through drinking water and Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) pressure-treated lumber.  The EQI is conducting national studies of public exposure to arsenic from water and from CCA pressure-treated lumber.  In addition to adding to our knowledge about the risk from these two routes of exposure, the research allows participants to take advantage of low-cost (15$-17$) testing of their water or (CCA) pressure-treated lumber through our collaborating non-profit organizations, the Environmental Working Group, and Clean Water Lead Testing.  The Environmental Working Group offers testing for CCA pressure- treated lumber and the surrounding soil.  Clean Water Lead Testing offers testing for arsenic in water and in CCA pressure-treated lumber as well as testing for lead in water, dust, soil or paint.

More information on arsenic exposure from drinking water.

More information on arsenic exposure from CCA pressure-treated lumber.