Journal article
Private well water arsenic exposures and lung function among rural Iowans: a cross-sectional pilot study
Toxicology and environmental health sciences, Vol.15(4), pp.325-333
12/2023
DOI: 10.1007/s13530-023-00185-6
Abstract
ObjectiveAn estimated 450,000 rural Iowans depend on private wells for their drinking water, and eight percent of those wells are contaminated with arsenic above federal limits. High arsenic concentrations are associated with chronic lung disease, yet the effects on lung disease in the Midwestern United States remain unclear. We hypothesize that (1) Well water arsenic concentrations are associated with urinary arsenic concentrations, and (2) Arsenic exposures are associated with lung function impairment among well users.MethodsWe designed a cross-sectional pilot study in four rural Iowan counties. We collected kitchen-sink water, urine from each participant, and administered questionnaires. We analyzed water and urine arsenic concentrations using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS); and liquid chromatography ICP-MS for detecting urinary arsenic metabolites. Spirometry was performed according to American Thoracic Society guidelines. We fit regression models to evaluate the association between arsenic exposure, measured by private well water and urinary arsenic concentration, and obstructive lung disease.ResultsWe enrolled 34 participants from 19 households. Water arsenic was significantly associated urinary arsenic concentrations. Every 1 & mu;g/L increase in well water arsenic concentration predicted a 1.07 & mu;g/L increase in urinary arsenic concentration (95% CI 0.47-1.67, p = 0.001). We found detectable arsenic concentrations in 42% of household well water samples and 94% of participant urine samples. We found no statistically significant associations between private well water arsenic concentration or urinary arsenic concentration and obstructive airway disease.ConclusionPrivate well water arsenic concentrations were positively associated with participant urinary arsenic concentrations, whereas rice consumption was not, suggesting that well water is a significant source for arsenic exposure among rural Iowans. Larger prospective studies are needed to assess the interrelationships between rural drinking water pollutants (such as heavy metals, pesticides, and nitrates) and chronic respiratory disease.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Private well water arsenic exposures and lung function among rural Iowans: a cross-sectional pilot study
- Creators
- Michael Zavala - University of IowaGreta L. Becker - Univ Iowa, Div Pulm & Crit Care Med, Iowa City, IA 52242 USARon Lenth - Iowa State UniversityBrian Wels - Univ Iowa, State Hyg Lab, Coralville, IA USAJustin Kahler - Univ Iowa, Dept Hlth & Human Physiol, Iowa City, IA USAMichael Schueller - University of IowaHeather Reisinger - Univ Iowa, Dept Internal Med, Iowa City, IA USARobert J. Blount - Univ Iowa, Div Pulm & Crit Care Med, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Toxicology and environmental health sciences, Vol.15(4), pp.325-333
- Publisher
- Korean Soc Environmental Risk Assessment & Health Science
- DOI
- 10.1007/s13530-023-00185-6
- ISSN
- 2005-9752
- eISSN
- 2233-7784
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- UL1TR002537 / University of Iowa Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (NIH CTSA program)
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 07/22/2023
- Date published
- 12/2023
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health; Internal Medicine; Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Center for Social Science Innovation
- Record Identifier
- 9984455656002771
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