The Health Risk Associated With Chronic Diseases in Villages With High Arsenic Levels in Drinking Water Supplies

Abstract

This study is intended to compare and assess the distribution and possible causes of current chronic diseases in villages with high arsenic levels in drinking water supplies. It is a cross-sectional epidemiological research that analyzes the frequency and underlying risk factors of chronic diseases in villages with varying levels of arsenic exposure through drinking water. Sample space of study included 1003 individuals, 614 of whom were from villages with high arsenic levels in drinking water and remaining 389 were from two control villages with below-limit arsenic levels in drinking water. While nutritional habits and living environments of two groups were similar, cigarette smoking and alcohol use were higher in villages with low arsenic levels. Mini mental state examination test results in 60+ age group were lower in villages with high arsenic levels. Although no statistically significant differences were detected in chronic disease occurrence between the groups, the number of cases was higher in villages with higher percentage of cigarette smoking and alcohol use. Moreover, cases of lung, colon, and stomach cancers were higher in villages with high arsenic levels in drinking water supplies.