U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists teamed up with public-health epidemiologists to probe for associations between arsenic in drinking water and human-birth outcomes. They reported a modest inverse relation between birth weight and arsenic exposure. Findings indicate that future research efforts using individual-level exposure data such as measured arsenic concentrations in tap water could improve modelling outcomes.
Arsenic occurs naturally in the Earth’s crust and can move into groundwater sources used for drinking water in forms and at levels unsafe for human consumption. Groundwater is a major source of drinking water for many community water systems and private wells in the United States.
Drinking water can be a primary source of arsenic in many people’s diets, and ingestion of arsenic is associated with adverse human-health outcomes including cancer, impaired child development, and adverse birth outcomes.
All public water systems in the United States are required to monitor arsenic levels, but private wells—which are used by 14 percent of people in the country—are unregulated. As a result, there are limited comprehensive data on the extent of arsenic exposure from private wells and associated health risks in the United States.
Given the potential for adverse health outcomes from arsenic exposure and the lack of arsenic concentration data for private wells across the Nation, hydrologists and geologists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collaborated with public-health epidemiologists (National Cancer Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of North Carolina, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emory University) to study the connections between arsenic and human-health outcomes using existing environmental and public-health data.
USGS scientists developed national-scale estimates of arsenic in well water as surrogates for arsenic exposure for more than 3,000 counties. Building on these modeled arsenic concentrations in well water, the epidemiologists used the USGS model results and an existing dataset for more than 3 million births across the conterminous United States to evaluate the relation between modeled arsenic probabilities in private wells and two key birth outcomes tracked by public-health departments: gestational age and birth weight.
The scientists reported no association between increased probability of elevated arsenic concentrations in private well water and gestational age at birth. However, the epidemiology models predicted a modest inverse relation with birth weight among infants born at term, particularly among male infants. For example, there was lower term birth weight (2.8 grams) associated with the probability of private well arsenic concentration exceeding 10 micrograms per liter.
Although this is the largest study on the effect of arsenic exposure on birth outcomes in the United States to date, findings indicate future research may be enhanced using individual level exposure data, such as measured arsenic concentrations at the point of use (tap water).
The research was supported by the USGS John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis working group, the USGS National Water Quality Assessment Project, and the USGS Environmental Health Program’s Drinking and Wastewater Infrastructure Team.
Mapping and Characterizing the Arsenic Hazard in Private Well Water Across the Nation
Elevated Bladder Cancer in Northern New England—Drinking Water and Arsenic
Elevated Bladder Cancer in Northern New England—Drinking Water and Arsenic
Elevated Bladder Cancer in Northern New England—Drinking Water and Arsenic
Arsenic in private well water and birth outcomes in the United States
Associations between private well water and community water supply arsenic concentrations in the conterminous United States
Machine learning models of arsenic in private wells throughout the conterminous United States as a tool for exposure assessment in human health studies
Elevated bladder cancer in northern New England: The role of drinking water and arsenic
Estimating water supply arsenic levels in the New England bladder cancer study
Estimating water supply arsenic levels in the New England bladder cancer study
Bladder cancer mortality and private well use in New England: An ecological study
Arsenic in ground water used for drinking water in the United States
Arsenic in Ground-Water Resources of the United States
- Overview
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists teamed up with public-health epidemiologists to probe for associations between arsenic in drinking water and human-birth outcomes. They reported a modest inverse relation between birth weight and arsenic exposure. Findings indicate that future research efforts using individual-level exposure data such as measured arsenic concentrations in tap water could improve modelling outcomes.
Arsenic occurs naturally in the Earth’s crust and can move into groundwater sources used for drinking water in forms and at levels unsafe for human consumption. Groundwater is a major source of drinking water for many community water systems and private wells in the United States.
Drinking water can be a primary source of arsenic in many people’s diets, and ingestion of arsenic is associated with adverse human-health outcomes including cancer, impaired child development, and adverse birth outcomes.
All public water systems in the United States are required to monitor arsenic levels, but private wells—which are used by 14 percent of people in the country—are unregulated. As a result, there are limited comprehensive data on the extent of arsenic exposure from private wells and associated health risks in the United States.
Given the potential for adverse health outcomes from arsenic exposure and the lack of arsenic concentration data for private wells across the Nation, hydrologists and geologists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collaborated with public-health epidemiologists (National Cancer Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of North Carolina, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emory University) to study the connections between arsenic and human-health outcomes using existing environmental and public-health data.
USGS scientists developed national-scale estimates of arsenic in well water as surrogates for arsenic exposure. USGS scientists developed national-scale estimates of arsenic in well water as surrogates for arsenic exposure for more than 3,000 counties. Building on these modeled arsenic concentrations in well water, the epidemiologists used the USGS model results and an existing dataset for more than 3 million births across the conterminous United States to evaluate the relation between modeled arsenic probabilities in private wells and two key birth outcomes tracked by public-health departments: gestational age and birth weight.
The scientists reported no association between increased probability of elevated arsenic concentrations in private well water and gestational age at birth. However, the epidemiology models predicted a modest inverse relation with birth weight among infants born at term, particularly among male infants. For example, there was lower term birth weight (2.8 grams) associated with the probability of private well arsenic concentration exceeding 10 micrograms per liter.
Although this is the largest study on the effect of arsenic exposure on birth outcomes in the United States to date, findings indicate future research may be enhanced using individual level exposure data, such as measured arsenic concentrations at the point of use (tap water).
The research was supported by the USGS John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis working group, the USGS National Water Quality Assessment Project, and the USGS Environmental Health Program’s Drinking and Wastewater Infrastructure Team.
- Science
Mapping and Characterizing the Arsenic Hazard in Private Well Water Across the Nation
Study estimates about 2.1 million people using wells high in arsenic: USGS research directly supports federal agencies concerned with public health—specifically, understanding natural hazards in private domestic drinking water and the risk they pose to human health.Elevated Bladder Cancer in Northern New England—Drinking Water and Arsenic
Study finds bladder cancer risk was associated with water intake among participants with a history of private domestic well use. The trend was significant for participants who used shallow dug wells exclusively—a well type that typically has low arsenic concentrations but may have had higher concentrations historically.Elevated Bladder Cancer in Northern New England—Drinking Water and Arsenic
Study finds bladder cancer risk was associated with water intake among participants with a history of private domestic well use. The trend was significant for participants who used shallow dug wells exclusively—a well type that typically has low arsenic concentrations but may have had higher concentrations historically.Elevated Bladder Cancer in Northern New England—Drinking Water and Arsenic
Study finds bladder cancer risk was associated with water intake among participants with a history of private domestic well use. The trend was significant for participants who used shallow dug wells exclusively—a well type that typically has low arsenic concentrations but may have had higher concentrations historically. - Publications
Arsenic in private well water and birth outcomes in the United States
BackgroundPrenatal exposure to drinking water with arsenic concentrations >50 μg/L is associated with adverse birth outcomes, with inconclusive evidence for concentrations ≤50 μg/L. In a collaborative effort by public health experts, hydrologists, and geologists, we used published machine learning model estimates to characterize arsenic concentrations in private wells—federally unregulated for driAuthorsCatherine Bulka, Molly Scannell Bryan, Melissa Lombard, Scott Bartell, Daniel Jones, Paul Bradley, Veronica Vieira, Debra Silverman, Michael J. Focazio, Patricia Toccalino, Johnni Daniel, Lorraine C. Backer, Joseph D. Ayotte, Matthew O. Gribble, Maria ArgosAssociations between private well water and community water supply arsenic concentrations in the conterminous United States
Geogenic arsenic contamination typically occurs in groundwater as opposed to surface water supplies. Groundwater is a major source for many community water systems (CWSs) in the United States (US). Although the US Environmental Protection Agency sets the maximum contaminant level (MCL enforceable since 2006: 10 μg/L) for arsenic in CWSs, private wells are not federally regulated. We evaluated counAuthorsMaya Spaur, Melissa Lombard, Joseph D. Ayotte, David Harvey, Benjamin Bostick, Steven Chillrud, Ana Navas-Acien, Anne E NigraMachine learning models of arsenic in private wells throughout the conterminous United States as a tool for exposure assessment in human health studies
Arsenic from geologic sources is widespread in groundwater within the United States (U.S.). In several areas, groundwater arsenic concentrations exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level of 10 μg per liter (μg/L). However, this standard applies only to public-supply drinking water and not to private-supply, which is not federally regulated and is rarely monitored. AAuthorsMelissa Lombard, Molly Scannell Bryan, Daniel Jones, Catherine Bulka, Paul Bradley, Lorraine C. Backer, Michael J. Focazio, Debra T. Silverman, Patricia Toccalino, Maria Argos, Matthew O. Gribble, Joseph D. AyotteElevated bladder cancer in northern New England: The role of drinking water and arsenic
Background: Bladder cancer mortality rates have been elevated in northern New England for at least five decades. Incidence rates in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont are about 20% higher than the United States overall. We explored reasons for this excess, focusing on arsenic in drinking water from private wells, which are particularly prevalent in the region.Methods: In a population-based case-conAuthorsDalsu Baris, Richard Wadell, Laura Freeman, Molly Schwenn, Joanne Colt, Joseph D. Ayotte, Mary Ward, John Nuckols, Alan Schned, Brian Jackson, Castine Clerkin, Nathanial Rothman, Lee Moore, Anne Taylor, Gilpin Robinson, Monawar G. Hosain, Carla Armenti, Richard McCoy, Claudine Samanic, Robert Hoover, Joseph Fraumeni, Alison Johnson, Margaret Karagas, Debra SilvermanEstimating water supply arsenic levels in the New England bladder cancer study
Background: Ingestion of inorganic arsenic in drinking water is recognized as a cause of bladder cancer when levels are relatively high (≥ 150 µg/L). The epidemiologic evidence is less clear at the low-to-moderate concentrations typically observed in the United States. Accurate retrospective exposure assessment over a long time period is a major challenge in conducting epidemiologic studies of envAuthorsJ.R. Nuckols, Freeman L.E. Beane, J.H. Lubin, M.S. Airola, D. Baris, J. D. Ayotte, A. Taylor, C. Paulu, M.R. Karagas, J. Colt, M.H. Ward, A.-T. Huang, W. Bress, S. Cherala, D.T. Silverman, K.P. CantorEstimating water supply arsenic levels in the New England bladder cancer study
Background: Ingestion of inorganic arsenic in drinking water is recognized as a cause of bladder cancer when levels are relatively high (≥ 150 μg/L). The epidemiologic evidence is less clear at the low-to-moderate concentrations typically observed in the United States. Accurate retrospective exposure assessment over a long time period is a major challenge in conducting epidemiologic studies of envAuthorsJohn R. Nuckols, Laura E. Beane Freeman, Jay H. Lubin, Matthew S. Airola, Dalsu Baris, Joseph D. Ayotte, Anne Taylor, Chris Paulu, Margaret R. Karagas, Joanne Colt, Mary H. Ward, An-Tsun Huang, William Bress, Sai Cherala, Debra T. Silverman, Kenneth P. CantorBladder cancer mortality and private well use in New England: An ecological study
Study objective: To investigate the possible relation between bladder cancer mortality among white men and women and private water use in New England, USA, where rates have been persistently raised and use of private water supplies (wells) common. Design: Ecological study relating age adjusted cancer mortality rates for white men and women during 1985-1999 and proportion of persons using private wAuthorsJ. D. Ayotte, D. Baris, K.P. Cantor, J. Colt, G. R. Robinson, J.H. Lubin, M. Karagas, R.N. Hoover, J.F. Fraumeni, D.T. SilvermanArsenic in ground water used for drinking water in the United States
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently established a new maximum contaminant level of 10 micrograms per liter for arsenic in drinking water in the United States. Ground water is the primary source of drinking water for half the population of the United States. Several national assessments have found that high arsenic concentrations (above 10 micrograms per liter) are widespread in drinkAuthorsSarah J. RykerArsenic in Ground-Water Resources of the United States
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element in rocks, soils, and the waters in contact with them. Recognized as a toxic element for centuries, arsenic today also is a human health concern because it can contribute to skin, bladder, and other cancers (National Research Council, 1999). Recently, the National Research Council (1999) recommended lowering the current maximum contaminant level (MCL) alloweAuthorsAlan H. Welch, Sharon A. Watkins, Dennis R. Helsel, Michael J. Focazio