PARENT SESSION
Poster Session # 12: Ecotoxicology, Pathogens, and Disease.

Tuesday, August 5 Presentation from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. SITCC Exhibit Hall B.

Environmental studies of arsenic in the Chelpo area, northeast Iran.

Ghassemzadeh, Fereshteh^*,1, Arbab Zavar, M.H.¹, Karimpour, M.H.¹, ¹ Faculty of Science, Mashhad, Khorasan, Iran

ABSTRACT- Arsenic is ubiquitous in the environment, and exposure to it can occur from natural and anthropogenic sources. Human exposure occurs from air, food and drinking water. Drinking water is the most significant source worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine arsenic concentration in drinking water sources in the Chelpo area of northeast Iran. This region is naturally rich in arsenic. We also conducted this study to analyze mortality and causes of death, especially from cancers and noncancer diseases. Arsenic concentration was determined in fourteen water samples and sixteen soil samples from the study area. Four villages located in the study area were selected for the study on the basis of a survey of arsenic pollution and mortality from cancer and noncancer diseases. The total arsenic concentration in the water samples ranged from 8 to 27 ppm and in the soil samples ranged from 210 to 26x10⁴ppm. Arsenic concentrations in the drinking water mostly exceeded WHO guidelines. Arsenic toxicity consists mostly of skin lesions and carcinogenesis. Digestive cancer is the most clearly associated mortality related to arsenic pollution. However, skin lesions and other diseases have also been found in the study area. About 20% of the mortality is due to cancer, which is probably related not only to arsenic pollution but also to nutritional deficiencies. Greater mortality was found in males with digestive cancers, which is probably related to the drinking more of water and tea by men.

Key words: digestive cancer, carcinogenesis, arsenic, skin lesions