Low-to-Moderate Arsenic Exposure and Urothelial Tract Cancers with a Long Latent Period of Follow-Up in an Arseniasis Area

BACKGROUND: Arsenic exposure can cause adverse health effects. The effects of long-term low-to-moderate exposure and methylations remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the association between low-to-moderate arsenic exposure and urothelial tract cancers while considering the effects of methylation capacity. METHODS: In this study, 5,811 participants were recruited from an arseniasis area in Taiwan for inorganic arsenic metabolite analysis. This follow-up study was conducted between August 1995 and December 2017. We identified 85 urothelial tract cancers in these participants, including 49 bladder and 36 upper urothelial tract cancer cases. A Cox proportional hazards model was employed. RESULTS: The analyses revealed a significant association between concentrations of inorganic arsenic in water > 100 ug/L and bladder cancer occurrence, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 4.88 (95% CI 1.35–17.61). A monotonic trend was observed between concentrations of inorganic arsenic in water (from 0 to > 100 ug/L) and the incidence of urothelial tract cancer, including bladder cancer (p < 0.05) and upper urothelial tract cancers (p < 0.05). Participants with a lower primary methylation index or higher secondary methylation index had a prominent effect. CONCLUSIONS: Rigorous regulations and active interventions should be considered for populations with susceptible characteristics.