JOEM: Effect of Arsenic Exposure and Cigarette Smoking (March 2023)-JOEM: Effect of Arsenic Exposure and Cigarette Smoking (March 2023)

JOEM: Effect of Arsenic Exposure and Cigarette Smoking (March 2023)

Pdf Summary

A study conducted on Chinese miners examined the relationship between arsenic exposure and all-cause mortality, as well as the joint effects of arsenic exposure and smoking. The study followed a cohort of 1,738 miners for 27 years and analyzed the relationship between arsenic exposure, smoking, and the risk of various causes of death. During the follow-up period, 694 deaths occurred. The study found that arsenic-exposed workers had significantly higher mortality rates for all-cause mortality, cancer, and cerebrovascular disease. The risk of all-cause mortality, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, and respiratory disease increased with cumulative arsenic exposure. Smoking was also found to be a risk factor for all-cause mortality, cancer, respiratory disease, and heart disease. The study did not find a significant additive effect between smoking and high arsenic exposure on mortality. The findings suggest that more effective actions should be taken to reduce arsenic exposure in miners, and smoking cessation efforts should be promoted among miners exposed to arsenic. Overall, the study highlights the negative effects of both arsenic exposure and smoking on mortality and underscores the importance of addressing these risk factors in occupational settings.

Keywords

Chinese miners

arsenic exposure

all-cause mortality

joint effects

smoking

cohort study

mortality rates

cancer

cerebrovascular disease

respiratory disease