LONG-TERM, LOW-DOSE EXPOSURE OF PEOPLE RESIDING IN ARSENIC AFFECTED AREAS OF IOWA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYTICAL STUDY

Arsenic contamination in ground water is a major problem throughout the world. In the United States, private wells are not mandated to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act standards that piped water is, putting many people at risk. Epidemiological studies show that long-term low-concentration, arsenic exposure in drinking water can lead to chronic toxicity problems and negative health outcomes. This study focused on monitoring of arsenic contamination of private well water, hair samples, and questionnaire based surveys.

As a cross-section sample, 260 private well owners from 13 counties in Iowa were contacted, 50 agreed to participate in the research. Analysis showed that 58% of the water samples tested positive for arsenic and 12% had arsenic concentrations more than the federal drinking water standard of 0.01 mg/L. The water arsenic concentration ranged from 0.001- 0.027 mg/L with a mean concentration of 0.007 ± 0.001 mg/L. Similarly, the hair arsenic analysis showed that 14% of the hair samples exceeded the normal arsenic range (0.08 to 0.25 mg/kg). The mean hair arsenic concentration was 0.108 ± 0.024 mg/kg ranging from 0 - 0.54 mg/kg. The bivariate analysis between hair arsenic and water arsenic concentration showed a positive correlation and the result was statistically significant. The hair and water arsenic were correlated with different health parameters and a statistically significant correlation was found between hair loss and hair/water arsenic concentration. Health conditions such as kidney, liver, and lung as well skin problems also had a correlation with arsenic in hair and water, but the result was not statistically significant. There was a significant relationship between multiple factors such as water arsenic concentration, age, gender, occupation, education, and years of residence, and drinking water sources that might increase arsenic concentration in hair. Arsenic levels are present in a significant number of wells in the study area, and that the ingestion of arsenic contaminated water leads to an increase in arsenic deposition in the hair. In addition environmental health education programs on arsenic and its health impacts are necessary, especially for private well owners who are unknowingly consuming contaminated water.