Low-to-Moderate Arsenic Exposure and Respiratory Health in American Indian Communities

Rationale: Exposure to inorganic arsenic, through drinking naturally-contaminated water, is an established cause of lung cancer. Evidence on the impact of arsenic exposure on lung function, however, is less conclusive. The evidence available, mostly from populations exposed to water arsenic levels >100 μg/L, suggests that arsenic exposure is associated with lower lung function. Prospective studies and studies examining low-to-moderate levels of water arsenic exposure (<50 μg/L) the level relevant for U.S. populations, are very limited.Objectives: We evaluated the association between chronic low-to-moderate arsenic exposure with lung function and disease in an American Indian population.Methods: The Strong Heart Study is a multicenter prospective study of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors among American Indian adults. The present analysis, in 2,166 adults, used urinary arsenic measurements at baseline (1989–1991) and lung symptoms and function assessment by standardized spirometry at the second e...