Skin cancer induced by arsenic in the water

Abstract

Background: Arsenic (As) is a well-recognized poison. Exposure may be of an acute nature, leading to high concentrations and acute arsenic poisoning. Chronic exposure may lead to benign skin changes, skin cancer, and internal malignancy.

Objective: Our purpose was to study the nature, incidence, and sequelae of skin disorders in a group of Argentinean patients suffering from chronic arsenicism due to the intake of contaminated well water.

Methods: All patients who presented with chronic arsenicism at the Dermatology Department of Hospital Posadas (Buenos Aires, Argentina) during a 10-year period (1988-1998) were included in this study. The patient group compromised 9 women and 14 men, the age range was 37-72 years. Diagnosis was based on the clinical triad (keratoderma, leucoderma and epiteliomatosis). We performed clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic studies to confirm diagnosis. We screened for possible internal diseases.

Results: All patients included in this study had cutaneous lesions associated with long-term arsenic exposure. The mean age of the patients was 58.2 years. The estimated mean time of the beginning of the lesions was of 3.7 years. All patients were Argentinean from endemic areas of our country where the arsenic levels are higher than those accepted by the World Health Organization.

Conclusion: This study allows us to conclude that the relationship between arsenic and cancer is frequent and it describes the principal characteristics of this entity in our group of patients.