Effect of Arsenic Exposure and Cigarette Smoking on Total and Cause-Specific Mortality: An Occupational Cohort With 27 Follow-up Years

2023-03-01

Background: The relationship between arsenic exposure and all-cause mortality and the joint effects of arsenic exposure and smoking have been poorly described in previous studies.

Methods: After 27 years of follow-up, a total of 1738 miners were included in the analysis. Different statistical methods were used to explore the relationship between arsenic exposure and smoking and the risk of all-cause mortality and various causes of death.

Results: A total of 694 deaths occurred during the 36,199.79 person-years of follow-up. Cancer was the leading cause of death, and arsenic-exposed workers had significantly higher mortality rates for all-cause, cancer, and cerebrovascular disease. All-cause, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, and respiratory disease increased with cumulative arsenic exposure.

Conclusions: We demonstrated the negative effects of smoking and arsenic exposure on all-cause mortality. More effective actions should be taken to reduce arsenic exposure in miners.

Authors: Xin-Hua Jia, Yu-Fei Li, Ya-Guang Fan, Qing-Hua Zhou, Fang-Hui Zhao, You-Lin Qiao, Marja Lalley
; Full Source: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2023 Mar 1;65(3):217-223. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002764.