Arsenic Methylation and Skin Cancer Risk in Southwestern Taiwan

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chao S-C ; Chen Y-C ; Christiani, David C. ; Guo Y-L ; Hsueh Y-M ; Lee JY ; Lee M-S ; Ryan LM ; Smith, Thomas J. ; Su H-J
• Description:
  Arsenic is a known carcinogen, but data are especially lacking on the health effects of low-level exposure, and on the health significance of methylation ability. We conducted a case-control study (76 cases and 224 controls from 1996 to 1999) in southwestern Taiwan to explore the association among primary and secondary arsenic methylation index (PMI and SMI, respectively), cumulative arsenic exposure (CAE), and the risk of skin cancer. As compared with the controls, the skin cancer group reported more sun exposure (P = 0.02) and had a lower BMI (P = 0.03), as well as lower education level (P = 0.01). Skin cancer patients and controls were similar with regard to age, gender, smoking and alcohol consumption. Given a low SMI (<5), CAE >15 mg/L-year was associated with an increased risk of skin cancer (OR, 7.48; 95% CI, 1.65-33.99) compared to a CAE <2 mg/L-year. Given the same level of PMI, SMI, and CAE, men had a higher risk of skin cancer (OR, 4.04; 95% CI, 1.46 -11.22) when compared to women. Subjects with low SMI and high CAE have a substantially increased risk of skin cancer. Males in all strata of arsenic exposure and methylation ability had a higher risk of skin cancer than women. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aging Alcoholic Beverages Arsenic Carcinogens Energy Metabolism Environmental Exposure Epidemiology Inorganic Chemicals Men Neoplasms Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Skin Skin Diseases Smokers Women

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• Keywords:
  Age Groups Alcohol Environmental Exposure Exposure Levels Health Effects Humans Metabolism Risk Factors Skin Cancer Skin Exposure Smoking

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• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  241-248
• Volume:
  45
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20054568
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2003 Mar; 45(3):241-248
• Contact Point Address:
  David C. Christiani, Occupational Health Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
• Email:
  dchris@hohp.harvard.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Arsenic (CAS RN 7440-38-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2003
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20030731
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20050630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:04ea4c2daec3ac4b059d93d6bb600f29305688dd1c0557c027a57b1e40c18cb36c49b8261ebed3182240de3b3ab1bc18738cffc9145fb355baadd710aa771f91
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/217093/cdc_217093_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 184.29 KB ]