Arsenic in low doses can cause cancer

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

Even after filtration, drinking water can contain trace amounts of various inorganic chemicals, including arsenic. A recent study has indicated that even in very small amounts, arsenic can increase the likelihood of cancer.

A new study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) looked at the effects of arsenic on mice. Test mice were given 50 parts-per-billion (ppb), 500 ppb, or 5,000 ppb of arsenic in their drinking water. (To account for their higher metabolism when compared to humans, the mice were given higher doses of arsenic to make up for the difference.)  The mice were given arsenic for a 3-week period both before breeding and throughout pregnancy.

Nearly half of the male offspring mice demonstrated significant increases in both benign and malignant lung tumors at the two lowest arsenic doses (50 ppb and 500 ppb). Female offspring developed benign tumors at these concentrations. Oddly, tumors were seen at the highest exposure level (5,000 ppb) but not at as high a rate as the two lower levels. Further research is required, but these results seem to echo previous research—it would appear even the smaller amounts of arsenic can cause cancer. Arsenic has previously been linked to skin lesions, skin cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.