Epidemiological Consequences of an Arsenic-Lung Cancer Theory

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An epidemiologic chain of excess lung cancer can be traced from miners through smeltermen to arsenical insecticides and on to lead arsenate spray residue on tobacco used in cigarettes. Radioactivity, blamed at Schneeberg, is not high in the Aue smelter, using Schneeberg ores. Yet 45 of 111 men in the smelter died of lung cancer. Arsenic and nickel remain as possible causal agents. German vineyardists and Montana copper workers, with high lung cancer, have no exposure to excess nickel, but both were exposed to excess arsenic. Arsenic alone remains. Arsenic content in cigarettes has ranged up to 50 ppm, 15 times the allowable limit in foodstuffs. Further epidemiological studies on miners, on insecticide users, and on smokers of arsenic-free tobaccos are suggested.