Global impact of atmospheric arsenic on health risk: 2005 to 2015
Lei Zhang, Yang Gao, Shiliang Wu, Shaoqing Zhang, Kirk R. Smith, Xiaohong Yao, Huiwang Gao
Abstract
Significance Exposure to arsenic, a toxic pollutant widespread in air and water, has detrimental impacts on human health. Previous studies on arsenic pollution have primarily focused on groundwater arsenic, leaving the influence of atmospheric arsenic largely ignored. In this study, we have successfully simulated the distribution of atmospheric arsenic around the world and thoroughly examined the health impacts from atmospheric arsenic on a global scale. We find that the combined effect from arsenic in both atmosphere and groundwater may substantially aggravate both the carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks associated with arsenic pollution. Our results have important implications for developing effective strategies to mitigate the impacts on public health from arsenic pollution.