Risk analysis of non-melanoma skin cancer incidence in arsenic exposed population

We analyzed a database of 1503 non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) cases collected over 20 years (four 5-year intervals) in a region polluted by emissions from burning of coal with high arsenic content ranging between 900 and 1500 g per metric ton of dry coal. Exposure assessment was based on biological monitoring (hair and urine). Determination of arsenic was done in groups of 10-year-old boys (in non-occupational settings) at different localities situated up to 30 km from the local power plant. The age and gender standardized incidence of NMSC (each confirmed by biopsy histological examination) in a district with a population similar to125,000 in non-occupational settings ranged from 45.9 to 93.9 in men and from 34.6 to 81.4 in women per 100,000 (study base 1325 thousand men/year and 1337 thousand women/year) while relevant data for occupational settings (male workers of power plant burning arsenic reach coal) ranged from 44.6 to 10 317 per 100,000 (study base 27 thousand men/year). Smoking was carefully registered in all cancer patients including NMSC cases and the potential contribution of both arsenic and smoking was analyzed. Our analysis found a positive correlation of human cumulative arsenic exposure and incidence of NMSC.