Risk of urinary tract cancers following arsenic exposure and tobacco smoking: a review

Environ Geochem Health. 2023 Aug;45(8):5579-5598. doi: 10.1007/s10653-023-01627-3. Epub 2023 May 30.

Abstract

Bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and kidney cancer, due to their high morbidity and mortality rates, result in significant economic and health care costs. Arsenic exposure affects the drinking water of millions of people worldwide. Long-term exposure to arsenic, even in low concentrations, increases the risk of developing various cancers. Smoking is also one of the leading causes of bladder, prostate and kidney cancers. Accordingly, this research reviews the relationship between arsenic exposure and smoking with three kinds of urinary tract cancers (bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and kidney cancer) due to their widespread concern for their negative impact on public health globally. In this review, we have gathered the most current information from scientific databases [PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, ISI web of science] regarding the relationship between arsenic exposure and tobacco smoking with the risk of bladder, prostate, and kidney cancer. In several studies, a significant relationship was determined between the incidence and mortality rate of the above-mentioned cancers in humans with arsenic exposure and tobacco smoking. The decrease or cessation of smoking and consumption of arsenic-free water significantly declined the incidence of bladder, prostate, and kidney cancers.

Keywords: Arsenic exposure; Bladder cancer; Kidney cancer; Prostate cancer; Tobacco smoking.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic* / analysis
  • Arsenic* / toxicity
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms* / chemically induced
  • Kidney Neoplasms* / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / complications
  • Smoking / adverse effects
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Tobacco Smoking
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* / chemically induced
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* / epidemiology

Substances

  • Arsenic