Increased values of arsenic in potable water in eastern Croatia has been a matter of scientific interest for the past two decades due to numerous health effects, including carcinogenic ones. This study investigated whether prolonged exposure to increased arsenic from water could be detectable through increased arsenic in urine, and whether it influenced the incidence of kidney and bladder cancer in Osijek-Baranja County. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for analysis of water samples from available water sources (wells, aqueducts). In addition, examinees from Osijek, Našice, Vladislavci, Čepin and Dalj gave their urine samples for analysis. Data on cancer incidence were obtained from the Institute for Public Health Registry and cumulative incidence of kidney and bladder cancer was calculated for the period between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2018. Elevated arsenic concentration in drinking water was recorded in Vladislavci, Čepin and Osijek area with values above the allowed maximum according to the EU standards (10 µg L-1) and as a result, arsenic levels in urine of the inhabitants were also elevated. Cumulative incidence for bladder cancer showed correlation between increased arsenic in water and urine in the areas affected by increased arsenic in water. Epidemiologic data suggest a conclusion that elevated arsenic could be considered at least as a cofounding factor for urinary tract cancer.
Keywords: Arsenic; Bladder; Kidney; Urine; Water.
Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital.