Team Metabolic Health

Participants exposed to arsenic levels at or above the EPA limit had a 42% higher risk of ischemic heart disease, while even moderate exposure increased risk by 20%. 

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In a recent study published in the Environmental Health Perspectives, a group of researchers evaluated the relationship between long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic in drinking water (wAs) supplies and the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) (a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, often due to narrowed coronary arteries) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among women in the California Teachers Study (CTS) cohort.

As is a significant environmental concern linked to various chronic diseases in the United States (U.S.), particularly CVD. Health organizations, including the American Heart Association, acknowledge the increased CVD risk associated with arsenic exposure, particularly at high levels (>100 μg/L). Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lowered the maximum contaminant level for arsenic in community water supplies from 50 μg/L to 10 μg/L in 2006, lower levels may still pose risks. Limited studies have explored the effects of long-term exposure to these lower concentrations on CVD, highlighting the need for further research to understand their safety.

Credit: news-medical.net