Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2023.62.s2.13
Arsenic in Drinking Water and Urine and Its Relationship with Malignant Tumors of Urinary Tract in Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia
Marina Vidosavljević
; Molecular Biosciences Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Study, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia; Health Care Center of Osijek-Baranya County, Osijek, Croatia
Dinko Puntarić
; Croatian Catholic University, Zagreb, Croatia
Vlatka Gvozdić
; Department of Chemistry, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Domagoj Vidosavljević
orcid.org/0000-0002-0621-5403
; Faculty of Medicine in Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
*
Siniša Šijanović
; Faculty of Medicine in Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Mario Šekerija
; Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Miroslav Venus
; Sveti Rok Institute of Public Health of Virovitica-Podravina County, Virovitica, Croatia
Miloš Jovičić
; Faculty of Medicine in Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Lidija Begović
; Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
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
Water; Urine; Arsenic; Kidney; Bladder
Hrčak ID:
309991
URI
Publication date:
31.7.2023.
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