US EPA

54467 

Journal Article 

Correlations between carcinogenic trace metals in water supplies and cancer mortality 

Berg, JW; Burbank, F 

1972 

Yes 

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
ISSN: 0077-8923
EISSN: 1749-6632 

EPIDEM/001215 

199 

1 Geochemical E 

249-264 

English 

4506509 

10.1111/j.1749-6632.1972.tb54342.x 

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1972.tb54342.x/abstract
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The correlation between cancer and carcinogenic trace metals in water supplies was analyzed. Trace metals selected for analysis were: arsenic (7440382), beryllium (7440417), cadmium (7440439), chromium (7440473), cobalt (7440484), iron (7439896), lead (7439921), and nickel (7440020). Ten major water basins in the United States were selected. A summary statistic that consisted of the frequency of detection and the average detected concentration of each given metal was calculated for each basin. With this summary statistic, a rank ordering of the basins for the eight metals in question was determined. s rank was compared to the rank of the state or states included within each basin for each of 34 types of cancer. Spearman rank correlations were calculated for each of four population groups defined as white males, white females, nonwhite males and nonwhite females. With 8 metals and 34 cancers, there were 272 comparisons made. Twenty eight positive correlations were found at a level of 5 percent significance. The excessive positive correlations were observed for cadmium and lead. For chromium, cobalt, and iron there were no positive correlations significant at the 5 percent level. The authors suggest that there is a need for studies designed to specifically test the linkage hypotheses of metals to cancer in view of the increase of such elements in our environment. 

DCN-116012; Trace substances; Toxic effects; Toxins; Disease incidence; Drinking water; Environmental factors; Cancer rate; Carcinogens; Water analysis