Groundwater to the human gut: arsenic exposure and the prevalence of h. pylori infection
Christabel Obi1, Jennifer McIntosh1, and Heidi E. Brown2
1Department of Hydrology & Atmospheric Sciences
2Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Geogenic arsenic (As) in groundwater and surface water supplies poses significant public health concern due to its classification as a Class 1 carcinogen. In Arizona, naturally occurring arsenic is associated with the basin and range geology, mineralized mountain systems, and sedimentary formations. Although the U.S. drinking water maximum contaminant level for arsenic is 10 ppb, some studies suggest that exposure at concentrations as low as 1-5 ppb which is more widespread may still lead to adverse health outcomes. Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide and it is a known risk factor for chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. Some studies have suggested a possible association between arsenic exposure in well water and increased susceptibility to H. pylori infection and risk of gastric cancer development. However, the spatial co-occurrence and potential mechanistic relationships between these factors remain poorly described. Therefore, this study aims to integrate hydrogeochemical and epidemiological datasets to understand whether arsenic exposure is correlated with H. pylori infection prevalence and gastric cancer risk across the United States.