Arsenic in private well water can alter the structure of the heart and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Low to moderate levels of arsenic in tap water can trigger heart damage, including in people who have no predisposition to cardiovascular disorders, authors of a study published in the journal Traffic.
To reach these conclusions, the researchers tested the levels of arsenic present in urine samples from more than 1,000 adults drinking water from private wells. At the start of the study, none of the participants had diabetes or heart disease. After following the participants for about seven years, the researchers found that those with high levels of arsenic were more likely to suffer heart damage. Indeed, twice the arsenic level was associated with a 47% increased risk of left ventricular thickening.
Analyze wells to prevent exposure to arsenic
“The higher the arsenic content of drinking water, the greater the damage to the heart. It is important that the general public is aware that arsenic can be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease”, emphasizes Dr. Gernot Pichler, specialist in internal medicine in the cardiology department of the Hietzing/Heart Center Clinic Floridsdorf in Vienna and lead author of the study.
To take a closer look at the impact of arsenic on the heart, Dr. Pichler and his colleagues turned to data from the Strong Heart Family Study, a long-term study of cardiovascular risk factors in Native Americans. “Well testing is a critical first step in taking action and preventing exposure to arsenic,” Dr. Pichler said in an email to the US News Agency. Reuters.
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