Lowering arsenic levels in groundwater decreases death rates from chronic disease: JAMA

Reducing amounts of arsenic in drinking water can lower long-term deaths from cardiovascular disease and cancer , a new study shows.

Researchers at NYU Langone Health, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago say their landmark analysis is important for public health because groundwater contamination from naturally occurring arsenic remains a serious issue worldwide. In the United States, more than 100 million people rely on potentially contaminated groundwater sources, especially private wells, for their drinking water. Arsenic is among the most common chemical pollutants.

During the study, the drinking water and health records of 10,977 men and women in Bangladesh were monitored from 2002 to 2022. Results showed that efforts over the 20 years to reduce arsenic in drinki