Raises risk
Arsenic in well water
untested private wells. Drinks.
- Verdict
- Raises riskStudies link it to higher cancer risk.
- How sure
- Rung 5 · EstablishedLarge randomized trials or overwhelming, consistent human evidence; reflected in major guidelines.
The rung shows how sure the science is, not how big the effect is. How to read these ratings
Cancers affected
Lung; bladder and skin
What the evidence shows
Arsenic in drinking water is a convincing cause of lung cancer and a probable cause of bladder and skin cancer.
What to do
If you use a private well, have it tested for arsenic.
Sources
To take it to your doctor, print this page.
Step by step
For the whole picture, from prevention and screening to treatment and life after, see the lung cancer page.