Drinking water quality and cancer risk: translating epidemiological evidence into risk reduction policy.

Arsenic causes kidney and bladder cancer when consumed in large enough amounts. Arsenic is a material that occurs naturally in some rocks. Arsenic present in rocks can enter well water, which is used for drinking water in many parts of Canada. Many Canadians who obtain drinking water from a private well do not follow guidelines about well water testing and treatment. Our current study, funded by the Canadian Cancer Society, is studying the risk of cancer related to arsenic in drinking water in Nova Scotia. We will use this information to devise interventions, community engagement and knowledge transfer activities to improve public take-up of well water testing guidelines and therefore reduce the impact of arsenic in well water on health. We will undertake surveys, interviews and focus groups to identify why people do or do not routinely test and treat their water. We will test an intervention to increase well water testing and treatment in areas where arsenic is present in drinking water wells. This will reduce the amount of cancers that may be caused by arsenic and other heavy metals. This study will identify reasons why many people do not follow government advice regarding testing their well water supply for arsenic and other heavy metals that may cause cancer. We will talk to residents who get their drinking water from a private well. We will also talk to government officials to try to understand in more detail why people do not have their well water tested or treat unsafe water. This information will help us devise interventions that encourage people to follow guidelines regarding well water testing and use. We will support advocacy by utilising the extensive resources of the Canadian Cancer Society Nova Scotia Division, who are knowledge translation partners in this proposal. The interventions and policy recommendations will help reduce the number of cancers that are caused by people drinking well water that contains arsenic and other heavy metals