Dietary metal(loid)s exposure and their health risks to patients with gastric precancerous lesions and gastric cancer in Anhui Province, Eastern China.

Environmental exposure to heavy metals and metalloids has been shown to significantly impact the incidence of gastric cancer. This study utilized inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to evaluate biological and environmental samples from residents of Anhui province, a region in China with a high incidence of gastric cancer. The results revealed a statistically significant positive correlation between gastric cancer incidence and arsenic (As) concentrations in water; chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), As, and Cadmium (Cd) in soil; and aluminum (Al), As, and Cd in grain. Conversely, a negative correlation was observed between that with selenium (Se) and Zn in water, and Cr, Zn, Se and lead (Pb) in grain, highlighting the potential impact of dietary exposure, including the soil exposure on which the grain is grown on human health. Additionally, levels of As, Se, and Cd in urine demonstrated significant predictive value for distinguishing between healthy individuals and those with gastric lesions (precancerous and cancerous). Correlation analysis between environmental and urinary elements revealed a statistically significant positive correlation between As levels in urine and cereals across all three regional groups in Anhui. These findings underscore the need for ongoing monitoring and targeted interventions to mitigate the health risks associated with environmental contamination.