Assessment of Oral Mucosal Status in Populations Exposed to Different Concentrations of Arsenic in Drinking Water

Introduction: Arsenic (As) is a major public health concern due to its high toxicity and adverse effects on human health. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified it as a human carcinogen, based on evidence linking its ingestion through drinking water to skin and lung cancer. The objective of this study was to assess oral mucosa status in populations exposed to different concentrations of As in a district of Lambayeque, Peru. Methods: an observational, descriptive, non-experimental, comparative study was conducted. The sample consisted of 164 patients. The Oral Assessment Guide was used as the evaluation instrument. Data were analyzed using inferential statistics (chi-square test). Results: no significant association was found between oral mucosa status and As concentration (p = 0.054). In the group exposed to high concentrations of As, 3.7 % showed alterations in oral cavity structures and 9.8 % presented severe alterations. Conclusion: although no statistically significant association was found, the results show a trend toward statistical significance (p = 0.054), suggesting that As exposure may negatively affect oral mucosa health in populations exposed to high concentrations.