Is ingested inorganic arsenic a ''Threshold'' Carcinogen?

Ingested inorganic arsenic (As) is known to be a human carcinogen. An intriguing question is whether there is a threshold for the carcinogenic effects of As, i.e., is there a level below which it does not induce the development of cancer(s)? This Roundtable will discuss the United States Environmental Protection Agency's As risk assessment using the Taiwan data from different viewpoints. It will also consider the hypothesis that there is a threshold for As and data for or against this hypothesis. For example, some scientists believe that epidemiological data cannot answer this question, while others feel that different study designs and larger sampling will provide adequate data. Reasons for each position are given. This Roundtable discussion demonstrates the controversy surrounding the use of the Taiwan data for risk assessment. (C) 1996 Society of Toxicology