Cardiovascular Mortality, Municipal Water, and Corrosion

Abstract

In order to examine the water factor influencing cardiovascular death rates, concentrations of 35 constituents of municipal water in 94 major United States cities were correlated by computer with death rates from cerebral hemorrhage, hypertensive heart disease, other hypertensive diseases, cerebral thrombosis, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and congenital abnormalities, in all races, sexes, and ages.

Highly significant inverse correlations appeared for 15 constituents with death rates from arteriosclerotic heart disease; 12 were metals. Significances increased in older age groups. Corrosiveness of water as measured by Langelier’s index was directly correlated with deaths from atherosclerotic heart disease at high levels of significance. Hardness of water was a less outstanding factor. Constituents of water were less significantly correlated with other diseases, and little with congenital abnormalities. The elements affecting death rates were probably not among those measured. As corrosive tap water contains metals dissolved from pipes in houses and municipal water does not, the water factor may result from cardiotoxic metals like cadmium and antimony.