Arsenic and Erectile Dysfunction: Drinking Contaminated Well Water Increases Risk

Abstract

Vol. 116, No. 4 EnvironewsOpen AccessArsenic and Erectile Dysfunction: Drinking Contaminated Well Water Increases Risk Kris Freeman Kris Freeman Search for more papers by this author Published:1 April 2008https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.116-a172bCited by:3AboutSectionsPDF ToolsDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InReddit Age is the most common risk factor for erectile dysfunction (ED), the consistent or recurrent inability to attain and/or maintain a penile erection sufficient for sexual performance. The correlation between age and ED is attributed to declines in testosterone levels; growing evidence links the condition to cardiovascular disease (CVD) as well. Now researchers from Taiwan have found a direct correlation between ED, the decline of testosterone, and exposure to arsenic via well water—a connection of potential concern for the millions of men worldwide who drink groundwater contaminated with naturally occurring arsenic [EHP 116:532–536; Hsieh et al.].Besides its association with ED, CVD has also been linked to chronic arsenic exposure, perhaps by reducing the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), which is involved in the control of smooth muscle in blood vessels. In the penis, NO activates cyclic guanosine monophosphate, which dilates blood vessels, allowing the penis to become engorged with blood. Testosterone can regulate activity of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase, which creates NO.The researchers measured free testosterone levels in the blood of 129 men with ED and 48 without. The average age of the study participants was about 67 years. Sixty-six of the participants were from an arsenic-endemic area in northeast Taiwan where residents have used contaminated artesian well water for more than 50 years. Arsenic exposure was determined by analysis of participants’ well water.As arsenic exposure of participants increased, so did the risk of ED. The prevalence of ED was 83.3% among men from the arsenic-endemic area compared with 66.7% among men outside this area. Moreover, as the arsenic exposure of the participants increased, their testosterone levels decreased.The risk of carotid atherosclerosis increased with increasing levels of exposure, but only in men who drank well water containing arsenic concentrations higher than 50 ppb. These men also had a significantly higher risk of ED than men who drank water with arsenic concentrations below 50 ppb, even after adjustments for testosterone levels. Other risk factors for ED did not affect the associations.According to the authors, arsenic exposure appears to increase ED risk by decreasing testosterone levels. However, they speculate that other factors are at work, as decreases in testosterone did not account for all the ED found in men with high arsenic exposures. The presence of oxygen free radicals can inhibit the synthesis of NO and impair blood vessel function. Therefore, the researchers suggest that oxidative stress from high arsenic exposure may also increase ED risk.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited by Herberts M and McVary K (2016) Prescription Medications that Affect Sexual Function Contemporary Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction, 10.1007/978-3-319-31587-4_11, (149-162), . Kim J (2013) Effects of low frequency electrical stimulation on the change of male sex hormones in normal men, Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences, 10.1007/s13530-013-0151-z, 5:1, (20-25), Online publication date: 1-Mar-2013. Alphs H and McVary K (2011) Drugs that Affect Sexual Function Contemporary Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction, 10.1007/978-1-60327-536-1_7, (81-91), . Vol. 116, No. 4 April 2008Metrics About Article Metrics Publication History Originally published1 April 2008Published in print1 April 2008 Financial disclosuresPDF download License information EHP is an open-access journal published with support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health. All content is public domain unless otherwise noted. Note to readers with disabilities EHP strives to ensure that all journal content is accessible to all readers. However, some figures and Supplemental Material published in EHP articles may not conform to 508 standards due to the complexity of the information being presented. If you need assistance accessing journal content, please contact [email protected]. Our staff will work with you to assess and meet your accessibility needs within 3 working days.