Abstract
Most studies on arsenic toxicity have been conducted among populations exposed to arsenic contained in drinking water. Relatively little research concerns effects of airborne arsenic. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between urinary 15-F2t-isoprostane (u15-F2t-IsoP) levels in relation to renal function (urinary creatinine and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase––uNAG) and urinary arsenic (uAs) in inhabitants from copper smelter impact zone. The secondary purpose of the analysis was to assess utility of a potential association between uAs and u15-F2t-IsoP as a biomarker of systemic oxidative stress. Urinary 15-F2t-IsoP, NAG, and creatinine were measured in 967 urine samples collected from 649 adult women (51.9 ± 13.2 years old) and 318 adult men (53.8 ± 14.9 years old). Total uAs concentration was measured in 918 samples using HPLC-ICP-MS. Arsenic species, such as inorganic arsenic, methylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, and arsenobetaine, were measured in urine collected from 255 participants with uAs exceeding the upper norm. Data were analyzed using multivariate linear regression and logistic regression models. In the studied population urinary creatinine was positively associated with uAs. A positive linear correlation (p < 0.0000) between lg(uAs) and u15-F2t-IsoP was found both for normal and elevated uAs. A positive linear correlation was observed also between lg(ΣuAs) and u15-F2t-IsoP (p < 0.0000). In the logistic regression model, after adjustment for confounders, elevated uAs was the only predictor of increased u15-F2t-IsoP (OR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.08–1.59, p < 0.01). Cigarette smoking was associated with renal proximal tubular dysfunction only in people with uNAG concentration above 75th quartile. In the studied population chronically exposed to airborne arsenic, increase in urinary arsenic is associated with renal dysfunction and systemic oxidative stress. Urinary 15-F2t-isoprostane may be useful in the monitoring of health status in populations exposed to airborne arsenic.
Highlights
It is estimated that approximately 200 million people worldwide drink water containing arsenic in concentrations exceeding the WHO-accepted norm of 10 μg/L (WorldHealth Organization 2011)
In the studied population exposed to airborne arsenic median (10th, 90th percentiles), total urinary arsenic (uAs) was 7.5 (2.4–41.8) μg/L, corresponding to 9.9 (3.1–54.7) μg/g creatinine, similar in men and women (Table 1)
In our research, we have clearly shown that an increase in systemic oxidative stress is associated with an increase in urinary arsenic in a population exposed to airborne arsenic
Summary
It is estimated that approximately 200 million people worldwide drink water containing arsenic in concentrations exceeding the WHO-accepted norm of 10 μg/L (WorldHealth Organization 2011). Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with clinical symptoms of arsenic toxicity as well as with the development of cancer (World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC 2002)). Both in humans and laboratory animals, arsenic can cause skin changes, black foot disease, peripheral neuropathy, encephalopathy, hepatomegaly, liver cirrhosis, altered heme metabolism, bone marrow depression, diabetes, renal proximal tubule degeneration, as well as papillary and cortical kidney necrosis (World Health Organization 2011; Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry (ATSDR) 2007; Hughes et al 2011). International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified arsenic and its inorganic compounds as group 1 carcinogens (Straif et al 2009)
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