Abstract
Chronic arsenic (As) exposure is a critical public health issue. The As metabolism can be influenced by many factors. The objective of this study is to verify if these factors influence As metabolism in four Italian areas affected by As pollution. Descriptive analyses were conducted on 271 subjects aged 20–49 in order to assess the effect of each factor considered on As methylation. Percentages of metabolites of As in urine, primary and secondary methylation indexes were calculated as indicators for metabolic capacity. The results indicate that women have a better methylation capacity (MC) than men, and drinking As-contaminated water from public aqueducts is associated with poorer MC, especially in areas with natural As pollution. In areas with anthropogenic As pollution occupational exposure is associated with a higher MC while smoking with a poorer MC. Dietary habits and genetic characteristics are probably implicated in As metabolism. BMI, alcohol consumption and polymorphism of the AS3MT gene seem not to influence As MC. Arsenic metabolism may be affected by various factors and in order to achieve a comprehensive risk assessment of As-associated disease, it is crucial to understand how these factors contribute to differences in As metabolism.
Highlights
Arsenic (As) is a toxic metalloid ubiquitously distributed into the environment
The results indicate that women have a better methylation capacity (MC) than men, and drinking As-contaminated water from public aqueducts is associated with poorer MC, especially in areas with natural As pollution
Arsenic metabolism may be affected by various factors and in order to achieve a comprehensive risk assessment of As-associated disease, it is crucial to understand how these factors contribute to differences in As metabolism
Summary
Arsenic (As) is a toxic metalloid ubiquitously distributed into the environment. The World HealthOrganization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified As and its compounds as human carcinogens [1,2]. Arsenic (As) is a toxic metalloid ubiquitously distributed into the environment. It is well established that As chronic exposure is associated with both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects in a dose-responsive pattern [2,3,4]. Humans are exposed to As principally through contaminated water (for consumption, cooking or irrigation) and food, industrial processes and smoking tobacco [5]. The main As-contributors in the human diet are fish, shellfish, meat, milk and cereals food As exposure is generally lower than water As exposure [6,7]. Environmental exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs), especially from drinking water or occupational settings, has caused calamity in several countries [8,9,10,11]
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