Abstract
Introduction Coal is widely used in PR China. Unfortunately, coal from some areas in Guizhou Province contains elevated levels of arsenic. This has caused arsenicosis in individuals who use arsenic-contaminated coal for the purposes of cooking, heating and drying food. Aims Porphyrins are produced during heme biosynthetic pathways. Malondialdehyde (MDA) has been used to evaluate lipid peroxidation and DNA damage caused by exogenous free radicals or endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study aims to measure porphyrins and MDA and investigate their potential as early biomarkers of chronic arsenic poisoning. Methods We used HPLC to analyse porphyrin excretion profiles in urine samples from 113 people who live in Xing Ren of Guizhou Province, a coal-borne arsenicosis endemic area and from 30 control samples from Xing Yi where arsenicosis is not prevalent. We analysed urinary MDA by GC-MS in 119 and 30 urine samples obtained from the endemic and control sites respectively. Results Urinary porphyrins and MDA were higher in all arsenic exposed individuals than those of controls. Correlation between the urinary arsenic levels and porphyrin concentrations demonstrated the effect of arsenic on heme biosynthesis resulting in increased porphyrin excretion. Greater increases of urinary arsenic and porphyrin profiles in women, children and older age groups who spend much of their time indoors suggest that they might be at a higher risk. MDA concentrations were significantly higher in young age and female exposed groups than the controls. This confirmed the existence of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress induced by chronic arsenic exposure. Conclusions Porphyrins and MDA are potential early biomarkers of arsenicosis. Elevated levels of porphyrins and MDA could lead to adverse health effects in chronically arsenic-exposed individuals associated with both non-cancer and cancer end-points.
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