Hair Arsenic Concentrations Research Articles

Groundwater arsenic contamination in one of the 107 arsenic-affected blocks in West Bengal, India: Status, distribution, health effects and factors responsible for arsenic poisoning

A somewhat detailed study was carried out in Gaighata, one of the 107 arsenic-affected blocks in West Bengal, India, to determine the degree of groundwater contamination with arsenic, its depth wise distribution, correlation with iron, arsenical health effects to the inhabitants and the factors responsible for arsenic poisoning. Groundwater in all the 107 mouzas over 13 gram-panchayets in Gaighata block contains arsenic above 0.01mgl(-1) and in 91 mouzas, arsenic concentration has been found above 0.05mgl(-1). About 59.2 and 40.3% of the tubewell water samples contain arsenic above 0.01 and 0.05mgl(-1), respectively. The approximate population drinking arsenic-contaminated water above 0.01 and 0.05mgl(-1) are 106,560 and 72,540, respectively. The tubewells that were installed within the depth range of 15.4-30.3m are mostly arsenic-contaminated. Even the shallow groundwater level (7.87-15.1m) is arsenic-contaminated. Both arsenic and iron concentrations in groundwater gradually increase from lower depth to higher depth up to 39.4m, and then decrease with increasing depth. About 58% of the deep tubewell water samples (depth range 122-182m, n=31) contain arsenic ≥0.05mgl(-1). About 72% of the arsenic-contaminated deep tubewells (n=18) were safe when surveyed first time. But within a span of 2-5 years, they became contaminated with arsenic. The linear regression shows direct correlation between arsenic and iron concentrations in groundwater (r(2)=0.8114, p<0.0001, n=912). Intakes of inorganic arsenic from water by an adult male and female in the surveyed areas are 11.7 and 13.1μg/kg body wt./day, respectively and these values are higher than the WHO recommended PTDI value of inorganic arsenic (2.1μg/kg body wt./day). Mean arsenic concentrations in urine, hair and nail samples, collected from the inhabitants of Gutri mouza are higher than their normal level and the values are 292μgl(-1) (range: 8.35-1024μg l(-1), n=193), 2.50mgkg(-1) (range: 0.17-5.99mgkg(-1), n=132), and 6.05mgkg(-1) (range: 0.55-16.7mgkg(-1), n=116), respectively. About 83% and 68% of the urine samples (n=250) contain arsenic above 100 and 200μgl(-1), respectively. Linear regressions show very good correlations between arsenic concentrations in water vs. urine, hair and nail samples from the inhabitants (n=103) of Gutri mouza. About 18.3% of the population (n=930) were registered with arsenical skin lesions.

Ground water arsenic contamination in West Bengal, India: A risk of sub-clinical toxicity in cattle as evident by correlation between arsenic exposure, excretion and deposition

Arsenic contamination of ground water in West Bengal, India, is a great concern for both human and livestock populations. Our study investigated and correlated the arsenic concentration in the drinking water, urinary excretion and deposition of total arsenic in hair of cattle at an arsenic contaminated zone in West Bengal. The results of our study indicated that the average concentration of arsenic in tube well water in contaminated villages ranged from 0.042 to 0.251 ppm and a statistical significant (p < 0.01) difference was seen when compared to samples from a non-contaminated zone. The arsenic concentration in urine and hair of cattle ranged between 0.245-0.691 ppm and 0.461-0.984 ppm, respectively. A close relationship was found between the total arsenic in drinking water urinary excretion (r² = 0.03664, p < 0.05) and the arsenic concentration in hair (r² = 0.03668, p < 0.05). Our findings indicate that quantification of arsenic concentration in cattle urine and hair can serve as biomarkers for both present and past exposure in cattle population.

Association between arsenic exposure and plasma cholinesterase activity: a population based study in Bangladesh.

BackgroundArsenic is a potent pollutant that has caused an environmental catastrophe in certain parts of the world including Bangladesh where millions of people are presently at risk due to drinking water contaminated by arsenic. Chronic arsenic exposure has been scientifically shown as a cause for liver damage, cancers, neurological disorders and several other ailments. The relationship between plasma cholinesterase (PChE) activity and arsenic exposure has not yet been clearly documented. However, decreased PChE activity has been found in patients suffering liver dysfunction, heart attack, cancer metastasis and neurotoxicity. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the PChE activity in individuals exposed to arsenic via drinking water in Bangladesh.MethodsA total of 141 Bangladeshi residents living in arsenic endemic areas with the mean arsenic exposure of 14.10 ± 3.27 years were selected as study subjects and split into tertile groups based on three water arsenic concentrations: low (< 129 μg/L), medium (130-264 μg/L) and high (> 265 μg/L). Study subjects were further sub-divided into two groups (≤50 μg/L and > 50 μg/L) based on the recommended upper limit of water arsenic concentration (50 μg/L) in Bangladesh. Blood samples were collected from the study subjects by venipuncture and arsenic concentrations in drinking water, hair and nail samples were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). PChE activity was assayed by spectrophotometer.ResultsArsenic concentrations in hair and nails were positively correlated with the arsenic levels in drinking water. Significant decreases in PChE activity were observed with increasing concentrations of arsenic in water, hair and nails. The average levels of PChE activity in low, medium and high arsenic exposure groups were also significantly different between each group. Lower levels of PChE activity were also observed in the > 50 μg/L group compared to the ≤50 μg/L group. Moreover, PChE activity was significantly decreased in the skin (+) symptoms group compared to those without (-).ConclusionsWe found a significant inverse relationship between arsenic exposure and PChE activity in a human population in Bangladesh. This research demonstrates a novel exposure-response relationship between arsenic and PChE activity which may explain one of the biological mechanisms through which arsenic exerts its neuro-and hepatotoxicity in humans.

Changes in hair arsenic concentration in a population exposed to heavy pollution: Follow-up investigation in Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, Southern China

Follow-up investigation on hair arsenic concentration was conducted in an arsenic heavily polluted area of southern China in 2002 and 2006. The results showed that the geometric mean of hair arsenic concentration decreased from 2.95 mg/kg in 2002 to 1.78 mg/kg in 2006, when the percentage of the population with levels over 1 mg/kg only decreased from 93.4% in 2002 to 80.5% in 2006. Over this four-year period, the population with high arsenic concentrations decreased significantly while there was no obvious change in hair arsenic concentration for people who had relatively low concentrations. In terms of age distribution, young and old people had higher hair arsenic concentrations than the middle-aged. All of these results showed that it is difficult to reverse the negative impact of arsenic pollution on human health. Arsenic pollution has a long-term continuous influence on the health of local residents.

Genetic polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferase (GST) superfamily and arsenic metabolism in residents of the Red River Delta, Vietnam

To elucidate the role of genetic factors in arsenic metabolism, we investigated associations of genetic polymorphisms in the members of glutathione S-transferase (GST) superfamily with the arsenic concentrations in hair and urine, and urinary arsenic profile in residents in the Red River Delta, Vietnam. Genotyping was conducted for GST omega1 (GSTO1) Ala140Asp, Glu155del, Glu208Lys, Thr217Asn, and Ala236Val, GST omega2 (GSTO2) Asn142Asp, GST pi1 (GSTP1) Ile105Val, GST mu1 (GSTM1) wild/null, and GST theta1 (GSTT1) wild/null. There were no mutation alleles for GSTO1 Glu208Lys, Thr217Asn, and Ala236Val in this population. GSTO1 Glu155del hetero type showed higher urinary concentration of As(V) than the wild homo type. Higher percentage of DMA(V) in urine of GSTM1 wild type was observed compared with that of the null type. Strong correlations between GSTP1 Ile105Val and arsenic exposure level and profile were observed in this study. Especially, heterozygote of GSTP1 Ile105Val had a higher metabolic capacity from inorganic arsenic to monomethyl arsenic, while the opposite trend was observed for ability of metabolism from As(V) to As(III). Furthermore, other factors including sex, age, body mass index, arsenic level in drinking water, and genotypes of As (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (AS3MT) were also significantly co-associated with arsenic level and profile in the Vietnamese. To our knowledge, this is the first study indicating the associations of genetic factors of GST superfamily with arsenic metabolism in a Vietnamese population.

Were Chinchorros exposed to arsenic? Arsenic determination in Chinchorro mummies' hair by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)

Abstract Chinchorros, a fishermen culture, who lived about 7000 years ago in the coastal region of the Atacama Desert in the northern outpost of present-day Chile, practiced an intricate system of mummification of their dead. The drinking water in this region is rich with arsenic, and the mummies were found in these arsenic endemic areas. Well preserved mummy hair samples provided a unique opportunity to explore the ancient arsenic exposure of the Chinchorros by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) using a single hair strand without any elaborate sample preparation. Forty-six hair samples from mummies found in five burial sites around the Atacama Desert, Chile, were used for this study. After cleaning, hair strands were placed on mounting tape and ablated using a Nd–YAG UV laser coupled to ICP-MS. A suite of contemporary human hair from the same region with known arsenic concentrations was used for calibration of LA-ICP-MS. Satisfactory linear calibration functions were obtained for arsenic in hair. The method detection limit was 0.8 µg/g and the sample throughput for this method is ∼ 10 samples per hour. It appears that mummies from the Morro (Arica), Iquique and Camarones had the elevated concentration of arsenic in hair (AsH > 10 µg/g) in this sub-set of samples, where Morro had the broad distribution of As concentrations.

Mother Load: Arsenic May Contribute to Gestational Diabetes

Vol. 117, No. 7 NewsOpen AccessMother Load: Arsenic May Contribute to Gestational Diabetes Julia R. BarrettMS, ELS Julia R. Barrett Search for more papers by this author Published:1 July 2009https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.117-a310bCited by:1AboutSectionsPDF ToolsDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InReddit Chronic exposure to arsenic—usually via drinking water contaminated with inorganic arsenic—has been associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in countries around the world. New research shows that arsenic exposure may be an environmental risk [EHP117:1059–1064; Ettinger et al.].Arsenic may promote type 2 diabetes by increasing insulin resistance (inability to utilize insulin at the cellular level) and impairing insulin production. Insulin resistance is also a central feature of gestational diabetes, a potential complication during pregnancy that can lead to a 30–60% increased risk for the mother of developing lifelong diabetes, as well as impaired glucose tolerance, adverse birth outcomes, and obesity in her child.The study was conducted near the Tar Creek Superfund site in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, whose residents include many Native Americans, a population already at elevated risk for type 2 diabetes. The area, once active in lead and zinc mining, has an above-average poverty rate compared with the rest of Oklahoma and the nation. Mine waste contaminated with assorted metals is still present and has been used to build roads, playgrounds, driveways, and house foundations. Moreover, 25% of drinking water samples tested in the area have naturally occuring arsenic levels exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level of 10 μg/L.Total arsenic concentrations were measured in blood and hair samples collected at delivery from 532 women; blood was available from all women and hair from a subset of 179. Routine prenatal glucose tolerance tests conducted between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy yielded plasma glucose measurements, and questionnaires and medical record review provided data on sociodemographic characteristics, potential sources of arsenic exposure, and pregnancy history. Blood arsenic concentrations, a measure of biologically active arsenic, were between 0.2 and 24.1 μg/L, whereas hair arsenic concentrations, an indicator of cumulative exposure, were 1.1–724.4 ng/g. Blood glucose levels ranged from 40 to 284 mg/dL. At a cut-off value of > 140 mg/dL, 12% of the women were identified as having impaired glucose tolerance; a cut-off value of 130 mg/dL yielded a prevalence of more than 20%. A statistically significant relationship existed between each increasing quartile of blood arsenic exposure and impaired glucose tolerance after controlling for health and demographic factors. Depending on the glucose test cut-off value, women in the highest quartile of arsenic exposure were 2.4–2.8 times more likely to have impaired glucose tolerance than women in the lowest quartile of exposure.These results suggest that chronic arsenic exposure may increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes. A better understanding of this and other factors through further research may identify modifiable risk factors this condition.Millions of people worldwide may be exposed to naturally occurring arsenic in drinking water.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited By Peng S, Liu L, Zhang X, Heinrich J, Zhang J, Schramm K, Huang Q, Tian M, Eqani S and Shen H (2015) A nested case-control study indicating heavy metal residues in meconium associate with maternal gestational diabetes mellitus risk, Environmental Health, 10.1186/s12940-015-0004-0, 14:1, Online publication date: 1-Dec-2015. Vol. 117, No. 7 July 2009Metrics About Article Metrics Publication History Originally published1 July 2009Published in print1 July 2009 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.

Arsenic in hair and nails of individuals exposed to arsenic-rich groundwaters in Kandal province, Cambodia

The health implications of the consumption of high arsenic groundwater in Bangladesh and West Bengal are well-documented, however, little is known about the level of arsenic exposure elsewhere in Southeast Asia, where widespread exploitation of groundwater resources is less well established. We measured the arsenic concentrations of nail and hair samples collected from residents of Kandal province, Cambodia, an area recently identified to host arsenic-rich groundwaters, in order to evaluate the extent of arsenic exposure. Nail and hair arsenic concentrations ranged from 0.20 to 6.50 μg g − 1 ( n = 70) and 0.10 to 7.95 μg g − 1 ( n = 40), respectively, in many cases exceeding typical baseline levels. The arsenic content of the groundwater used for drinking water purposes (0.21–943 μg L − 1 ( n = 31)) was positively correlated with both nail ( r = 0.74, p < 0.0001) and hair ( r = 0.86, p < 0.0001) arsenic concentrations. In addition, the nail and hair samples collected from inhabitants using groundwater that exceeded the Cambodian drinking water legal limit of 50 μg L − 1 arsenic contained significantly more arsenic than those of individuals using groundwater containing < 50 μg L − 1 arsenic. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy suggested that sulfur-coordinated arsenic was the dominant species in the bulk of the samples analysed, with additional varying degrees of As(III)-O character. Tentative linear least squares fitting of the XANES data pointed towards differences in the pattern of arsenic speciation between the nail and hair samples analysed, however, mismatches in sample and standard absorption peak intensity prevented us from unambiguously determining the arsenic species distribution. The good correlation with the groundwater arsenic concentration, allied with the relative ease of sampling such tissues, indicate that the arsenic content of hair and nail samples may be used as an effective biomarker of arsenic intake in this relatively recently exposed population.

Arsenic in the breast milk of lactating women in arsenic-affected areas of West Bengal, India and its effect on infants

Two hundred and twenty-six breast milk samples were collected from lactating women from 3 blocks of North-24 Paragans, one of the arsenic-affected districts of West Bengal, India. Out of 226 samples, only in 39 samples arsenic was detected. Urine, hair, and nail samples were also analyzed to know the arsenic body burden of the lactating women. Arsenic in drinking water was also analyzed. Principle component analysis (PCA) revealed that hair and nail arsenic was highly correlated with water arsenic concentrations, whereas arsenic in urine and breast milk did not cluster with water arsenic. Our present study indicated that among the lactating women who had high arsenic body burden and arsenical skin lesions, they had elevated level of arsenic in their breast milk. Arsenic in hair, nails, and urine samples of infants were analyzed, and the results showed significantly high-body burden of infants in those areas. PCA showed the age-dependent relationship between the hair and nail arsenic concentrations of the mothers and their babies.

Quality of groundwater in eastern Croatia. The problem of arsenic pollution

Groundwater in the area of eastern Croatia contains high concentrations of iron, manganese, ammonia, organic substances and arsenic. The appearance of inorganic arsenic in groundwater is mainly caused by arsenic from natural geological sources. Since the groundwater is the main source of drinking water for the population in this area, almost 200,000 people are daily drinking water with arsenic concentration ranging from 10 to 610 μg/L. The Croatian legislation recently revised the maximum concentration limit (MCL) for arsenic in drinking water to 10 μg/L. The population in the two towns (Osijek and Vinkovci) of this region is supplied with groundwater processed by coagulation-filtration method, but in the other towns and villages water treatment implies only rapid sand filtration. Both methods for water treatment have resulted with higher arsenic concentration than MCL, so the main goal of this study was determination of population exposure to arsenic via drinking water and possible improvement of drinking water quality. Population exposure to arsenic via drinking water is determined with hair analysis, since the hair arsenic concentration is one of three most commonly employed biomarkers used to identify or quantify overall arsenic exposure. During this study the preliminary analyses of hair arsenic concentrations in several towns and villages in eastern Croatia were provided. The positive correlation between heightened arsenic concentration in drinking water and hair arsenic concentration was determined. In order to improve drinking water quality e.g. arsenic removal from contaminated drinking water, different modified adsorbents were used and compared (zeolite–clinoptilolite, manganese greensand and cationic exchange resin). Adsorbents were chemically modified and saturated with Fe(III) ions, while the arsenic solutions were prepared by processed groundwater.

Inorganic arsenic exposure and its relation to metabolic syndrome in an industrial area of Taiwan

Past arsenic exposure was found associated with increased incidence of type 2 diabetes. However, the mechanisms remain unclear. Metabolic syndrome has been shown as a strong predictor for diabetes occurrence. We aimed at examining the association of inorganic arsenic exposure and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. The authors recruited 660 age and gender stratified random population of residents in central Taiwan during 2002–2003. They received home interviews and health examinations at local health care units, where blood and hair specimens were collected. Hair arsenic (H-As) concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of three or more of the following risk factors: elevated levels of blood pressure, plasma glucose, and triglycerides, also the body mass index, and reduced high-density lipoprotein. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased from the 2nd tertile (0.034 ug/g) of H-As levels (odds ratio = 2.54, 95% confidence interval: 1.20–5.39, p = 0.015) after the adjustment for age, gender, occupation and life styles including cigarette smoking. We further found linear relation between H-As concentrations and increased levels of plasma glucose and lipids, and blood pressures. This first report may help identify modifiable factors associated with diabetogenesis and cardiovascular disease progression and thus be worth following for community health.

Spatial and temporal variations in arsenic exposure via drinking-water in northern Argentina.

This study evaluated the spatial, temporal and inter-individual variations in exposure to arsenic via drinking-water in Northern Argentina, based on measurements of arsenic in water, urine, and hair. Arsenic concentrations in drinking-water varied markedly among locations, from <1 to about 200 microg/L. Over a 10-year period, water from the same source in San Antonio de los Cobres fluctuated within 140 and 220 microg/L, with no trend of decreasing concentration. Arsenic concentrations in women's urine (3-900 microg/L, specific weight 1.018 g/mL) highly correlated with concentrations in water on a group level, but showed marked variations between individuals. Arsenic concentrations in hair (range 20-1,500 microg/kg) rather poorly correlated with urinary arsenic, possibly due to external contamination. Thus, arsenic concentration in urine seems to be a better marker of individual arsenic exposure than concentrations in drinking-water and hair.

Arsenic groundwater contamination and its health effects in the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) in upper and middle Ganga plain, India: A severe danger

This communication presents results of our 2-year survey on groundwater arsenic contamination in three districts Ballia, Varanasi and Gazipur of Uttar Pradesh (UP) in the upper and middle Ganga plain, India. Analyses of 4780 tubewell water samples revealed that arsenic concentrations in 46.5% exceeded 10 μg/L, in 26.7%, 50 μg/L and in 10% 300 μg/L limits. Arsenic concentrations up to 3192 μg//L were observed. The age of tubewells (n=1881) ranged from less than a year to 32 years, with an average of 6.5 years. Our study shows that older tubewells had a greater chance of contamination. Depth of tubewells (n=3810) varied from 6 to 60.5 m with a mean of 25.75 m. A detailed study in three administrative units within Ballia district, i.e. block, Gram Panchayet, and village was carried out to assess the magnitude of the contamination. Before our survey the affected villagers were not aware that they were suffering from arsenical toxicity through contaminated drinking water. A preliminary clinical examination in 11 affected villages (10 from Ballia and 1 from Gazipur district) revealed typical arsenical skin lesions ranging from melanosis, keratosis to Bowens (suspected). Out of 989 villagers (691 adults, and 298 children) screened, 137 (19.8%) of the adults and 17 (5.7%) of the children were diagnosed to have typical arsenical skin lesions. Arsenical neuropathy and adverse obstetric outcome were also observed, indicating severity of exposure. The range of arsenic concentrations in hair, nail and urine was 137–10,900, 764–19,700 μg/kg, and 23–4030 μg/L, respectively. The urine, hair and nail concentrations of arsenic correlated significantly (r=0.76, 0.61, and 0.55, respectively) with drinking water arsenic concentrations. The similarity to previous studies on arsenic contamination in West Bengal, Bihar and Bangladesh indicates that people from a significant part of the surveyed areas in UP are suffering and this will spread unless drives to raise awareness of arsenic toxicity are undertaken and an arsenic safe water supply is immediately introduced.

Urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine in inhabitants chronically exposed to arsenic in groundwater in Cambodia

Arsenic concentrations in hair and urine, and urinary levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a marker of oxidative DNA damage, were examined for inhabitants of the Mekong Basin in Kratie Province, Cambodia. Also, the arsenic levels of tube-well water were determined. Total arsenic concentrations in tube-well water ranged from <1 to 886 microg L(-1), and 44.8% of these exceeded the WHO drinking water guideline of 10 microg L(-1). Elevated levels of arsenic were observed in the human hair and urine, and also a significant positive correlation was observed between the concentrations in hair and urine. These results suggest that the inhabitants are chronically exposed to arsenic through drinking the tube-well water. Levels of urinary 8-OHdG were higher for the subjects with higher arsenic levels in hair and urine, suggesting that induction of oxidative DNA damage was caused by chronic exposure to arsenic in tube-well water for the inhabitants in Kratie Province. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the oxidative DNA damage caused by chronic exposure to arsenic in groundwater for the inhabitants in Cambodia.

Intake of arsenic from water, food composites and excretion through urine, hair from a studied population in West Bengal, India

To evaluate the main intake source of arsenic by the villagers from arsenic-affected families in Jalangi and Domkol blocks in Mushidabad district, West Bengal—India, we determined the concentrations of arsenic in tubewell water and in food composites, mainly including vegetables and cereals collected from the surveyed families which were cultivated in that region. The daily dietary intakes of arsenic by the villagers were estimated and the excretions of arsenic through urine and hair were determined. The arsenic concentrations in hair and urine of the studied population living in mild (2.78 μg/L), moderate (30.7 μg/L) and high (118 μg/L) arsenic-affected families were 133, 1391 and 4713 μg/kg and 43.1, 244 and 336 μg/L, respectively. The linear regressions show good correlations between arsenic concentrations in water vs hair ( r 2 = 0.928, p < 0.001) and water vs urine ( r 2 = 0.464, p < 0.01). Approximately 29.4%, 58.1% and 62.1% of adult population from mild, moderate and high arsenic-affected families were suffering from arsenical skin manifestations. The mean arsenic concentrations of food composites (vegetables and cereals) in high arsenic-affected families are not significantly different from mild arsenic-affected families. The daily dietary intakes of arsenic from water and food composites of the studied population, living in high, moderate and mild arsenic-affected families were 568, 228 and 137 μg, respectively. The linear regressions show good correlations between arsenic concentrations in hair vs daily dietary intake ( r 2 = 0.452, p < 0.001) and urine vs daily dietary intake ( r 2 = 0.134, p < 0.001). The water for drinking contributed 6.07%, 26.7% and 58.1% of total arsenic in our study from mild, moderate and high arsenic-affected families. The result suggested that the contaminated water from high arsenic-affected families should be the main source for intake of arsenic. On contrary, the contribution of arsenic-contaminated food composites from mild and moderate arsenic-affected families might be the main source for intake of arsenic. The Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) values of arsenic in our study were 3.32, 5.75 and 12.9 μg/kg body weight/day from mild, moderate and high arsenic-affected families, respectively, which is higher than the recommended PTWI value of arsenic (2.1 μg/kg body weight/day).

ARSENIC DOSE AND ITS RELATION TO CARDIOVASCULAR RISK AMONG RESIDENTS IN MIDDLE TAIWAN

ISEE-34 Introduction / Aim: Arsenic has been found to be abundant in general, and much attention has been paid to the southwestern Pacific region. Blackfoot disease was found to be endemic in the southwestern coast of Taiwan, due to the ingestion of artesian well water with high arsenic concentrations. Even today, researchers still observe high rates of cancers and various vascular diseases in this area. However, much less information is known for the general population in Taiwan. Methods: In order to investigate arsenic body load in community residents and to examine the associated factors for both exposure and cardiovascular effects, we carried out a cross-sectional study of residents from industrial and non-industrial areas of middle Taiwan. A random sample, stratified for age (35-, 45- and 55-) and gender, was taken during 2002.09 ∼ 2003.03, using household surveys, where interviews were conducted by public health nurses. Clinicians performed heath checkups in health care units, where fasting venous blood samples were collected and blood pressure was measured. Total arsenic levels in hair, blood, and urine were quantified by inductive coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), after standardized pre-treatment and quality control including assurance tests had been carried out. Results: Hair arsenic concentration, in the inorganic form, was significantly higher in industrial (0.06 μg/g hair) when compared to non-industrial (0.04 μg/g hair) areas (p=0.002). Use of underground water (odds ratio (OR)=1.97, p=0.003) and male gender (OR=15.4, p<0.001) are independent factors associated with increased arsenic level in hair, when considering occupation and life style of the subjects. Hair arsenic level was demonstrated to be an important predictor of metabolic syndrome, next to age and gender. The excess risk for arsenic load was most significant in the 35–44 age group. The pattern for the increased risk was similar for hypertension (OR=1.5, p=0.098), when all the potential risk factors were taken into consideration. Increased plasma glucose concentrations with increasing hair arsenic levels was profound in diabetic patients (r=0.25, p=0.05). Conclusion: This first report on internal arsenic exposure associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome and hypertension in the community is worth noting, for the prevention of high prevalence of the diseases in industrialized countries.

Contamination by arsenic and other trace elements in tube-well water and its risk assessment to humans in Hanoi, Vietnam

Concentrations of As and other trace elements and their association were examined in groundwater ( n=25) and human hair ( n=59) collected at Gia Lam District and Thanh Tri District, suburban areas of Hanoi, Vietnam, in September 2001. Concentrations of As in the groundwater ranged from <0.10 to 330 μg/l, with about 40% of these exceeding WHO drinking water guideline of 10 μg/l. Also, 76% and 12% of groundwater samples had higher concentrations of Mn and Ba than WHO drinking water guidelines, respectively. Arsenic concentrations in hair of residents in Gia Lam and Thanh Tri Districts (range 0.088–2.77 μg/g dry wt.) were lower than those in other As-contaminated areas of the world, but were higher than those of people in non-contaminated areas. Concentrations of As and Mn in hair of some individuals from the Gia Lam and Thanh Tri Districts exceeded the level associated with their toxicity and, therefore, a potential health risk of As and Mn is a concern for the people consuming the contaminated water in this area. Cumulative As exposure was estimated to be lower than the threshold levels at the present, which might explain the absence of manifestations of chronic As poisoning and arsenicosis in the residents of Gia Lam and Thanh Tri Districts. To our knowledge, this study revealed for the first time that the residents are exposed not only to As but also Mn and Ba from groundwater in the Red River Delta, Vietnam.

High exposure to arsenic from drinking water at several localities in eastern Croatia

This study investigated the relationship between arsenic concentrations in drinking water in four towns/villages in eastern Croatia and corresponding hair arsenic concentrations of residents. The mean arsenic concentrations in community drinking water samples were 0.14, 37.88, 171.60, and 611.89 μg/l. The corresponding mean concentrations of the element in hair samples of subjects residing in each of the localities were 0.07 ( n=11), 0.26 ( n=17), 1.74 ( n=11), and 4.31 μg/g ( n=23). Chronic exposures to arsenic levels estimated in three investigated locations could present a serious health threat to around 3% of Croatian population.

Arsenic speciation in human hair: a new perspective for epidemiological assessment in chronic arsenicism

The analysis for arsenic in hair is commonly used in epidemiological studies to assess exposure to this toxic element. However, poor correlation between total arsenic concentration in hair and water sources have been found in previous studies. Exclusive determination of endogenous arsenic in the hair, excluding external contamination has become an analytical challenge. Arsenic speciation in hair appears as a new possibility for analytical assessing in As-exposure studies. This study applied a relative simple method for arsenic speciation in human hair based on water extraction and HPLC-HG-ICP-MS. The concentration of arsenic species in human hair was assessed in chronically As(V)-exposed populations from two villages (Esquiña and Illapata) of the Atacama Desert, Chile. The arsenic concentrations in drinking water are 0.075 and 1.25 mg L(-1), respectively, where As(V) represented between 92 and 99.5% of the total arsenic of the consumed waters. On average, the total arsenic concentrations in hair from individuals of Esquiña and Illapata were 0.7 and 6.1 microg g(-1), respectively. Four arsenic species, As(III), DMA(V), MMA(V) and As(V), were detected and quantified in the hair extracts. Assuming the found species in extracts represent the species in hair, more than 98% of the total arsenic in hair corresponded to inorganic As. On average, As(III) concentrations in hair were 0.25 and 3.75 microg g(-1) in Esquiña and Illapata, respectively; while, the As(V) average concentrations were 0.15 and 0.45 microg g(-1) in Esquiña and Illapata, respectively. Methylated species represent less than 2% of the extracted As (DMA(V)+ MMA(V)) in both populations. As(III) in hair shows the best correlation with chronic exposure to As(V) in comparison to other species and total arsenic. In fact, concentrations of As(total), As(III) and As(V) in hair samples are correlated with the age of the exposed individuals from Illapata (R= 0.65, 0.69, 0.57, respectively) and with the time of residence in this village (R= 0.54, 0.71 and 0.58, respectively).

Antioxidants in Detoxification of Arsenic-Induced Oxidative Injury in Rabbits: Preliminary Results

To assess the oxidative injuries caused by arsenic toxicity in rabbits and evaluate the detoxifying effects of exogenous antioxidants, we administered arsenic trioxide (3–5 mg/kg/day) in rabbits through a feeding tube for seven days. These rabbits were then treated with a recipe of vitamins, zinc, selenium (VZS) or a plant polyphenol or a placebo for the next seven days. Blood samples were collected from ear vein for spectrophotometric assay of reduced glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and nitrite/nitrate (NO x ; index of nitric oxide formation) before arsenic administration, seven days after arsenic administration, and seven days after antioxidant treatment. The total arsenic concentrations in hair and spot urine samples of rabbits before arsenic administration were 0.6 ± 0.21 µg/g and 34.0 ± 5.9 µg/L, respectively. Administration of arsenic trioxide significantly increased arsenic concentrations in hair and in urine to 2.8 ± 0.40 µg/g (p<0.001) and 7372 ± 1392.0 µg/L (p<0.001), respectively. Arsenic administration to rabbits significantly reduced GSH concentration (post-arsenic,17.5 ± 0.81 mg/dL vs. pre-arsenic, 32.0 ± 0.76 mg/dL, p<0.001), increased TBARS concentration (post-arsenic, 8 ± 1.1 µM vs. pre-arsenic, 5 ± 0.7 µM, p<0.05), and NO x concentration (post-arsenic, 465 ± 38.5 µM vs. pre-arsenic, 320 ± 24.7 µM, p<0.001) as compared to the pre-arsenic levels. There was a negative correlation between TBARS and GSH concentrations (r = −0.464, p<0.01) and between NO x and GSH concentrations (r = − 0.381, p<0.05) of intoxicated rabbits. The recovery of the depleted GSH was significantly greater in the polyphenols (77.0 ± 12.0%) or VZS (67.0 ± 17.0%) treatment groups compared with the placebo group (36.0 ± 7.0%). The decrease in NO x level of arsenic-treated rabbits was significantly greater in polyphenols treatment group than the placebo group (60.0 ± 9.0% vs. 17.0 ± 6.0%, p<0.001). These results indicate that arsenic induces toxicity in rabbits associated with an increase in lipid peroxidation. Arsenic toxicity increases nitric oxide production in the body. Exogenous antioxidants such as polyphenols and recipe of vitamins, zinc, and selenium are useful for arsenic detoxification.