Urinary Arsenic Research Articles

Somatic loss of the Y chromosome is associated with arsenic exposure among Bangladeshi men.

Arsenic exposure increases the risk of several cancers in humans and contributes to genomic instability. Somatic loss of the Y chromosome (LoY) is a potential biomarker of genomic instability and cancer risk. Smoking is associated with LoY, but few other carcinogens have been investigated. We tested the cross-sectional association between arsenic exposure and LoY in leukocytes among genotyped Bangladeshi men (age 20-70 years) from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study. We extracted the median of logR-ratios from probes on the Y chromosome (mLRR-chrY) from genotyping arrays (n = 1364) and estimated the percentage of cells with LoY (% LoY) from mLRR-chrY. We evaluated the association between arsenic exposure (measured in drinking water and urine) and LoY using multivariable linear and logistic regression models. The association between LoY and incident arsenic-induced skin lesions was also examined. Ten percent of genotyped men had LoY in at least 5% of cells and % LoY increased with age. Among men randomly selected for genotyping (n = 778), higher arsenic in drinking water, arsenic consumed and urinary arsenic were associated with increased % LoY (P = 0.006, P = 0.06 and P = 0.13, respectively). LoY was associated with increased risk of incident skin lesions (P = 0.008). Arsenic exposure was associated with increased LoY, providing additional evidence that arsenic contributes to genomic instability. LoY was associated with developing skin lesions, a risk factor for cancer, suggesting that LoY may be a biomarker of susceptibility in arsenic-exposed populations. The effect of arsenic on somatic events should be further explored in cancer-prone tissue types.

Metal mixture mediates associations between socioeconomic indicators and blood pressure outcomes in rural Bangladeshi adults: Evidence from a prospective population study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: There is limited evidence on the causal mechanism in the socioeconomic differentials in blood pressure (BP) in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). We, therefore, examined the associations of socioeconomic indicators (SEIs) and BP, socioeconomic disparities in metal mixture exposures, and the potential mediation effect of metal mixtures in the associations between SEIs and BP outcomes in rural Bangladeshi adults. METHODS: This study included 900 rural Bangladeshi adults prospectively followed for six years in the Bangladesh vitamin E and selenium Trial (BEST). Blood pressure was measured at baseline and during three biennial follow-up examinations. Blood levels of arsenic, lead, selenium, and urinary arsenic, including socioeconomic indicators-years of education, and agricultural land ownership (ALO), were measured at baseline. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was used to estimate the joint effects of metal mixture on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) taken at the third follow-up. Causal mediation effect of the metal mixture was estimated using the parametric g-computation method. RESULTS: Education was positively, but ALO was inversely associated with BP. Participants with higher SEIs were less likely to be exposed to metal mixtures than their counterparts. Metal mixture mediated the associations of SEIs with SBP, DBP, MAP, and PP. For example, the randomized analogue of total natural direct effect (rRTNDE) was 5.31 (95% CI: 1.91, 8.77) and the pure natural indirect effect (rRPNIE) was -0.67 (95% CI: -1.34, -0.22) for education and SBP. Similarly, the rRTNDE was -2.31 (95% CI: -4.37, -0.33) and the rRPNIE was -0.29 (95% CI: -0.70, -0.03) for ALO and SBP. There was no evidence of the exposure-mediator interaction in the mediation models (Pint>0.20). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that metal mixture mediates socioeconomic differentials in BP. KEYWORDS: Blood Pressure; Metals; SES; Mediation; Mixture

Differential uranium exposure and its association with hypertension and elevated blood pressure in American Indian communities in the Strong Heart Family Study

Background: Urinary uranium (U) is present at higher concentrations in American Indian (AI) participants in the Strong Heart Study compared to the general US population. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among American Indians, of which hypertension is an important risk factor. We evaluated the association between U exposure and incident hypertension and increased blood pressure (BP) among Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS) participants. Methods: We included 1453 SHFS participants with baseline visits in 1998-1999 or 2001–2003, and follow-up visits in 2001-2003 and/or 2006–2009. We estimated the association of urinary U exposure with changes in systolic BP and diastolic BP levels using linear regressions, and hypertension incidence using Poisson regression with robust variance, accounting for family clustering. Results: Median (IQR) urinary uranium levels were 0.029 (0.013, 0.059) μg/g creatinine. At follow-up, 17.4% of participants developed hypertension. After adjustment for sociodemographic variables, eGFR, pre-diabetes status, and BMI, comparing the highest to lowest urinary uranium quartiles, the RR (95% CI) of incident hypertension was 1.38 (1.00, 1.91) and the mean difference (95% CI) in systolic BP levels between baseline and follow-up was -2.00 (-3.83, -0.16) mmHg. After adjustment for urinary cadmium and arsenic, the corresponding RR (95% CI) was 1.44 (1.04, 1.99) and the mean difference (95% CI) for systolic BP between baseline and follow-up was -1.48 (-3.32, 0.37) mmHg. The association between uranium and blood pressure levels at follow-up was non-linear, with an increased risk at higher urinary uranium levels. Conclusions: These findings suggest moderate increased risk for hypertension at urinary uranium levels greater than 0.06 μg/g, typical of the Southwest and Great Plains, furthermore a potential association with higher systolic BP levels and higher uranium exposure levels. Further work is needed to assess the cardiovascular effects of chronic uranium exposure in US populations. Keywords: Uranium, hypertension, blood pressure

Association between drinking water arsenic and urinary inorganic arsenic in the US: NHANES 2003-2014

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Important inequalities exist in arsenic (As) in drinking water across US populations. A critical research gap is how water As corresponds to internal dose, measured by urinary biomarkers. We evaluated the association between assigned private well and regulated community water system (CWS) As and urinary As concentrations in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). METHODS: We assigned 13,163 NHANES 2003-2014 participants county-level population- weighted CWS concentrations (µg/L) and private well estimates (probability >10 µg/L) using published nationwide estimates from US Environmental Protection Agency and US Geological Survey datasets, respectively. The internal dose of inorganic As related to drinking water was estimated by recalibrating urine dimethylarsinate (DMA) concentrations to adjust for arsenobetaine, seafood, smoking status, and past 24-hour intake of rice and other dietary sources. We evaluated geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of DMA across tertiles of water As, the lowest tertile as reference, for all participants and stratified by census region and quartile of geologic risk of elevated water As. RESULTS: Among CWS users, participants in the highest tertile of CWS As had significantly higher DMA overall (GMR= 1.17, 95% CI 1.09, 1.26) and in the South (GMR =1.23, 95% CI 1.09, 1.38), compared to participants in the lowest tertile. Among private well users, participants in the highest tertile of private well As had significantly higher DMA overall (GMR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.01, 1.50) and in the West (GMR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.18, 1.53). CONCLUSIONS: Arsenic in private wells and CWSs contributes to As exposure, measured in urine, in general US populations. Water As and urine DMA were more strongly associated among private-well users compared to CWS users nationwide, with differences by region. Positive associations were also observed among CWS users in the highest two quartiles of geologic risk. KEYWORDS: arsenic, exposure, water quality

Changes in arsenic accumulation and metabolic capacity after environmental management measures in mining area

Due to the public health concern of arsenic, environmental management measures in mining areas had been implemented. To assess the effect of environmental management measures in the mining area comprehensively, arsenic accumulation in the urine, hair, nails, and urinary metabolites of residents in a realgar mining area in Hunan province, China were investigated in 2019, and the changes in arsenic levels in the biomarkers during 2012–2019 were tracked. The importance of confounding factors (age, sex, occupation, residence, clinical history, vegetable source, cooking fuel, smoking, alcohol consumption, BMI) was analyzed using the Boruta algorithm. After the implementation of environmental management measures (including ceasing mining and smelting activities, building landfills, adjusting the planting structure, and soil restoration), urine, hair, and nail arsenic concentration decreased drastically but were still excessive. Arsenic accumulation was highest in older male miners who were long settled in the mining area and consumed homegrown vegetables. The only factor for changes in urinary arsenic levels was the cooking fuel type; residents using wood as cooking fuel experienced sustained arsenic exposure. Occupation and sex were important for determining arsenic changes in the hair and nails. Short-term arsenic accumulation in urine was affected by arsenic exposure, while long-term accumulation in hair and nails by arsenic metabolic capacity. The percentage of urinary arsenic metabolism and arsenic methylation indices of the participants in the mining area were within the normal range (%iAs: 10–30 %, %MMA: 10–20 %, % DMA: 60–80 %); samples indicated worse metabolic capacity than the reference population. The arsenic metabolic capacity of male miners was relatively weak, probably aggravated by alcohol drinking and smoking. Without soil remediation, arsenic exposure will continue. Homegrown vegetables and biomass fuels should be abandoned; reduced cigarette and alcohol consumption is recommended. Urinary arsenic would be more proper for assessing environmental remediation in mining areas.

Arsenic Toxicity From the Ingestion of Terracotta Pottery

BackgroundSymptomatic arsenic toxicity has not been associated with terracotta pottery despite thousands of years of use in food storage and preparation. We describe a case of chronic arsenic toxicity from undiagnosed pica involving the ingestion of terracotta pots. Case ReportA 49-year-old woman with a history of anemia and abnormal uterine bleeding presented to the Emergency Department complaining of lower extremity pain. She was also noted to have chronic lower extremity paresthesia, constipation, and fatigue. She admitted to ingesting glazed and unglazed terracotta pots for the past 5 years. This unusual craving was thought to be a manifestation of pica in the setting of chronic anemia. The patient was found to have an elevated urinary arsenic concentration of 116 µg/24 h. An abdominal radiograph showed opacifications throughout her bowel, and she received whole bowel irrigation. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?Pica is a common behavior in certain populations. Practicing clinicians should be familiar with the complications of pica, including chronic arsenic toxicity and its associated array of nonspecific symptoms.

Urinary concentrations of metals before and after volcanic eruption: a natural experiment surrounding the eruption of Volcán de Fuego, 2018.

Volcanic eruptions increase environmental heavy metal concentrations, yet little research has been performed on their extrapulmonary human health effects. We fortuitously collected biological samples in a cohort of Guatemalan sugarcane cutters in the area surrounding Volcán de Fuego before and after the June 2018 eruption. We sought to determine whether stratovolcanic activity was associated with changes in urinary concentrations of heavy metals in a cohort of sugarcane workers. In this exploratory analysis, we found significant increases in urinary arsenic, (β = 1.46, P < 0.0001), cadmium (β = 1.03, P < 0.0001), and lead (β = 0.87, P = 0.003) in participants with residential proximity to Volcán de Fuego as compared to participants farther away, suggesting that volcanic activity could be associated with acute heavy metal exposures. This natural experiment is, to our knowledge, the first of its kind and suggests a need for more research into heavy metal exposure-related health impacts of volcanic eruptions.

Human adaptation to arsenic in Bolivians living in the Andes.

Humans living in the Andes Mountains have been historically exposed to arsenic from natural sources, including drinking water. Enzymatic methylation of arsenic allows it to be excreted more efficiently by the human body. Adaptation to high-arsenic environments via enhanced methylation and excretion of arsenic was first reported in indigenous women in the Argentinean Andes, but whether adaptation to arsenic is a general phenomenon across native populations from the Andes Mountains remains unclear. Therefore, we evaluated whether adaptation to arsenic has occurred in the Bolivian Andes by studying indigenous groups who belong to the Aymara-Quechua and Uru ethnicities and have lived in the Bolivian Andes for generations. Our population genetics methods, including genome-wide selection scans based on linkage disequilibrium patterns and allele frequency differences, in combination with targeted and whole-genome sequencing and genotype-phenotype association analyses, detected signatures of positive selection near the gene encoding arsenite methyltransferase (AS3MT), the main arsenic methylating enzyme. This was among the strongest selection signals (top 0.5% signals via locus-specific branch length and extended haplotype homozygosity tests) at a genome-wide level in the Bolivian study groups. We found a large haplotype block of 676kb in the AS3MT region and identified candidate functional variants for further analysis. Moreover, our analyses revealed associations between AS3MT variants and the fraction of mono-methylated arsenic in urine and showed that the Bolivian study groups had the highest frequency of alleles associated with more efficient arsenic metabolism reported so far. Our data support the idea that arsenic exposure has been a driver for human adaptation to tolerate arsenic through more efficient arsenic detoxification in different Andean populations.

Arsenic exposure elevated ROS promotes energy metabolic reprogramming with enhanced AKT-dependent HK2 expression.

Exposure to inorganic or organic arsenic compounds continues to pose substantial public health concerns for hundreds of millions of people around the globe. Highly exposed individuals are susceptible to various illnesses, including impairments and cancers of the lung, liver, skin and bladder. Long-term exposure to low-dose arsenic has been identified to induce aerobic glycolysis, which contributes to cells aberrant proliferation. However, the mechanism underlying arsenic-induced aerobic glycolysis is still unclear. Here, mtDNA copy number is enhanced in arsenic-exposed populations and a positive correlation between serum HK2 and urinary total arsenic was observed in the individuals with high urine arsenic (≥ 0.032 mg/L). In a rat model of trivalent arsenic (iAs3+) exposure, the levels of HK2, NDUFA9 and NDUFB8 were increased in the rats treated with iAs3+ daily by gavage for 12 weeks than those in the control rats. Subsequently, in a low-dose arsenic exposure cell model we found that 0.2 μmol/L iAs3+ induced aerobic glycolysis to promote L-02 cells proliferation and inhibit apoptosis, in which HK2 played an important role. Further studies showed accumulated ROS determined the metabolic reprogramming via activating AKT and then increasing HK2 expression. On the one hand, activated AKT induced aerobic glycolysis by increasing HK2 to promote L-02 cells viability and DNA synthesis; on the other hand, phosphorylated AKT induced HK2 mitochondrial outer-membrane location with VDAC1 to inhibit apoptosis. Taken together, our results indicated that ROS induced by low-dose arsenic exposure determined energy metabolic reprogramming and acted a critical regulator for AKT-dependent HK2 expression and aerobic glycolysis.

Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, arsenic, and metal exposure and correlation with emphysema in smokers

PurposeEnvironmental exposure to metals and chemicals can increase the risk of acute and chronic pulmonary diseases in the human population. This study aimed to analyze seven forms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), seven types of arsenic species, fourteen types of urinary metals including antimony, barium, cadmium, cesium, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, strontium, thallium, tin, tungsten, uranium, and the link with emphysema in the US adult cigarette smoking population. MethodsA specialized weighted complex survey design analysis using 2011–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) datasets was conducted. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between urinary metals, arsenic, PAHs, and emphysema in adult smokers. R software was used to conduct the statistical analysis. ResultsAll 4th quantile concentrations of PAHs, including 1-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 3-hydroxyfluorene, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 1-hydroxypyrene, 1-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 2 & 3-hydroxyphenanthrene, were significantly associated with emphysema in smokers. The 3rd quantile of 1-hydroxypyrene were also associated with increased odds of emphysema in smokers. Among arsenic and metals, the 4th quantile of cadmium was associated with an increased odds of emphysema in smokers. The 3rd quantile of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and 4th quantile of mercury were found to have inverse relationships with emphysema in smokers. Several demographic factors had significant associations with emphysema in smokers. ConclusionUrinary PAHs and cadmium were associated with increased odds of emphysema in smokers. DMA and mercury had an inverse association with emphysema in smokers.

Dietary contribution to total urinary arsenic in Mexican women

Exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) damages health in many ways. The main routes of human exposure are consumption of contaminated water and diet, but evidence regarding the dietary contribution of iAs is limited. The objective of this work was to determine the foods and beverages that contribute to urinary total arsenic levels (TAs). This is a secondary analysis of an original study of breast cancer cases and population controls carried out in northern Mexico during the period 2007–2011, from which 1,462 women without a history of diabetes were selected. We estimated the consumption of the food and beverage groups with a frequency questionnaire. We measured the concentrations of urinary iAs metabolites by high performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS). Total arsenic ranged from 0.5 to 2,360 µg/g creatinine. After adjusting for covariates, we observed a positive association between TAs (with arsenobetaine) with non-bottled drinking water intake, as well as the consumption of root vegetables, vegetables and fruits rich in water, eggs, fish and shellfish. Our findings highlight the relevance of water consumption and some foods for TAs exposure. Food quality monitoring deserves attention in high-risk regions of arsenic contamination.

Sex-Specific Associations of Urinary Metals with Renal Function: a Cross-sectional Study in China.

Extensive studies have revealed the link between heavy metals and CKD. Compared to single meta-elements, mixture of metals reflect real-life metals exposure scenarios and are of interest. However, the mechanism of action of metal mixture on renal function is unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential relationship between urinary arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and chromium (Cr) contents with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels in 2775 participants. The levels of metals in urine were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. We used linear regression models and the Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to evaluate the association between metals and eGFR levels. In linear regression analysis, urinary As (β = 2.723, 95%CI: 0.29, 5.157) and Pb (β = 3.081, 95%CI: 1.725, 4.438) were positively associated with eGFR in the total population. In the BKMR model, a mixture of the five metals had a positive joint effect on eGFR levels, while Pb (PIP = 0.996) contributed the most to eGFR levels. Pb was positively associated with eGFR levels in the total participants and women. As was positively correlated with eGFR levels in women. Pb and eGFR levels were positively correlated when the other metals were set at 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles. To the best of our knowledge, all five metals mixed exposure was positively associated with eGFR. Pb showed more important effects than the other four metals in the mixture, especially in women.

Evaluating the mouse model for estimation of arsenic bioavailability: Comparison of estimates of absolute bioavailability of inorganic arsenic in mouse, humans, and other species

ABSTRACT Accurate assessment of adverse health effects attributable to ingestion of inorganic arsenic (As) present in contaminated soils requires determination of the internal dose of metal provided by ingested soil. This calculation requires estimation of the oral bioavailability of soil-borne (As). Animal models to assess the bioavailability of soil (As) are frequently used as surrogates for determination of this variable in humans. A mouse assay has been widely applied to estimate the bioavailability of As in soils at sites impacted by mining, smelting, and pesticides. In the mouse assay, the relative bioavailability (RBA) of soil (As) is determined as the ratio of the fraction of the ingested arsenic dose excreted in urine after consumption of diets containing a test soil or the soluble reference compound, sodium arsenate. The aim of the current study was to compare (As) bioavailability measured in the mouse assay with reported estimates in humans. Here, a pharmacokinetic model based on excretion of arsenic in urine and feces was used to estimate the absolute bioavailability (ABA) of As in mice that received an oral dose of sodium arsenate. Based upon this analysis, in mice that consumed diet amended with sodium arsenate, the ABA was 85%. This estimate of arsenic ABA for the mouse is comparable to estimates in humans who consumed (As) in drinking water and diet, and to estimates of ABA in monkeys and swine exposed to sodium arsenate. The concordance of estimates for ABA in mice and humans provides further support for use of the mouse model in human health risk assessment. Sodium arsenate ABA also provides a basis for estimating soil arsenic ABA from RBA estimates obtained in the mouse model.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between urinary arsenic and lung function among urban Chinese adults

To investigate the associations of arsenic exposure with lung function and ventilatory impairment. The repeated-measures study was developed with 8479 observations from three study periods of the Wuhan-Zhuhai cohort. Urinary arsenic and lung function were measured during each period. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between urinary arsenic and lung function. Logistic regression models and COX regression models were used to evaluate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between urinary arsenic and ventilatory impairment, respectively. In the cross-sectional analysis, each 1-unit increase in log-transformed urinary arsenic was associated with a −22.499 mL (95 % confidence interval (CI): −35.832 to −9.165), −15.081 mL (−25.205 to −4.957), and −0.274 % (−0.541 to −0.007) change in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC, respectively. In the longitudinal analysis, each 1-unit increase in log-transformed urinary arsenic was associated with an annual change rate of −6.240 mL/year (95 % CI: −12.429 to −0.051), −5.855 mL/year (−10.632 to −1.079), and −0.143 %/year (−0.234 to −0.051) in FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC, respectively. Stratified analyses suggested a modification role of gender on the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between urinary arsenic and FEV1, with the stronger associations were found among males (P for modification 0.0384 and 0.0168). Furtherly, each 1-unit increase in log-transformed urinary arsenic was associated with a 14.8 % (odds ratio 1.148, 95 % CI: 1.043 to 1.263) and 11.7 % (hazard ratio 1.117, 95 % CI: 1.023 to 1.218) increase in the prevalent and incident risk of restrictive ventilatory impairment, respectively. Source analyses suggested that fish intake and fine particulate matter inhalation positively associated with the total arsenic levels. In conclusion, arsenic exposure was associated with lung function decline and the risk of restrictive ventilatory impairment.

Abstract 1443: Environmental heavy metal toxicity and mammographic breast density in a Mississippi Delta southern state

Abstract Importance: Increased mammographic density (MD) is a strong independent risk factor for breast carcinoma. Ubiquitous environmental heavy metal (HM) exposure/toxicity appears pro-carcinogenic in several human cancers. However, studies in the current scientific literature have not elucidated specific connections between HM exposure and mammographically detected increases in breast density. Objective: To determine whether increases in heavy metals (ie, chromium, arsenic and cadmium) measured in urine as a biomarker for long-term exposure, associate with increased MD in a female study cohort in Arkansas. Design, Setting, Participants: One hundred thirty-nine participants in the Arkansas Rural Community Health (ARCH) study cohort, recruited through a mobile mammography unit at baseline, were included in this pilot study. Demographic/health history questionnaire data, urine, blood and saliva samples and incident mammograms classified by BI-RADS were ascertained after informed consent. Study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Main Outcome and Measures: Urinary chromium, arsenic and cadmium levels were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The concentrations of HM were adjusted for urinary creatinine and specific gravity and the results categorized into tertiles. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between HM exposure and MD. Association of both continuous and categorical variables were examined. Confounding variables in the multivariable models including age, race, BMI, age at menarche and smoking history were determined by a priori knowledge and statistical assessment. Results: Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between each tertile of HM exposure and MD were used for the assessment. For the unadjusted model, increasing ORs for MD were noted with increased levels of both Chromium and Arsenic exposure. Increased ORs for MD were observed with increased levels of Chromium, Arsenic and Cadmium exposure in the multivariable adjusted model. However, none of these associations demonstrated statistical significance in this limited pilot study. Conclusion: Positive associations between HM exposure and MD were noted after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, age at menarche and smoking history in this pilot study. However, the association did not reach statistical significance at α = 0.05. Citation Format: Bobbie Dean Fine, Shelbie Stahr, Lora J. Rogers, Gail A. Runnells, Tung-Chin Chiang, Lihchyun J. Su. Environmental heavy metal toxicity and mammographic breast density in a Mississippi Delta southern state [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 1443.

Alzheimer's Disease Association with Metals and Metalloids Concentration in Blood and Urine.

As there is some evidence that the risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is partially attributable to environmental exposure to some metals and metalloids, we examined an association between AD and arsenic, chromium, and selenium in 53 AD patients and 217 controls. Urinary arsenic, blood chromium, and selenium were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Logistic regression models calculating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to estimate AD association with arsenic, chromium, and selenium. In AD patients, urinary arsenic and blood chromium were significantly higher, while blood selenium was significantly lower compared to controls. Increased blood selenium was related to a significant decrease in the odds of AD after adjustment for risk factors. Blood selenium per 1 kg × 10−9/m3 × 10−4 increment was associated with 1.4 times lower risk of AD (OR = 0.71; 95% CI 0.58–0.87). A significant increase in the odds of AD associated with increased blood chromium was also seen in the adjusted model: the OR per 1 kg × 10−9/m3 × 10−3 chromium increment was 2.39 (95% CI 1.32–4.31). The association of urinary arsenic with the risk of AD was not significant. The data obtained provide evidence that selenium reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, while chromium increases it.

Urinary metals as influencing factors of coronary heart disease among a population in Guangzhou, China

The cardiovascular system is highly sensitive to toxic metal exposure and trace element dysregulation. However, previous findings relating to metal exposure and coronary heart disease (CHD) have partially been conflicting and difficult to exhibit the combined effect of metal mixtures. This case-control study investigated urinary concentrations of ten metal/metalloids among clinically-diagnosed CHD patients and healthy adults during May to December 2021 in Guangzhou, China. We found that cadmium (Cd) status in urine from CHD patients was remarkably higher than its reference, while chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) concentrations were lower (p < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that urinary arsenic (As) and Se were highly correlated (rs=0.830, p < 0.001), indicating their similar sources. Principal component analysis (PCA) exhibited denser distribution of Cd-Sn in cases than in controls. Logistic regression analysis exhibited significant associations between urinary Cd (adjusted OR: 1.965, 95% CI: 1.222–3.162), Se (0.787, 95% CI: 0.695–0.893), Ni (0.493, 95% CI: 0.265–0.916) and CHD risk. Quantile g-computation showed negative joint effect of metal mixtures on CHD (adjusted OR: 0.383, 95% CI: 0.159–0.932) (p < 0.05), suggesting the need for supplementing essential trace elements. The negative partial effect was primarily attributed to Se and Ni, while positive partial effect was mainly due to tin (Sn) and Cd. Nevertheless, we also found a quantile increase of Cd-Sn level was negatively correlated with 8.26% (95% CI: 3.44–13.08%) decrease of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.001), and 71.2% of the joint effect attributed to Cd. Based on random forest, Se, Cd and Ni were found to be the dominant influencing factors of CHD. The role of Ni in CHD is yet to be uncovered, while excessive Cd exposure and low Se status among CHD patients need to be mitigated.

Urinary metals, arsenic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and risk of chronic bronchitis in the US adult population.

Metals, arsenic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have all been linked to respiratory diseases. Chronic bronchitis, which is a form ofchronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a major public health concern and source of morbidity and mortality in the US. The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation of 14 urinary metals (antimony, barium, cadmium, cesium, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, strontium, thallium, tin, tungsten, uranium), seven species of arsenic, and seven forms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations and chronic bronchitis in the US population. A cross-sectional analysis using three datasets from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2011 and 2016 in adults, aged 20years and older. Chronic bronchitis was determined using a self-questionnaire from the NHANES dataset. A specialized weighted complex survey design analysis package was used to analyze NHANES data. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the correlation between urinary metals, arsenic, PAHs, and chronic bronchitis. Models were adjusted for lifestyle and demographic factors. A total of 4186 participants were analyzed; 49.8% were female and 40.5% were non-Hispanic White. All seven types of PAHs showed a positive association with chronic bronchitis (1-hydroxynaphthalene odds ratio (OR): 1.559, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.271-1.912; 2-hydroxynaphthalene OR: 2.498, 95% CI: 1.524-4.095; 3-hydroxyfluorene OR: 2.752, 95% CI: 2.100-3.608; 2-hydroxyfluorene OR: 3.461, 95% CI: 2.438-4.914; 1-hydroxyphenanthrene OR: 2.442, 95% CI: 1.515-3.937; 1-hydroxypyrene OR: 2.828, 95% CI: 1.728-4.629; 2 & 3-hydroxyphenanthrene OR: 3.690, 95% CI: 2.309-5.896). Of the metals, only urinary cadmium showed a statistically significant positive association (OR: 2.435, 95% CI: 1.401-4.235) with chronic bronchitis. No other metals or arsenic were correlated with chronic bronchitis. Seven forms of urinary PAHs, cadmium, and several demographic factors were associated with chronic bronchitis.

Impact of treated drinking water on arsenicosis patients with continuous consumption of contaminated dietary foodstuffs: A longitudinal health effect study from arsenic prone area, West Bengal, India

Health effect and future risk assessment have been evaluated for a year on a group of arsenicosis patients (n = 24) examining the impact of treated surface water with continuous consumption of arsenic-contaminated dietary foodstuffs. The daily dietary intake rate of arsenic through cooked rice is 5.50 μg/kg bw/day, which is much higher than PTDI recommended value compared to cooked vegetables and treated drinking water. The effect of acute toxicity showed a decreasing trend of 42.9% arsenic in urine (n = 24) after 6 months. Scalp hair (n = 19) and nail (n = 18) arsenic concentration showed a decreasing trend of 39.3% (range: 1.34–86.2%) and 36.9% (range: 0.88–85%), respectively after 12 months. The body hair (hand and leg) and skin scale arsenic accumulation showed high and diverse distribution pattern. Excretion of arsenic through sweat was higher than urine with a mean concentration of 34.7 μg/L (range: 4.76–65 μg/L). Chronic arsenic exposure for a long period of time is the considerable pathway to severe dermatological skin manifestations in the arsenical patients. One-way ANOVA (Tukey-test) interpretation showed a significant relationship between arsenic intakes, biological tissues and dermatological manifestations within the studied groups. Linear mixed modelling showed differential temporal trends of arsenic levels through biomarkers for both studied male and female patients. The SAMOE value for treated drinking water and cooked vegetables showed low to moderate concern level (class 3), whereas, high concern level (class 5) was observed for cooked rice. The future cancer and non-cancerous risk predominantly exists through consumption of rice compared to vegetables and treated drinking water. Supplementation of arsenic-safe drinking water and nutritional food is highly recommended for the arsenic patients to fight against the devastating arsenic calamity.

The impact of essential and toxic elements on cardiometabolic risk factors in adults and older people

Background and aimEvidence suggests an association between essential and toxic elements and the worsening of cardiometabolic risk factors. This study aimed to investigate the concentrations of zinc, copper, selenium, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury and their relationship with cardiometabolic risk factors in adults and older people. MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out with 112 adults with a mean age of 59 (sd 14) years old and a BMI of 29.30 (sd 5.11) Kg/m2. The subject’s weight and height were measured for body mass index (BMI) calculation, classified according to the cut-off points recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). We evaluated sociodemographic, clinical, lifestyle, waist circumference – WC, visceral adiposity index - VAI, glycemic lipid profile, blood pressure, and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Cardiovascular risk was defined by The Global Risk Score (GRS) score. Plasma zinc, selenium, copper levels, urinary arsenic, cadmium, and mercury levels were measured using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique (ICP-MS). ResultsThere was a negative association between urinary arsenic and VAI (β − 0.03, p < 0.01), triglycerides (β − 1.10, p < 0.01), and VLDL cholesterol (β − 0.14, p = 0.02). Plasma copper and copper/zinc ratio were positively associated with fasting glucose and hs-CRP (β 0.38, p < 0.01; β 36.02, p = 0.01, β 0.004, p < 0.01, β 0.68, p < 0.001, respectively). Urinary arsenic (β − 0.14, p = 0.04) and cadmium (β − 36.42, p = 0.04) were negatively associated with systolic blood pressure. Also, urinary cadmium was negatively associated with diastolic blood pressure (β − 21.55, p = 0.03), and urinary mercury showed an opposite behavior (β 1.45, p = 0.03). ConclusionEssential and toxic elements in urine and plasma could be potential biomarkers for cardiovascular risk factors. A healthy lifestyle should be adopted; in addition, government policies should be developed to guarantee sustainable production and a safe environment.