Arsenic exposure at low-to-moderate levels and skin lesions, arsenic metabolism, neurological functions, and biomarkers for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases: Review of recent findings from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) in Bangladesh

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2009.01.010· OSTI ID:21272642

Yu, Chen ^[1]; Parvez, Faruque; Gamble, Mary ^[2]; Islam, Tariqul; Ahmed, Alauddin ^[3]; Argos, Maria ^[4]; Graziano, Joseph H ^[2]; Ahsan, Habibul ^[4]

---

1. Departments of Environmental Medicine and Medicine and New York University Cancer Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY (United States)
2. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, NY (United States)
3. Columbia University Arsenic Research Project, Dhaka (Bangladesh)
4. Departments of Health Studies, Medicine and Human Genetics and Cancer Research Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL (United States)

The contamination of groundwater by arsenic in Bangladesh is a major public health concern affecting 35-75 million people. Although it is evident that high levels (> 300 {mu}g/L) of arsenic exposure from drinking water are related to adverse health outcomes, health effects of arsenic exposure at low-to-moderate levels (10-300 {mu}g/L) are not well understood. We established the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) with more than 20,000 men and women in Araihazar, Bangladesh, to prospectively investigate the health effects of arsenic predominately at low-to-moderate levels (0.1 to 864 {mu}g/L, mean 99 {mu}g/L) of arsenic exposure. Findings to date suggest adverse effects of low-to-moderate levels of arsenic exposure on the risk of pre-malignant skin lesions, high blood pressure, neurological dysfunctions, and all-cause and chronic disease mortality. In addition, the data also indicate that the risk of skin lesion due to arsenic exposure is modifiable by nutritional factors, such as folate and selenium status, lifestyle factors, including cigarette smoking and body mass index, and genetic polymorphisms in genes related to arsenic metabolism. The analyses of biomarkers for respiratory and cardiovascular functions support that there may be adverse effects of arsenic on these outcomes and call for confirmation in large studies. A unique strength of the HEALS is the availability of outcome data collected prospectively and data on detailed individual-level arsenic exposure estimated using water, blood and repeated urine samples. Future prospective analyses of clinical endpoints and related host susceptibility will enhance our knowledge on the health effects of low-to-moderate levels of arsenic exposure, elucidate disease mechanisms, and give directions for prevention.

• OSTI ID: 21272642
• Journal Information: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Journal Name: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 239; ISSN TXAPA9; ISSN 0041-008X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ARSENIC
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS
BLOOD
BLOOD PRESSURE
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
DRINKING WATER
GROUND WATER
HAZARDS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
METABOLISM
MORTALITY
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SKIN
URINE