Association between arsenic exposure and a measure of subclinical sensory neuropathy in Bangladesh.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the association between arsenic exposure and peripheral neuropathy in Bangladesh, where the population has been chronically exposed to arsenic in drinking water.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study of 137 subjects derived from a larger cohort. Exposure measures included individual water arsenic concentration, cumulative arsenic index, and urinary arsenic concentration taken at two time points (2001 and 2003). The primary outcome measurement was elevated vibrotactile threshold, as measured by a vibration sensitivity tester (Vibratron II).


RESULTS
Arsenic exposure was associated with elevated toe vibration threshold (TVT). Specifically, cumulative arsenic index and urinary arsenic (2001) were both significantly associated with elevated TVT (P = 0.02 and P = 0.009, respectively) after adjustment for age and gender.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased arsenic exposure, as measured by both cumulative and urinary measures, was associated with evidence of subclinical sensory neuropathy.
Hafeman
Danella M
DM
Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Ahsan
Habibul
H
Louis
Elan D
ED
Siddique
Abu B
AB
Slavkovich
Vesna
V
Cheng
Zhongqi
Z
van Geen
Alexander
A
Graziano
Joseph H
JH
D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000652:urine; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000139:chemically induced; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011434:Proprioception; D014034:Toes / Q000503:physiopathology; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
D001151:Arsenic