title: Neurosensory effects of chronic exposure to arsenic via drinking water in Inner Mongolia: II. Vibrotactile and visual function.
abstract: This study was designed to assess the effects of exposure to arsenic in drinking water on visual and vibrotactile function in residents of the Bamen region of Inner Mongolia, China. Arsenic was measured by hydride generation atomic fluorescence. 321 participants were divided into three exposure groups- low (non-detectable-20), medium (100-300) and high (400-700 microg/l) arsenic in drinking water (AsW). Three visual tests were administered: acuity, contrast sensitivity and color discrimination (Lanthony's Desaturated 15 Hue Test). Vibration thresholds were measured with a vibrothesiometer. Vibration thresholds were significantly elevated in the high exposure group compared to other groups. Further analysis using a spline regression model suggested that the threshold for vibratory effects is between 150-170 microg/l AsW. These findings provide the first evidence that chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water impairs vibrotactile thresholds. The results also indicate that arsenic affects neurological function well below the 1000 microg/I concentration reported by NRC (1999). No evidence of arsenic-related effects on visual function was found.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. otto.david@epa.gov
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: Linlin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yanhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Yajuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kegong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhixiong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.forename: Baixiao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: H Kenneth
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Hudnell
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mumford
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geller
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wade
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014732:Vibration; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic