Comparison of health effects between individuals with and without skin lesions in the population exposed to arsenic through drinking water in West Bengal, India.
A study was conducted to explore the effect of arsenic causing conjunctivitis, neuropathy and respiratory illness in individuals, with or without skin lesions, as a result of exposure through drinking water, contaminated with arsenic to similar extent. Exposed study population belongs to the districts of North 24 Parganas and Nadia, West Bengal, India. A total of 725 exposed (373 with skin lesions and 352 without skin lesions) and 389 unexposed individuals were recruited as study participants. Participants were clinically examined and interviewed. Arsenic content in drinking water, urine, nail and hair was estimated. Individuals with skin lesion showed significant retention of arsenic in nail and hair and lower amount of urinary arsenic compared to the group without any skin lesion. Individuals with skin lesion also showed higher risk for conjunctivitis ((odd's ratio) OR: 7.33, 95% CI: 5.05-10.59), peripheral neuropathy (OR: 3.95, 95% CI: 2.61-5.93) and respiratory illness (OR: 4.86, 95% CI: 3.16-7.48) compared to the group without any skin lesion. The trend test for OR of the three diseases in three groups was found to be statistically significant. Again, individuals without skin lesion in the exposed group showed higher risk for conjunctivitis (OR: 4.66, 95% CI: 2.45-8.85), neuropathy (OR: 3.99, 95% CI: 1.95-8.09), and respiratory illness (OR: 3.21, 95% CI: 1.65-6.26) when compared to arsenic unexposed individuals. Although individuals with skin lesions were more susceptible to arsenic-induced toxicity, individuals without skin lesions were also subclinically affected and are also susceptible to arsenic-induced toxicity and carcinogenicity when compared to individuals not exposed to arsenic.
Ghosh
Pritha
P
Division of Molecular and Human Genetics, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India.
Banerjee
Mayukh
M
De Chaudhuri
Sujata
S
Chowdhury
Rajdeep
R
Das
Jayanta K
JK
Mukherjee
Angshuman
A
Sarkar
Ajoy K
AK
Mondal
Lakshmikanta
L
Baidya
Kalipada
K
Sau
Tanmoy Jyoti
TJ
Banerjee
Apurba
A
Basu
Arindam
A
Chaudhuri
Keya
K
Ray
Kunal
K
Giri
Ashok K
AK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic