title: Comparison of health effects between individuals with and without skin lesions in the population exposed to arsenic through drinking water in West Bengal, India.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular and Human Genetics, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Pritha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Mayukh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Sujata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Chaudhuri
authors.forename: Rajdeep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: Jayanta K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Angshuman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: Ajoy K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Lakshmikanta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.forename: Kalipada
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baidya
authors.forename: Tanmoy Jyoti
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Sau
authors.forename: Apurba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Arindam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Keya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chaudhuri
authors.forename: Kunal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Ashok K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Giri
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic