Arsenic in drinking water and peripheral nerve conduction velocity among residents of a chronically arsenic-affected area in Inner Mongolia.
BACKGROUND
It remains unclear whether chronic ingestion of arsenic in drinking water affects the peripheral nervous system. We examined the effects of arsenic exposure on nerve conduction velocity using electromyography.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted of a population living in an arsenic-affected village in Hetao Plain, Inner Mongolia, China. A total of 134 (93.7%) of 143 inhabitants took part in the study, and 36 (76.6%) of 47 inhabitants in a low-arsenic exposed village were recruited as a control group. Of the participants, 109 inhabitants in the arsenic-affected village and 32 in the low-arsenic exposed village aged > or =18 years were used for the analyses. An expert physician performed skin examinations, and median nerve conduction velocity was examined by electromyography. Arsenic levels in tube-well water and urine were measured. A mean level of arsenic in tube-well water in the arsenic-affected village was 158.3 microg/L, while that in the low-arsenic exposed village was 5.3 microg/L.


RESULTS
No significant differences in the means of the motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) were observed in relation to arsenic levels in tube wells, urine, and the duration of tube-well use. Further, no differences in mean MCV or SCV were found between the subjects with and without arsenic dermatosis, with mean SCV of 52.8 m/s (SD 6.3) in those without and 54.6 m/s (5.2) in subjects with arsenic dermatosis (p=0.206).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that chronic arsenic poisoning from drinking water is unlikely to affect nerve conduction velocity, at least within the range of arsenic in drinking water examined in the present study.
Fujino
Yoshihisa
Y
Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan.
Guo
Xiaojuan
X
Shirane
Kiyoyumi
K
Liu
Jun
J
Wu
Kegong
K
Miyatake
Munetoshi
M
Tanabe
Kimiko
K
Kusuda
Tetsuya
T
Yoshimura
Takesumi
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004326:Drinking; D004576:Electromyography; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic