title: Arsenic in drinking-water and reproductive health outcomes: a study of participants in the Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Programme.
abstract: This study examined 2,006 pregnant women chronically exposed to a range of naturally-occurring concentrations of arsenic in drinking-water in three upazilas in Bangladesh to find out relationships between arsenic exposure and selected reproductive health outcomes. While there was a small but statistically significant association between arsenic exposure and birth-defects (odds ratio=1.005, 95% confidence interval 1.001-1.010), other outcomes, such as stillbirth, low birth-weight, childhood stunting, and childhood under-weight, were not associated with arsenic exposure. It is possible that the association between arsenic exposure from drinking-water and birth-defects may be a statistical anomaly due to the small number of birth-defects observed. Future studies should look more closely at birth-defects, especially neural tube defects, to elucidate any potential health effects associated with arsenic exposure from drinking-water. Further, given the knowledge that serious health effects can result from chronic arsenic exposure, efforts to find alternatives of safe drinking-water for the population must continue.
authors.affiliation: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, PO Box 12194, 3040 Cornwallis Road, NC 27709, USA. rkwok@rti.org
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: Rachel B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakariya
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001151:Arsenic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D005522:Food Services; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008430:Maternal-Child Health Centers; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic