title: Arsenic exposure from drinking-water and carotid artery intima-medial thickness in healthy young adults in Bangladesh.
abstract: Epidemiological studies have linked high levels (>200 microg/L) of chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking-water with elevated risks of several vascular diseases. In this pilot study, the association between low-level arsenic exposure and carotid artery intimal-medial thickness (IMT) was evaluated among 66 healthy, normotensive, relatively young individuals (mean age 35 years) participating in the ongoing Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study in Bangladesh. Participants with a higher carotid IMT (>0.75 mm) in general had higher levels of past chronic exposure of arsenic than those with a lower carotid IMT (< or = 0.75 mm). Although the differences in average arsenic exposure between the two groups were not statistically significant, the findings suggest a possible association between low-level arsenic exposure from drinking-water and carotid atherosclerosis, warranting the need for larger studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mohammad Enamul
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hakim
authors.forename: Faruque
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parvez
authors.forename: Tariqul
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Atiar M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Habibul
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahsan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000652:urine; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical