Effect of arsenic on the onset of menarcheal age.
Ground water arsenic contamination is a major problem in the Bengal Delta plain. The present study investigates the effect of arsenic exposure on age at menarche in North 24-Parganas district, one of the worst affected districts. A higher mean menarcheal age of 12.50 years is reported from women residing in four arsenic affected villages in as compared to a control village (11.71 years). The differences in menarcheal age between three of the four affected villages and the control village are statistically significant (p < 0.05). The study indicates that arsenic exposure can have a negative effect on menarcheal age.
Department of Anthropology, University of North Bengal, P.O. NBU, Raja Rammohunpur, 734 013, Dist. Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. jaydipsen@rediffmail.com
Jaydip
J
Sen
A B D
AB
Chaudhuri
D000293:Adolescent; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008572:Menarche; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic