title: Prevalence of skin lesions and exposure to arsenic in drinking water in Iran.
abstract: Prevalence of skin lesions was investigated among 752 participants in eight villages in Kurdistan province in Iran with emphasis on total lifetime intake of arsenic from drinking water (TLIA). The participants were selected from eight villages with different exposure levels using a cluster-sampling technique. TLIA was calculated for each individual taking into account the type of water supply and their mean annual arsenic concentration. The study showed that 49 persons (6.5%) were suffering from hyperkeratosis and 20 persons (2.7%) from hyperpigmentation. The correlation between hyperkeratosis and hyperpigmentation was significant (R=0.325, p<0.01). Using the logistic regression model it was found that the relationship between TLIA and hyperkeratosis (OR=1.14, 95% CI=1.039-1.249), and hyperpigmentation (OR=1.254, 95% CI=1.112-1.416) was also significant. In conclusion, TLIA can be applied as a reliable indicator for the assessment of exposure.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. mosaferim@tbzmed.ac.ir
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mosaferi
authors.forename: Masud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yunesian
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dastgiri
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mesdaghinia
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Esmailnasab
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D007642:Keratosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic