Arsenic exposure and anemia in Bangladesh: a population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between arsenic exposure and anemia, based on blood hemoglobin concentration.


METHODS
Hemoglobin measures, skin lesions, arsenic exposure, and nutritional and demographic information were collected from 1954 Bangladeshi participants in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study. We used general linear modeling to assess the association between arsenic exposure and hemoglobin concentration, examining men and women separately.


RESULTS
Arsenic exposure (urinary arsenic >200 microg/L) was negatively associated with hemoglobin among all men and among women with hemoglobin <10 d/L. Other predictors of anemia in men and women included older age, lower body mass index, and low intake of iron. Among women, the use of contraceptives predicted higher hemoglobin.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests an association between high arsenic exposure and anemia in Bangladesh.
Heck
Julia E
JE
Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Chen
Yu
Y
Grann
Victor R
VR
Slavkovich
Vesna
V
Parvez
Faruque
F
Ahsan
Habibul
H
D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001151:Arsenic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects*
D006454:Hemoglobins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic