Well water arsenic exposure, arsenic induced skin-lesions and self-reported morbidity in Inner Mongolia.
Residents of the Bayingnormen region of Inner Mongolia have been exposed to arsenic-contaminated well water for over 20 years, but relatively few studies have investigated health effects in this region. We surveyed one village to document exposure to arsenic and assess the prevalence of arsenic-associated skin lesions and self-reported morbidity. Five-percent (632) of the 12,334 residents surveyed had skin lesions characteristics of arsenic exposure. Skin lesions were strongly associated with well water arsenic and there was an elevated prevalence among residents with water arsenic exposures as low as 5 microg/L-10 microg/L. The presence of skin lesions was also associated with self-reported cardiovascular disease.
Inner Mongolia Center for Endemic Disease Control and Research, Huhhot, Inner Mongolia, China. yajxia@sohu.com
Yajuan
Y
Xia
Timothy J
TJ
Wade
Kegong
K
Wu
Yanhong
Y
Li
Zhixiong
Z
Ning
X Chris
XC
Le
Xingzhou
X
He
Binfei
B
Chen
Yong
Y
Feng
Judy L
JL
Mumford
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical