title: Ground water arsenic contamination in West Bengal, India: a risk of sub-clinical toxicity in cattle as evident by correlation between arsenic exposure, excretion and deposition.
abstract: Arsenic contamination of ground water in West Bengal, India, is a great concern for both human and livestock populations. Our study investigated and correlated the arsenic concentration in the drinking water, urinary excretion and deposition of total arsenic in hair of cattle at an arsenic contaminated zone in West Bengal. The results of our study indicated that the average concentration of arsenic in tube well water in contaminated villages ranged from 0.042 to 0.251 ppm and a statistical significant (p < 0.01) difference was seen when compared to samples from a non-contaminated zone. The arsenic concentration in urine and hair of cattle ranged between 0.245-0.691 ppm and 0.461-0.984 ppm, respectively. A close relationship was found between the total arsenic in drinking water urinary excretion (r² = 0.03664, p < 0.05) and the arsenic concentration in hair (r² = 0.03668, p < 0.05). Our findings indicate that quantification of arsenic concentration in cattle urine and hair can serve as biomarkers for both present and past exposure in cattle population.
authors.affiliation: Eastern Regional Station, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Belgachia Road, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. asitmed2000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Asit Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bera
authors.forename: Tanmoy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rana
authors.forename: Subhshree
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Debasis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: Subhasish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bandyopadhyay
authors.forename: Diganta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Sumanta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De
authors.forename: Srikanta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samanta
authors.forename: Atalanta Narayan
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: Tapan Kumar
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.forename: Subrata Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D002417:Cattle; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism; D007194:India; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic