title: Arsenic exposure through drinking water increases the risk of liver and cardiovascular diseases in the population of West Bengal, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arsenic is a natural drinking water contaminant affecting 26 million people in West Bengal, India. Chronic arsenic exposure causes cancer, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, neuropathies and ocular diseases. The aims of the present study were to assess bioindicators of hepatocellular injury as indicated by the levels of liver enzymes, to determine the auto immune status, as indicated by the amounts of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-dsDNA antibodies in their serum, and to predict cardiovascular risk in the arsenic exposed population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Effect of chronic arsenic exposure on liver was determined by liver function tests. Autoimmune status was measured by measuring ANA and anti-dsDNA in serum. Inflammatory cytokines associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, IL6, IL8 and MCP-1 were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results indicated that serum levels of bilirubin, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and ANA were increased in the arsenic exposed population. Serum levels of IL6 and IL8 also increased in the arsenic exposed group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic arsenic exposure causes liver injury, increases the serum levels of autoimmune markers and imparts increased cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Human Genetics Division, CSIR- Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S, C, Mullick Road, Kolkata, 700 032, India. akgiri15@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nandana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Somnath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Debmita
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: Nilanjana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Niladri S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Majumder
authors.forename: Nilendu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sarma
authors.forename: Tanmoy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Sau
authors.forename: Santanu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Saptarshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Papiya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Majumder
authors.forename: Apurba K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bandyopadhyay
authors.forename: J Christopher
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: States
authors.forename: Ashok K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Giri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000506:poisoning*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D015415:Biomarkers; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D060766:Drinking Water; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic