title: Correlation of arsenic exposure through drinking groundwater and urinary arsenic excretion among adults in Pakistan.
abstract: Long-term exposure to arsenic has been associated with manifestation of skin lesions (melanosis/keratosis) and increased risk of internal cancers (lung/bladder). The objective of the study described here was to determine the relationship between exposure of arsenic through drinking groundwater and urinary arsenic excretion among adults > or =15 years of age living in Khairpur district, Pakistan. Total arsenic was determined in drinking groundwater and in spot urine samples of 465 randomly selected individuals through hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was calculated between arsenic in drinking groundwater and arsenic excreted in urine. The median arsenic concentration in drinking water was 2.1 microg/L (range: 0.1-350), and in urine was 28.5 microg/L (range: 0.1-848). Positive correlation was found between total arsenic in drinking water and in urine (r = .52, p < .01). Urinary arsenic may be used as a biomarker of arsenic exposure through drinking water.
authors.forename: Mubashir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Zafar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fatmi
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic