title: Chronic low-level arsenic exposure reduces lung function in male population without skin lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The respiratory effects of chronic low-level arsenic exposure from groundwater have been investigated in West Bengal, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants (834 non-smoking adult males) were subdivided in two groups: an arsenic-exposed group (n = 446, mean age 35.3 years) drinking arsenic-contaminated groundwater (11-50 μg/L) and a control group of 388 age-matched men drinking water containing <10 μg/L of arsenic. Arsenic in water samples was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was documented by structured, validated questionnaire. Pulmonary function test (PFT) was assessed by portable spirometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with control, the arsenic-exposed subjects had higher prevalence of upper and lower respiratory symptoms, dyspnea, asthma, eye irritation and headache. Besides, 20.6% of arsenic-exposed subjects had lung function deficits (predominantly restrictive and combined types) compared with 13.6% of control (p < 0.05). A positive association was observed between arsenic concentration in drinking water and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, while a negative association existed between arsenic level and spirometric parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that even low-level arsenic exposure has deleterious respiratory effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Hematology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, 37, S.P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata, 700 026, India.
authors.forename: Debangshu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Banani
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bindhani
authors.forename: Bidisha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: Hirak
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: Kaustav
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: Dona
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: Manas Ranjan
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ray
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018876:Environmental Illness / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060587:Groundwater / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical