title: Human health risk assessment with spatial analysis: study of a population chronically exposed to arsenic through drinking water from Argentina.
abstract: Arsenic (As) is a ubiquitous element widely distributed in the environment. This metalloid has proven carcinogenic action in man. The aim of this work was to assess the health risk related to As exposure through drinking water in an Argentinean population, applying spatial analytical techniques in addition to conventional approaches. The study involved 650 inhabitants from Chaco and Santiago del Estero provinces. Arsenic in drinking water (Asw) and urine (UAs) was measured by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Average daily dose (ADD), hazard quotient (HQ), and carcinogenic risk (CR) were estimated, geo-referenced and integrated with demographical data by a health composite index (HI) applying geographic information system (GIS) analysis. Asw covered a wide range of concentration: from non-detectable (ND) to 2000 μg/L. More than 90% of the population was exposed to As, with UAs levels above the intervention level of 100 μg/g creatinine. GIS analysis described an expected level of exposure lower than the observed, indicating possible additional source/s of exposure to inorganic arsenic. In 68% of the locations, the population had a HQ greater than 1, and the CR ranged between 5·10(-5) and 2,1·10(-2). An environmental exposure area through ADD geo-referencing defined a baseline scenario for space-time risk assessment. The time of residence, the demographic density and the potential health considered outcomes helped characterize the health risk in the region. The geospatial analysis contributed to delimitate and analyze the change tendencies of risk in the region, broadening the scopes of the results for a decision-making process.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Toxicología y Química Legal, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, C1113AAD Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: jnavoni@ffyb.uba.ar.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Navoni
authors.affiliation: Dirección Nacional de Determinantes de la Salud e Investigación, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Av. 9 de Julio 1925, C1073ABA Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: depietrid@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Pietri
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Toxicología y Química Legal, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, C1113AAD Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Olmos
authors.affiliation: Cátedra Química Analítica I, Universidad Nacional del Chaco Austral. Cmte., Fernández 755 (3700), Pres. Roque Sáenz Peña, Chaco, Argentina.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gimenez
authors.affiliation: Grupo INQA (Investigación Química Aplicada) Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy, Alberdi 47, piso 1, San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy CP 4600, Argentina.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bovi Mitre
authors.affiliation: Dirección Nacional de Determinantes de la Salud e Investigación, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Av. 9 de Julio 1925, C1073ABA Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Titto
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Toxicología y Química Legal, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, C1113AAD Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Villaamil Lepori
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Arsenic; Geographic information systems; Public health; Risk assessment; Water pollution