Blood pressure, left ventricular geometry, and systolic function in children exposed to inorganic arsenic.
BACKGROUND
Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a ubiquitous element present in the groundwater worldwide. Cardiovascular effects related to iAs exposure have been studied extensively in adult populations. Few epidemiological studies have been focused on iAs exposure-related cardiovascular disease in children.


OBJECTIVE
In this study we investigated the association between iAs exposure, blood pressure (BP), and functional and anatomical echocardiographic parameters in children.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of 161 children between 3 and 8 years was conducted in Central Mexico. The total concentration of arsenic (As) species in urine (U-tAs) was determined by hydride generation-cryotrapping-atomic absorption spectrometry and lifetime iAs exposure was estimated by multiplying As concentrations measured in drinking water by the duration of water consumption in years (LAsE). BP was measured by standard protocols, and M-mode echocardiographic parameters were determined by ultrasonography.


RESULTS
U-tAs concentration and LAsE were significantly associated with diastolic (DBP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in multivariable linear regression models: DBP and SBP were 0.013 (95% CI: 0.002, 0.024) and 0.021 (95% CI: 0.004, 0.037) mmHg higher in association with each 1-ng/mL increase in U-tAs (p < 0.025), respectively. Left ventricular mass (LVM) was significantly associated with LAsE [5.5 g higher (95% CI: 0.65, 10.26) in children with LAsE > 620 compared with < 382 μg/L-year; p = 0.03] in an adjusted multivariable model. The systolic function parameters left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and shortening fraction were 3.67% (95% CI: -7.14, -0.20) and 3.41% (95% CI: -6.44, -0.37) lower, respectively, in children with U-tAs > 70 ng/mL compared with < 35 ng/mL.


CONCLUSIONS
Early-life exposure to iAs was significantly associated with higher BP and LVM and with lower EF in our study population of Mexican children.
Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México DF, México.
Citlalli
C
Osorio-Yáñez
Julio C
JC
Ayllon-Vergara
Laura
L
Arreola-Mendoza
Guadalupe
G
Aguilar-Madrid
Erika
E
Hernández-Castellanos
Luz C
LC
Sánchez-Peña
Luz M
LM
Del Razo
D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000032:analysis*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
D001152:Arsenicals; D060766:Drinking Water