title: The effects of arsenic exposure on blood pressure and early risk markers of cardiovascular disease: Evidence for population differences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to inorganic arsenic has been identified as a risk factor for elevated blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Our aim with this study was to elucidate effects of arsenic on blood pressure and early risk markers of cardiovascular disease in a population with efficient arsenic metabolism that can modify other arsenic-related health effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 225 women in the northern Argentinean Andes. Exposure to arsenic was assessed by the sum of arsenic metabolite concentrations in urine. Blood pressure was measured in the supine position. Blood samples were collected for measurement of hemoglobin, homocysteine, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A and B, and cytokines in separated plasma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median arsenic concentration in urine was 200 µg/L (range 22-545 µg/L). Unexpectedly, urinary arsenic concentrations were inversely associated with both systolic (p=0.081), and diastolic (p=0.002) blood pressure, and with the ratio of apolipoproteins B/A (p<0.001). There was no clear sign of increased inflammation, measured as cytokine concentrations, in relation to arsenic. Furthermore, urinary arsenic was associated with low hemoglobin concentrations (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that arsenic exposure was not associated with elevated levels of early risk markers for cardiovascular disease in this population. This provides evidence that the effects of arsenic on risk of cardiovascular disease differ between populations, which needs to be taken into account in risk assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Syeda Shegufta
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ameer
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Engström
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Metals & Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Florencia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Harari
authors.affiliation: Science Department, Risk Benefit Assessment Unit, National Food Agency, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Concha
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Metals & Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vahter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Metals & Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: karin.broberg@ki.se.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Broberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Blood pressure; Hemoglobin; Interleukin; apoA; apoB