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AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FEASIBILITY STUDY AND A BIOMARKER STUDY FOR ASSESSING HEALTH EFFECTS OF ARSENIC IN INNER MONGOLIA, CHINA
Impact/Purpose:
Epidemiology Studies: to evaluate the existing epidemiological/clinical data and investigate the relationship between arsenic exposure and health effects in multiple health endpoints to determine the need for new epidemiology studies based on evaluation of existing data Biomarker Studies: to assess arsenic exposure and characterize health effects, including mode of action, and to identify sensitive biomarkers useful for risk assessment at low dose.
Description:
Epidemiology Studies: This work will be accomplished through: (a) building data bases; evaluating existing data, including published (mostly in Chinese) and unpublished data on arsenic exposure and health effects in Inner Mongolia and publishing this summary analysis in English literature; (b) obtaining additional health effects and census data and conducting additional analyses; determining the need for new studies and design new epidemiology studies for next phase (Phase 2) epidemiology/biomarker study. Biomarker Studies: Study subjects living in an endemic area in Inner Mongolia will be selected. Arsenic exposure via drinking water and food will be analyzed and characterized. Human samples (urine, nail, skin biopsies and exfoliated target epithelia) will be collected. Biomarkers of exposure and health effects will be evaluated to investigate the mode of action for arsenic and to identify the sensitive biomarkers for cancer risk assessment. Neurosensory and cardiovascular effects will also be assessed. These studies will provide relevant health effects data, including some human dose-response data, that will support the risk assessment and the new drinking water standard for arsenic. The epidemiology feasibility study will evaluate the possibility of conducting a full-scale study that could provide information for quantitative risk assessment. The results of the China biomarker studies will be useful in comparing and linking to the studies in U.S. populations with low arsenic exposure. with arsenic exposure in the U.S.