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HEALTH RISKS FROM CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO ARSENIC VIA DRINKING WATER: FINDINGS FROM THE CLINICAL INVESTIGATIONS DATA IN INNER MONGOLIA, CHINA
Citation:
Ma, H., K. Wu, Y. Xia, J L. Mumford, R K. Kwok, AND R L. Calderon. HEALTH RISKS FROM CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO ARSENIC VIA DRINKING WATER: FINDINGS FROM THE CLINICAL INVESTIGATIONS DATA IN INNER MONGOLIA, CHINA. Presented at Society for Environmental Geochemistry and Health (SESGH), 4th International Conference on Arsenic Exposure and Health Effects, San Diego, CA, June 18-21, 2000.
Description:
Prior studies have reported a large number of arsenicism cases in the Mongolia Autonomous Region of China due to drinking arsenic-contaminated water with concentrations up to 1.8 mg/L. However, the endemic health risks from chronic exposure to arsenic in this population have not been not specifically quantified. Analysis of the clinical investigations data collected by the Institute of Endemic Disease for Prevention and Treatment (IEDPT) in Inner Mongolia, China, provide insight into the health risks of exposure to arsenic via the drinking water in this population.
The IPTED researchers conducted a clinical investigation of 799 patients in Ba Meng, Inner Mongolia, China from 1992 to 1997. A variety of health endpoints were collected and drinking water samples were collected from the drinking wells of these individuals and analyzed for total arsenic content. To determine the odds of selected health endpoints such as skin hyperkeratosis, skin hyperpigmentation, and neurosensory disorders, the As exposure data was fit into a logistic regression model.
After controlling for length of drinking water arsenic exposure, age and sex, significant health risk were found in relation to elevated drinking water arsenic levels for a variety of skin disorders such as skin hyperkeratosis (OR = 4.2, 95% CI = 2.4, 7.2), and skin hyperpigmentation (OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 2.2, 5.5); as well as neurosensory disorders such as hyposphresia (OR = 4.0, 95% CI = 2.1, 7.8), hand/foot cold (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.3, 3.0), and memory loss (hypomnesia) (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.2, 3.0).
Overall, the data suggests a positive health risk associated with chronic exposure to arsenic via drinking water in this Inner Mongolian population. This health risk is particularly associated with skin disorders, but also with neurosensory disorders.
(This abstract does not reflect official US EPA policy.)
Corresponding Author: Judy L. Mumford, Ph.D., US EPA, MD-58C, RTP, NC 27711 USA