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HEALTH EFFECTS OF CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO ARSENIC VIA DRINKING WATER IN INNER MONGOLIA. III. NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS AND PIN-PRICK MEASURES
Citation:
Li, Y., L. He, Y. Xia, N. Zhixiong, J. S. Mumford, R K. Kwok, AND D A. Otto. HEALTH EFFECTS OF CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO ARSENIC VIA DRINKING WATER IN INNER MONGOLIA. III. NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS AND PIN-PRICK MEASURES. Presented at Society for Environcmental Geochemistry and Health (SEGH), San Diego, CA, July 14-19, 2002.
Description:
Health Effects of Chronic Exposure to Arsenic via Drinking Water in Inner Mongolia: III. Neurological Symptoms and Pin-prick Measures
Yanhong Li, M.D.,Yajuan.Xia, M.D., Kegong Wu, M.D., Inner Mongolia Center For Endemic Disease Control and Research, Ling Ling He, B.S., Zhixiong Ning, B.S., Ba Men Anti-Epidemic Station, Baixiao Zhao, B.S., Lin He Anti-Epidemic Station, Richard K.Kwok, M.S.P.H., Judy L. Mumford, Ph.D., David Otto, Ph.D. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The purpose of this study was to assess neurological effects of chronic exposure to arsenic via drinking water. The sample consisted of 321 residents of Ba Meng, Inner Mongolia exposed to low (<21ug/L), medium(100-300ug/L),or high (430-690ug/L) concentrations of arsenic. A questionnaire was administered to assess central (CNS), peripheral (PNS), and autonomic (ANS) nerve system function. Pin-prick tests were also conducted on four limbs to assess PNS effects. Numbness was scored as follows: 1=normal, 2=end of finger/toe only, 3=whole finger/toe, 4=below wrist/ankle, 5=below elbow/knee. Group comparisons were made controlling for age and gender. No significant group difference was found in CNS symptoms (headache or dizziness, amnesia, vision, hearing or perception) except between medium and high groups in smell. On the other hand, significant group differences were observed in most PNS symptom comparisons (vibration, tactile and pain sensitivity, sense of heat-cold, and numbness). Medium and high groups also differed significantly in ANS symptoms. Pin-prick results from hands and feet indicated that numbness increased directly with arsenic concentrations in the drinking water. Significant differences in pin-prick scores were observed between the low and high, medium and high, but not low and medium exposure groups. The largest difference in pin-prick sensitivity was found between the low and high exposure groups. Consistent PNS effects were observed in questionnaire symptoms and pin-prick scores. These findings indicate peripheral sensory axonopathy associated with arsenic exposure in drinking water.
CORRESPONDING AUTHORS: YH.Li, M.D., Inner Mongolia Center For Endemic Disease Control and Research, Huhhot, China; David Otto, Ph.D., EPA/Human Studies Division (MD-58B), Research Triangle Park, NC27711, USA.
(This is an abstract of a proposed presentation and does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.)