Milton Abul Hasnat, Rahman Mahfuzar
Arsenic Cell, NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Int J Environ Health Res. 2002 Jun;12(2):175-9. doi: 10.1080/09603120220129346.
Arsenic in drinking water causes a widespread concern in Bangladesh, where a major proportion of tube wells is contaminated. Arsenic ingestion causes skin lesions, which is considered as definite exposure. A prevalence comparison study of respiratory effects among subjects with and without arsenic exposure through drinking water was conducted in Bangladesh. Exposed participants were recruited through health awareness campaign programs. Unexposed participants were randomly selected, where tubewells were not contaminated with arsenic. A total of 169 individuals participated (44 exposed individuals exhibiting skin lesions; 125 unexposed individuals). The arsenic concentrations ranged from 136 to 1000 micro g l(-1). The information regarding respiratory system signs and symptoms were also collected and the analyses were confined to nonsmokers. The crude prevalence ratio for chronic bronchitis and chronic cough amounted to 2.1 (95% CI 0.7-6.1). The prevalence ratios for chronic bronchitis increased with increasing exposure, i.e., 1.0, 1.6, 2.7 and 2.6 using unexposed as the reference. The prevalence ratios for chronic cough were 1.0, 1.6, 2.7 and 2.6 for the exposure categories, using the same unexposed as the reference. The dose-response trend was the same (P < 0.1) for both conditions. These results add to evidence that long-term ingestion of arsenic exposure can cause respiratory effects.
孟加拉国饮用水中的砷引发了广泛关注，该国大部分管井都受到了污染。摄入砷会导致皮肤病变，这被视为明确的暴露情况。在孟加拉国开展了一项针对通过饮用水接触砷和未接触砷的受试者呼吸影响的患病率比较研究。通过健康宣传活动招募暴露组参与者。未暴露组参与者是从管井未受砷污染地区随机选取的。共有169人参与（44名有皮肤病变的暴露个体；125名未暴露个体）。砷浓度范围为136至1000微克/升。还收集了有关呼吸系统体征和症状的信息，且分析仅限于不吸烟者。慢性支气管炎和慢性咳嗽的粗患病率比为2.1（95%可信区间0.7 - 6.1）。以未暴露组为参照，慢性支气管炎的患病率比随暴露程度增加而升高，即分别为1.0、1.6、2.7和2.6。以同样的未暴露组为参照，各暴露组慢性咳嗽的患病率比分别为1.0、1.6、2.7和2.6。两种情况的剂量 - 反应趋势相同（P < 0.1）。这些结果进一步证明长期摄入砷暴露会导致呼吸影响。
