Dastgiri Saeed, Mosaferi Mohammad, Fizi Mohammad A H, Olfati Nahid, Zolali Shahin, Pouladi Nasser, Azarfam Parvin
School of Medicine and National Public Health Management Centre, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran.
J Health Popul Nutr. 2010 Feb;28(1):14-22. doi: 10.3329/jhpn.v28i1.4519.
Chronic exposure to arsenic compounds is one of the major public-health problems in many developing and some developed countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to arsenic on dermatological lesions, hypertension, and chromosomal abnormalities among people in a community in the northwest of Iran. The occurrence of dermatological lesions, hypertension, and chromosomal abnormalities was investigated in two groups: Ghopuz village, including 101 subjects with chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking-water and Mayan village, including 107 subjects with no exposure. Daily/yearly absorbed amounts of arsenic were calculated for all subjects. Cumulative arsenic index for each individual was then estimated on the basis of age, water consumption, and location of residence. Arsenic concentration in drinking-water sources in Ghopuz and Mayan villages was 1031 +/- 1103 microg/L and non-detectable respectively. The mean systolic blood pressure in the exposure group [n=137, 95% confidence interval (CI 132-142)] was significantly higher than that in the control group (n=107, 95% CI 99.9-114). A similar significant difference was observed for diastolic blood pressure (exposed: n=82, 95% CI 79-85 vs non-exposed: n=71, 95% CI 66-75). The incidence of hyperkeratosis was 34 times higher among the exposure group compared to the control subjects [odds ratio (OR)=34, p<0.001)]. A significant difference was also observed in the occurrence of skin-pigmentation between the two groups (OR=2.4, p<0.007). Location and severity of the pigmentations were statistically different between the two groups. Twenty-five percent of the subjects in the exposure group showed chromosomal abnormalities (p=0.05). Arsenic exposure was a serious health problem in the region. More studies are needed to investigate the long-term effects and dose-response relationship of arsenic in the region and similar areas. Wide-ranging monitoring programmes for drinking-water sources should be implemented by public-health authorities.
长期接触砷化合物是许多发展中国家和一些发达国家面临的主要公共卫生问题之一。本研究的目的是调查伊朗西北部一个社区的居民长期接触砷对皮肤病变、高血压和染色体异常的影响。在两组中调查了皮肤病变、高血压和染色体异常的发生情况：戈普兹村，包括101名长期饮用含砷饮用水的受试者；玛雅村，包括107名未接触砷的受试者。计算了所有受试者的每日/每年砷摄入量。然后根据年龄、用水量和居住地点估算每个个体的累积砷指数。戈普兹村和玛雅村饮用水源中的砷浓度分别为1031±1103微克/升和未检测到。暴露组的平均收缩压 [n=137，95% 置信区间 (CI 132 - 142)] 显著高于对照组 (n=107，95% CI 99.9 - 114)。舒张压也观察到类似的显著差异（暴露组：n=82，95% CI 79 - 85；未暴露组：n=71，95% CI 66 - 75）。与对照受试者相比，暴露组的角化过度发生率高34倍 [优势比 (OR)=34，p<0.001]。两组之间在皮肤色素沉着的发生方面也观察到显著差异 (OR=2.4，p<0.007)。两组之间色素沉着的位置和严重程度在统计学上存在差异。暴露组中25% 的受试者出现染色体异常 (p=0.05)。砷暴露是该地区一个严重的健康问题。需要更多研究来调查该地区及类似地区砷的长期影响和剂量反应关系。公共卫生当局应实施广泛的饮用水源监测计划。
