Epidemiological, dietary, toxicological and clinical nutrition studies on low-income population groups from a geographical area with endemic chronic arsenic poisoning.

An epidemiological, dietary, toxicological and clinical nutrition study, in an area with endemic chronic arsenic poisoning, was made. In a pilot study on 100 subjects from Antofagasta Commune, water dietary intake was associated with age (r = 0.678; P less than 0.000005). In a dietary survey (N = 220), performed to measure the mean and median arsenic doses, by age groups, there was a significant correlation amongst males (r = 0.800; P = 0.00956) and females (r = -0.791; P = 0.01121). A nutritional assessment of a male population sample (N = 100), of labourers and their children, showed a negative per cent change for food energy in 9 of the 10 age groups, with a maximum negative value of -47.4 (11--12 year-old group), when compared with U.S. recommended daily dietary allowances. For total protein intake, all age groups exhibited a negative per cent change, reaching a maximum value of -27.8 (7--10 year-old group). Since two boys with chronic arsenical dermatosis and prekwashiorkor were drinking water with a mean arsenic concentration of 0.08 and 0.06 ppm, respectively, a maximum permissible concentration of arsenic in drinking water of 0.01 ppm has been recommended as an international safety standard.