Search

Exposure to arsenic-contaminated air and food caused by the burning of coal in unventilated indoor stoves is a major environmental public health concern in Guizhou Province, China. The liver is one of the main target organs for coal-fired arsenic exposure; however, there is little information about the risk assessment between cumulative arsenic exposure and the prevalence of liver damage. This study first evaluated the chronic daily intake (CDI) for two exposure pathways (inhalation and ingestion) and five environmental media (i.e., indoor and outdoor air, drinking water, rice, corn, and chili peppers) in 1998, 2006, 2014, and 2017. Then, the dose-effect and dose-response relationship between hair arsenic (HA) and cumulative arsenic (CA) levels and liver damage was analyzed. The results clearly show that the CDI in 1998 was 34.9 μg·kg−1·d−1, 22.9 μg·kg−1·d−1 in 2006, 11.7 μg·kg−1·d−1 in 2014, and 6.7 μg·kg−1·d−1 in 2017 in the arsenic exposure area. All of these values were higher than the daily baseline level of 3.0 μg·kg−1·d−1 as recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), and the increased HA and CA can increase the risk of coal-fired arsenic-induced liver damage. In addition, we analyzed the possible maximum acceptable CA exposure level for coal-fired arsenic-induced liver damage using the Bayesian benchmark dose. The recommended maximum acceptable CA exposure level for liver damage caused by coal-burning arsenic is 7120 mg. This study provides scientific insight into understanding the dose-response relationship of liver damage caused by coal-burning arsenic exposure and the monitoring and prevention of arsenic poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effect of coal-burning arsenic (As) exposure on lung function and the potential underlying mechanisms, a total of 217 As-exposed subjects and 75 reference subjects were recruited into this study. Hair arsenic (H–As), pulmonary function tests, and serum inflammatory markers CC16, SP-A, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 were evaluated. Residents from As-exposed areas showed higher H–As concentrations (median 0.25 μg/g) than subjects from the reference area (median 0.14 μg/g). Large reductions in lung function parameters were noted in the As-exposed group. A significant negative correlation was observed between H–As concentrations and lung function. Specifically, monotonic negative dose-response relationships were observed between H–As and FEV1(%), FEV1/FVC (%) and FEF75 (%) (all P < 0.05), while the associations between H–As and FVC (%), FEF25 (%), and FEF50 (%) were nonlinear (P for nonlinearity = 0.03, 0.001, 0.01, respectively). In addition, there was a direct positive relationship between H–As and the inflammatory response. Alterations in inflammatory biomarkers (CC16, SP-A, MMP-9, and MMP-9/TIMP-1) were significantly associated with As-induced lung function impairment. Thus, this population-based study revealed that As exposure has significant toxic effects on lung function and increased inflammation may occur during this toxic process. We provide scientific evidence for an As-induced alteration in inflammatory biomarkers and pulmonary damage in an As-exposed population. The results of this study can inform risk assessment and risk control processes in relation to human As exposure in coal-burning arsenicosis areas. • As exposure had a deleterious effect on lung function, and this effect may be enhanced by tobacco smoking. • The alterations of inflammatory biomarkerswere significantly associated with As-induced lung function impairment. • Potential modification effects of gender on lung function and inflammatory response were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, most arsenic (As) studies in populations are concerned with water-borne arsenicosis. However, residents in Xingren County of Guizhou Province, Southwest of China, represent a unique case of arsenicosis which is related to indoor combustion of high As-containing coal. This study aimed to assess the alterations of As levels and its risk factors in coal-borne arsenicosis residents during the past 20 years. Four follow-up investigations in Xingren County were selected from the year 1998 to 2017, a total of 245, 272, 584, and 309 residents were involved in the four investigations, respectively. Local external environmental medium (coal, soil, water, air, rice, corn and chili peppers) and biological samples (urine, hair) were collected at each time of investigation for total As analysis. Sociodemographics and lifestyles variables were extracted from the questionnaire investigation. Both univariate and multivariate unconditional logistic regression models were performed to analyze the variation of risk factors for coal-borne arsenicosis. A substantial reduction of total As levels was observed both in external environmental medium and biological samples in the unique coal-borne arsenicosis region, especially since the year 2006. In addition, age, duration of consuming high As-containing coal and smoking status were found to be the most significant risk factors for coal-borne arsenicosis during the past 20 years by both two different logistic regression models. Room ventilation and grain drying modes were no longer to be risk factors since 1998 survey. Annual household income had always been an important protective factor for coal-borne arsenicosis in recent 20 years by both two different logistic regression models. Grain storage modes had become significant protective factor in 2014 and 2017 survey. A certain correlation between sex, education and coal-borne arsenicosis was observed by univariate logistic regression model but no clear links were found by multivariate logistic regression model. Considerable efforts to blocking As exposure from burning coal and As contaminated foods in this region are observed over the study period. Further practical health education programs may need to target individuals with long-term of As exposure, lower socioeconomic status and smoking in order to better prevent and control the occurrence and development of coal-borne arsenicosis. • There was a substantial reduction of total As levels in the unique coal-borne arsenicosis region in the latest 10 years. • Age, duration of consuming high As-containing coal and smoking were always the risk factors for coal-borne arsenicosis. • Room ventilation and grain drying modes were no longer to be risk factors for coal-borne arsenicosis since 1998. • Annual household income had always been an important protective factor for coal-borne arsenicosis in recent 20 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]