Abstract
Objectives: The current study determines whether internal exposure to inorganic arsenic for residents living in close proximity to an operating smelter is any different from that for residents living in a similar community without anthropogenic sources of inorganic arsenic. Furthermore, the study examines factors that may contribute to internal inorganic arsenic exposure in these populations.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was used to determine whether recent internal exposure to inorganic arsenic for residents living in close proximity to an operating smelter with known elevated soil arsenic content is any different from exposure for residents living in a similar socio-demographic community without point sources of arsenic. Personal information was collected from participants during in-home interviews, and first morning void urine samples were obtained to assess recent internal exposure to arsenic.
Results: The mean concentration of urinary inorganic arsenic of residents living in the exposed community was 7.11 ug/L (Standard deviation (SD) 4.53, N=368) and in the non-exposed community was 7.19 ug/L (SD 5.63, N=321). The difference in urinary inorganic concentration was not statistically significant (p=0.83). Regression analysis showed that age and sex were significant predictors of internal exposure, with males and younger age groups having higher exposure levels.
Conclusions: Based on analyses of data collected, the results did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in recent internal exposure to inorganic arsenic between the community with and the one without industrial or other point sources of environmental arsenic contamination. However, individual characteristics such as age and sex are important contributors to urinary inorganic arsenic levels.
Key words: Urinary arsenic, exposure assessment, biological monitoring, community health
Résumé
Objectifs: Notre étude vise à déterminer si l’exposition interne à l’arsenic inorganique chez les résidents vivant à proximité d’une fonderie en activité diffère de celle des résidents d’une localité semblable, mais sans source anthropogénique d’arsenic inorganique. De plus, nous examinons les facteurs pouvant contribuer à une exposition interne à l’arsenic inorganique dans ces populations.
Méthode: Nous avons mené une étude transversale pour déterminer si l’exposition interne récente à l’arsenic inorganique chez les résidents vivant à proximité d’une fonderie en activité ayant des niveaux connus élevés d’arsenic dans le sol diffère de l’exposition des résidents vivant dans une localité semblable sur le plan sociodémographique, mais sans source ponctuelle d’arsenic. Des renseignements personnels ont été recueillis auprès des participants à la faveur d’entretiens à domicile, et nous avons prélevé des échantillons de la première urine du matin pour évaluer l’exposition interne récente à l’arsenic.
Résultats: La concentration moyenne d’arsenic inorganique dans les urines des résidents vivant dans la localité exposée était de 7,11 µg/L (écart-type [ET] 4,53, N=368); dans la localité non exposée, elle était de 7,19 µg/L (ET 5,63, N=321). La différence de concentration en matières inorganiques dans l’urine n’était pas significative (p=0,83). Une analyse de régression a montré que l’âge et le sexe étaient des prédicteurs significatifs d’une exposition interne, les niveaux d’exposition étant plus élevés chez les hommes et dans les groupes d’âge plus jeunes.
Conclusion: D’après les analyses des données recueillies, les résultats ne démontrent pas de différence significative dans l’exposition interne récente à l’arsenic inorganique entre la localité ayant une source industrielle ou autre source ponctuelle de contamination à l’arsenic présent dans l’environnement et la localité n’ayant pas de telle source. Cependant, les caractéristiques individuelles comme l’âge et le sexe contribuent de façon importante aux niveaux d’arsenic inorganique dans les urines.
Mots clés: arsenic urinaire, évaluation du risque, biosurveillance, santé communautaire
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest: None to declare.
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