Chronic Arsenic Poisoning and Respiratory Effects in Bangladesh

Abul Hasnat MILTON; Ziul HASAN; Atiqur RAHMAN; Mahfuzar RAHMAN

doi:10.1539/joh.43.136

Abul Hasnat MILTON, Ziul HASAN, Atiqur RAHMAN, Mahfuzar RAHMAN

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Keywords: Arsenic, Cross-sectional study, Drinking water, Respiratory, disease, Skin lesion

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2001 Volume 43 Issue 3 Pages 136-140

DOI https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.43.136

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Published: 2001 Received: September 14, 2000 Available on J-STAGE: March 27, 2006 Accepted: February 05, 2001 Advance online publication: - Revised: -
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Date of correction: March 27, 2006 Reason for correction: - Correction: ABSTRACT Details: Wrong : Chronic Arsenic Poisoning and Respiratory Effects in Bangladesh: Abul Hasnat MILTON, et al. Arsenic Cell, NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation, Bangladesh—A large population in Bangladesh have been exposed to naturally occurring inorganic arsenic through their drinking water. A prevalence comparison study of respiratory disorders among subjects with and without arsenic exposure through drinking water was conducted in Bangladesh. Characteristic skin lesions, keratoses and pigmentation alteration, and the water arsenic level confirmed the arsenic exposure. Three villages were selected from health awareness campaign programs. Participants in these courtyard meetings who had suspected skin lesions. i.e., keratosis, hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation, were examined by a well-trained medical officer to confirm the diagnosis. Unexposed subjects were randomly selected from another village, where tubewells were not contaminated with arsenic. We interviewed and examined 218 individuals irrespective of age and sex from these villages. The arsenic level in their drinking water was measured and the mean arsenic level was 614 pg/l (ranging from 136 6mu;g/lto 1, 000 μg/l). Information regarding respiratory system signs and symptoms was also collected. There were few smokers, and analyses were therefore confined to nonsmokers. The overall crude prevalence (or risk) among the exposed subjects for chronic cough, and chronic bronchitis, was three times the prevalence in the control population. Age was a slightly negative confounding factor. The crude prevalence ratios were noticeably increased for female participants compared to male participants. A possible explanation for this noticeably increased occurrence of respiratory signs and symptoms in women is related to the presence of weakness. These results add to the evidence that long-term ingestion of arsenic can cause respiratory problems especially among females. (J Occup Health 2001; 43: 136-140)
Right : Chronic Arsenic Poisoning and Respiratory Effects in Bangladesh: Abul Hasnat MILTON, et al. Arsenic Cell, NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation, Bangladesh—A large population in Bangladesh have been exposed to naturally occurring inorganic arsenic through their drinking water. A prevalence comparison study of respiratory disorders among subjects with and without arsenic exposure through drinking water was conducted in Bangladesh. Characteristic skin lesions, keratoses and pigmentation alteration, and the water arsenic level confirmed the arsenic exposure. Three villages were selected from health awareness campaign programs. Participants in these courtyard meetings who had suspected skin lesions. i.e., keratosis, hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation, were examined by a well-trained medical officer to confirm the diagnosis. Unexposed subjects were randomly selected from another village, where tubewells were not contaminated with arsenic. We interviewed and examined 218 individuals irrespective of age and sex from these villages. The arsenic level in their drinking water was measured and the mean arsenic level was 614 pg/l (ranging from 136 6mu;g/lto 1, 000 μg/l). Information regarding respiratory system signs and symptoms was also collected. There were few smokers, and analyses were therefore confined to nonsmokers. The overall crude prevalence (or risk) among the exposed subjects for chronic cough, and chronic bronchitis, was three times the prevalence in the control population. Age was a slightly negative confounding factor. The crude prevalence ratios were noticeably increased for female participants compared to male participants. A possible explanation for this noticeably increased occurrence of respiratory signs and symptoms in women is related to the presence of weakness. These results add to the evidence that long-term ingestion of arsenic can cause respiratory problems especially among females. (J Occup Health 2001; 43: 136-140)

Date of correction: March 27, 2006 Reason for correction: - Correction: AFFILIATION Details: Wrong :
1) MBBS, M.Sc., Chief, Arsenic Cell, NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation
2) Bangobandhu Sheikh Mojib Medical University
3) Public Health Sciences Division, ICDDR''B: Centre for Health and Population Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
4) Division of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linkoping University, Sweden

Right :
1) MBBS, M.Sc., Chief, Arsenic Cell, NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation
2) Bangobandhu Sheikh Mojib Medical University
3) Public Health Sciences Division, ICDDR'B: Centre for Health and Population Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
4) Division of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linkoping University, Sweden

Date of correction: March 27, 2006 Reason for correction: - Correction: PDF FILE Details: -

Abstract

Chronic Arsenic Poisoning and Respiratory Effects in Bangladesh: Abul Hasnat MILTON, et al. Arsenic Cell, NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation, Bangladesh—A large population in Bangladesh have been exposed to naturally occurring inorganic arsenic through their drinking water. A prevalence comparison study of respiratory disorders among subjects with and without arsenic exposure through drinking water was conducted in Bangladesh. Characteristic skin lesions, keratoses and pigmentation alteration, and the water arsenic level confirmed the arsenic exposure. Three villages were selected from health awareness campaign programs. Participants in these courtyard meetings who had suspected skin lesions. i.e., keratosis, hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation, were examined by a well-trained medical officer to confirm the diagnosis. Unexposed subjects were randomly selected from another village, where tubewells were not contaminated with arsenic. We interviewed and examined 218 individuals irrespective of age and sex from these villages. The arsenic level in their drinking water was measured and the mean arsenic level was 614 pg/l (ranging from 136 6mu;g/lto 1, 000 μg/l). Information regarding respiratory system signs and symptoms was also collected. There were few smokers, and analyses were therefore confined to nonsmokers. The overall crude prevalence (or risk) among the exposed subjects for chronic cough, and chronic bronchitis, was three times the prevalence in the control population. Age was a slightly negative confounding factor. The crude prevalence ratios were noticeably increased for female participants compared to male participants. A possible explanation for this noticeably increased occurrence of respiratory signs and symptoms in women is related to the presence of weakness. These results add to the evidence that long-term ingestion of arsenic can cause respiratory problems especially among females. (J Occup Health 2001; 43: 136-140)

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