Arsenic and Other Metals’ Presence in Biomarkers of Cambodians in Arsenic Contaminated Areas

Chemical analyses of metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Ba, and Pb) concentrations in hair, nails, and urine of Cambodians in arsenic-contaminated areas who consumed groundwater daily showed elevated levels in these biomarkers for most metals of toxicological interest. The levels of metals i...

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Main Authors: Penradee Chanpiwat, Seiichiro Himeno, Suthipong Sthiannopkao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2015-11-01
Series:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/11/14285
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spelling doaj-50988c401b25418ca949d846e129ff3c2020-11-24T22:58:22ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012015-11-011211142851430010.3390/ijerph121114285ijerph121114285Arsenic and Other Metals’ Presence in Biomarkers of Cambodians in Arsenic Contaminated AreasPenradee Chanpiwat0Seiichiro Himeno1Suthipong Sthiannopkao2Environmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, ThailandDepartment of Molecular Nutrition and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima 770-8514, JapanDepartment of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Dong-A University, 37 Nakdong-Daero 550 Beon-gil, Saha-gu, Busan 604-714, KoreaChemical analyses of metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Ba, and Pb) concentrations in hair, nails, and urine of Cambodians in arsenic-contaminated areas who consumed groundwater daily showed elevated levels in these biomarkers for most metals of toxicological interest. The levels of metals in biomarkers corresponded to their levels in groundwater, especially for As, whose concentrations exceeded the WHO guidelines for drinking water. About 75.6% of hair samples from the population in this study contained As levels higher than the normal level in unexposed individuals (1 mg·kg−1). Most of the population (83.3%) showed As urinary levels exceeding the normal (<50 ng·mg−1). These results indicate the possibility of arsenicosis symptoms in residents of the areas studied. Among the three biomarkers tested, hair has shown to be a reliable indicator of metal exposures. The levels of As (r2 = 0.633), Ba (r2 = 0.646), Fe (r2 = 0.595), and Mo (r2 = 0.555) in hair were strongly positively associated with the levels of those metals in groundwater. In addition, significant weak correlations (p < 0.01) were found between levels of exposure to As and As concentrations in both nails (r2 = 0.544) and urine (r2 = 0.243).http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/11/14285arsenichairnailsurinebiomarkerchronic exposure
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Penradee Chanpiwat
Seiichiro Himeno
Suthipong Sthiannopkao
spellingShingle Penradee Chanpiwat
Seiichiro Himeno
Suthipong Sthiannopkao
Arsenic and Other Metals’ Presence in Biomarkers of Cambodians in Arsenic Contaminated Areas
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
arsenic
hair
nails
urine
biomarker
chronic exposure
author_facet Penradee Chanpiwat
Seiichiro Himeno
Suthipong Sthiannopkao
author_sort Penradee Chanpiwat
title Arsenic and Other Metals’ Presence in Biomarkers of Cambodians in Arsenic Contaminated Areas
title_short Arsenic and Other Metals’ Presence in Biomarkers of Cambodians in Arsenic Contaminated Areas
title_full Arsenic and Other Metals’ Presence in Biomarkers of Cambodians in Arsenic Contaminated Areas
title_fullStr Arsenic and Other Metals’ Presence in Biomarkers of Cambodians in Arsenic Contaminated Areas
title_full_unstemmed Arsenic and Other Metals’ Presence in Biomarkers of Cambodians in Arsenic Contaminated Areas
title_sort arsenic and other metals’ presence in biomarkers of cambodians in arsenic contaminated areas
publisher MDPI AG
series International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
issn 1660-4601
publishDate 2015-11-01
description Chemical analyses of metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Ba, and Pb) concentrations in hair, nails, and urine of Cambodians in arsenic-contaminated areas who consumed groundwater daily showed elevated levels in these biomarkers for most metals of toxicological interest. The levels of metals in biomarkers corresponded to their levels in groundwater, especially for As, whose concentrations exceeded the WHO guidelines for drinking water. About 75.6% of hair samples from the population in this study contained As levels higher than the normal level in unexposed individuals (1 mg·kg−1). Most of the population (83.3%) showed As urinary levels exceeding the normal (<50 ng·mg−1). These results indicate the possibility of arsenicosis symptoms in residents of the areas studied. Among the three biomarkers tested, hair has shown to be a reliable indicator of metal exposures. The levels of As (r2 = 0.633), Ba (r2 = 0.646), Fe (r2 = 0.595), and Mo (r2 = 0.555) in hair were strongly positively associated with the levels of those metals in groundwater. In addition, significant weak correlations (p < 0.01) were found between levels of exposure to As and As concentrations in both nails (r2 = 0.544) and urine (r2 = 0.243).
topic arsenic
hair
nails
urine
biomarker
chronic exposure
url http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/11/14285
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