Arsenic-induced toxicity and carcinogenicity: a two-wave cross-sectional study in arsenicosis individuals in West Bengal, India

• Published in: Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 156 - 162
• Main Authors: Paul, Somnath, Das, Nandana, Bhattacharjee, Pritha, Banerjee, Mayukh, Das, Jayanta K, Sarma, Nilendu, Sarkar, Ajoy, Bandyopadhyay, Apurba K, Sau, Tanmoy J, Basu, Santanu, Banerjee, Saptarshi, Majumder, Papia, Giri, Ashok K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01.03.2013; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 692/700/478/174; 704/172/169/895; 704/172/169/896; Adult; Arsenic; Arsenic - toxicity; Arsenic Poisoning - epidemiology; Bioaccumulation; Bioremediation; Cancer; Carcinogenicity; Carcinogenicity Tests; Carcinogens; Carcinogens - toxicity; Conjunctivitis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cytogenetics; Disorders; Drinking water; Drinking Water - chemistry; Environmental Exposure; Epidemiology; Exposure; Health aspects; Humans; India - epidemiology; Lymphocytes; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Micronucleus Tests; original-article; Peripheral neuropathy; Remediation; Risk factors; Signs and symptoms; Skin; Skin diseases; Toxicity; India; West Bengal India; India, West Bengal; dermatological disorder; remediation; micronucleus; cross-sectional study; non-dermatological disorders; arsenic
• ISSN: 1559-0631; 1559-064X
• DOI: 10.1038/jes.2012.91

In the state of West Bengal in India, over 26 million individuals are exposed to arsenic via drinking water. Dermatological, non-dermatological disorders and cancers are associated with arsenic toxicity. Of late, there has been a decrease in the arsenic concentration in drinking water owing to governmental efforts, raising the possibility of remediation. A cross-sectional study was conducted, where 189 arsenicosis and 171 unexposed individuals were recruited at two time points, (2005–06 and 2010–11) with concomitant decrease in the level of arsenic exposure via drinking water in the arsenicosis group in 2010–11. Parameters studied included dermatological, non-dermatological health status and cytogenetic damage. Decrease of arsenic exposure (190.1  μ g/l to 37.94  μ g/l) resulted in significant decline in the number of individuals having dermatological disorders ( P <0.01) and in the severity of each dermatological outcome ( P <0.0001). Micronucleus formation in urothelial cells and lymphocytes decreased significantly ( P <0.001). However, there was a significant ( P <0.001) rise in the incidence of each of the non-dermatological diseases, that is, peripheral neuropathy, conjunctivitis and respiratory distress over the period. Thirteen (6.87%) of the initially recruited arsenicosis individuals died of cancer, in this period. Remediation by arsenic-safe drinking water can reduce dermatological manifestations and cytogenetic insult; but is unable to counter the non-dermatological symptoms.