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Urinary arsenic methylation capability and carotid atherosclerosis risk in subjects living in arsenicosis-hyperendemic areas in southwestern Taiwan.

Abstract
Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic from artesian drinking well water is associated with carotid atherosclerosis in the Blackfoot Disease (BFD)-hyperendemic area in Taiwan. The current study examined the arsenic methylation capacity and its risk on carotid atherosclerosis. A total of 304 adults (158 men and 146 women) residing in the BFD-hyperendemic area were included. The extent of carotid atherosclerosis was assessed by duplex ultrasonography. Chronic arsenic exposure was estimated by an index of cumulative arsenic exposure (CAE) and the duration of artesian well water consumption. Urinary levels of inorganic arsenite [As(III)], arsenate [As(V)], monomethylarsonic acid [MMA(V)] and dimethylarsinic acid [DMA(V)] were determined by high performance liquid chromatography linked on-line to a hydride generator and atomic absorption spectrometry (HPLC-HG-AAS). The percentage of arsenic species, primary methylation index [PMI=MMA(V)/(As(III)+As(V)] and secondary methylation index [SMI=DMA(V)/MMA(V)] were calculated and employed as indicators of arsenic methylation capacity. Results showed that women and younger subjects had a more efficient arsenic methylation capacity than did men and the elderly. Carotid atherosclerosis cases had a significantly greater percentage of MMA(V) [%MMA(V)] and a lower percentage of DMA [%DMA (V)] compared to controls. Subjects in the highest two tertiles of PMI with a median of CAE >0 mg/L-year had an odds ratio (OR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of carotid atherosclerosis of 2.61 and 0.98-6.90 compared to those in the highest two tertiles of PMI with a CAE=0 mg/L-year. We conclude that individuals with greater exposure to arsenic and lower capacity to methylate inorganic arsenic may be at a higher risk to carotid atherosclerosis.
AuthorsYa-Li Huang, Yu-Mei Hsueh, Yung-Kai Huang, Ping-Keung Yip, Mo-Hsiung Yang, Chien-Jen Chen
JournalThe Science of the total environment (Sci Total Environ) Vol. 407 Issue 8 Pg. 2608-14 (Apr 01 2009) ISSN: 0048-9697 [Print] Netherlands
PMID19187952 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Arsenicals
  • Arsenites
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Cacodylic Acid
  • monomethylarsonic acid
  • arsenite
  • Arsenic
Topics
  • Adult
  • Arsenic (metabolism, urine)
  • Arsenic Poisoning (complications, epidemiology)
  • Arsenicals (urine)
  • Arsenites (urine)
  • Cacodylic Acid (urine)
  • Carotid Artery Diseases (complications, epidemiology, metabolism)
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methylation
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Taiwan
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical (metabolism, urine)

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