Arsenic in drinking water and pregnancy outcomes.

Shojaei, Ahmad; Sayed, M.H. Salim Ullah; Barua, Shilajit; Khan, Manzurul Haque; Faruquee, MH; Jalil, Aisha; Hadi, S A; Talukder, Habibullah

doi:10.1289/ehp.01109629

Cited by 320 publications

(134 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…A larger cross-sectional study (Ahmad et al, 2001), reported increased PD for 359 pregnancies in 96 women (Table 2) consuming water contaminated by >50 μg/L iAs for at least five years, compared to 309 pregnancies in 96 referents exposed to <20 μg/L iAs (PPR = 2.54, P = 0.018). The sample size was determined a priori to ensure adequate statistical power.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Maternal arsenic exposure and birth outcomes: A comprehensive review of the epidemiologic literature focused on drinking water

Bloom

Surdu

Neamtiu³

et al. 2014

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

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Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a human toxicant to which populations may be exposed through consumption of geogenically contaminated groundwater. A growing body of experimental literature corroborates the reproductive toxicity of iAs; however, the results of human studies are inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive review of epidemiologic studies focused on drinking water iAs exposure and birth outcomes to assess the evidence for causality and to make recommendations for future study. We reviewed 18 English language papers assessing birth weight, gestational age, and birth size. Thirteen of the studies were conducted among populations with frequent exposure to high-level groundwater iAs contamination (>10 μg/L) and five studies were conducted in areas without recognized contamination. Most studies comprised small samples and used cross-sectional designs, often with ecologic exposure assessment strategies, although several large prospective investigations and studies with individual-level measurements were also reported. We conclude that: 1) the epidemiologic evidence for an increased risk of low birth weight (<2,500 grams) is insufficient, although there exists limited evidence for birth weight decreases; 2) the evidence for increased preterm delivery is insufficient; and, 3) there exists minimal evidence for decreased birth size. In further investigation of birth weight and size, we recommend incorporation of individual susceptibility measures using appropriate biomarkers, with collection timed to windows of vulnerability and speciated arsenic analysis, as well as consideration of populations exposed primarily to drinking water iAs contamination <10 μg/L. Given the large potential public health impact, additional, high quality epidemiologic studies are necessary to more definitively assess the risk.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Maternal arsenic exposure and birth outcomes: A comprehensive review of the epidemiologic literature focused on drinking water

Bloom

Surdu

Neamtiu³

et al. 2014

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

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“…Ahmad et al (2001) also found an inverse association between arsenicosis and SES and education level, probably due to the lack of access to As-free water. In other studies, As was also related to nutritional status of participants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Arsenic Exposure and Cognitive Performance in Mexican Schoolchildren

Rosado

Ronquillo

Kordas

et al. 2007

Environ Health Perspect

324

196

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BackgroundPrevious studies have suggested an effect of high arsenic concentration on cognitive and neurobehavioral function in humans.ObjectiveOur goal was to identify demographic and nutritional factors that are associated with As exposure and the influence of this exposure on cognitive function in school-age children.MethodsWe recruited 602 children 6–8 years of age living within 3.5 km of a metallurgic smelter complex in the city of Torreón, Mexico, to participate in a cross-sectional evaluation. Of these, 591 had complete anthropometry, iron, and zinc status by biochemical measurements in serum, blood lead concentration (PbB), and arsenic in urine (UAs), and 557 completed several cognitive performance tests.ResultsThe mean for UAs was 58.1 ± 33.2 μg/L; 52% of the children had UAs concentrations > 50 μg/L, and 50.7% of children had PbB ≥10 μg/dL. UAs concentration was associated with low socioeconomic status. Nutritional status indicators were not related to UAs concentrations. Linear and logistic regressions adjusted for hemoglobin concentration, PbB, and sociodemographic confounders showed a significant inverse association between UAs and Visual–Spatial Abilities with Figure Design, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, the WISC-RM Digit Span subscale, Visual Search, and Letter Sequencing Tests (p < 0.05). Boys excreted significantly more UAs (p < 0.05) and were affected on different cognitive areas than girls.ConclusionsChildren living in an area contaminated with both As and lead showed that As contamination can affect children’s cognitive development, independent of any effect of lead.

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“…A slight non-significant increased risk (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.33) was associated with living in an arsenic-exposed township in Taiwan 13. A cross-sectional study in Bangladesh found significantly higher rates of preterm birth among women living in an arsenic-affected village when compared with women living in a village with arsenic ≤20 μg/l 16. The same study reported stillbirth rates about 2.5 times higher in the arsenic-affected village, which we did not find in our study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%