Association between arsenic exposure and plasma cholinesterase activity: a population based study in Bangladesh

Abstract

BackgroundArsenic is a potent pollutant that has caused an environmental catastrophe in certain parts of the world including Bangladesh where millions of people are presently at risk due to drinking water contaminated by arsenic. Chronic arsenic exposure has been scientifically shown as a cause for liver damage, cancers, neurological disorders and several other ailments. The relationship between plasma cholinesterase (PChE) activity and arsenic exposure has not yet been clearly documented. However, decreased PChE activity has been found in patients suffering liver dysfunction, heart attack, cancer metastasis and neurotoxicity. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the PChE activity in individuals exposed to arsenic via drinking water in Bangladesh.MethodsA total of 141 Bangladeshi residents living in arsenic endemic areas with the mean arsenic exposure of 14.10 ± 3.27 years were selected as study subjects and split into tertile groups based on three water arsenic concentrations: low (< 129 μg/L), medium (130-264 μg/L) and high (> 265 μg/L). Study subjects were further sub-divided into two groups (≤50 μg/L and > 50 μg/L) based on the recommended upper limit of water arsenic concentration (50 μg/L) in Bangladesh. Blood samples were collected from the study subjects by venipuncture and arsenic concentrations in drinking water, hair and nail samples were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). PChE activity was assayed by spectrophotometer.ResultsArsenic concentrations in hair and nails were positively correlated with the arsenic levels in drinking water. Significant decreases in PChE activity were observed with increasing concentrations of arsenic in water, hair and nails. The average levels of PChE activity in low, medium and high arsenic exposure groups were also significantly different between each group. Lower levels of PChE activity were also observed in the > 50 μg/L group compared to the ≤50 μg/L group. Moreover, PChE activity was significantly decreased in the skin (+) symptoms group compared to those without (-).ConclusionsWe found a significant inverse relationship between arsenic exposure and PChE activity in a human population in Bangladesh. This research demonstrates a novel exposure-response relationship between arsenic and PChE activity which may explain one of the biological mechanisms through which arsenic exerts its neuro-and hepatotoxicity in humans.

Platelet hyperactivity, neurobehavioral symptoms and depression among Indian women chronically exposed to low level of arsenic

“…Fourth, there are several other environmental pollutants (agricultural pesticide, for example) that may cause depression. Like As, organophosphate and carbamate pesticides decrease acetylcholinesterase in animals (Patlolla and Tchounwou, 2005) as well as in humans subjects (Ali et al, 2010). Despite these shortcomings, our sample size was large enough to conclude that there was convincing evidence to support the association between chronic low level As exposure and depression and neurobehavioral changes in rural women.…”

Hepato- and nephrotoxicity in male albino rats exposed to malathion and spinosad in stored wheat grains

“…As for PChE activity results, Rustemeijer et al [33] found an association between PChE activity and the rate of triacylglycerol synthesis. Decreased PChE activity has been found in patients suffering liver dysfunction [1]. PChE activity was positively associated as well with serum concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides and with measures of overweight, obesity, and body fat distribution [10].…”

Increased count of <i>Bacteroides fragilis</i> in the feces of palmar arsenical keratosis patient

“…There is a positive correlation between the concentration of arsenic in drinking water and the (Ali et al, 2010); suggesting that the measurement of arsenic concentration in nails can be one of the important markers of chronic arsenic toxicity (Karagas et al, 1996;Caussy, 2005).…”