Association between occupational exposure to arsenic and neurological, respiratory and renal effects

Hałatek, Tadeusz; Sińczuk-Walczak, H; Rabieh, Sasan; Wąsowicz, Wojciech

doi:10.1016/j.taap.2009.04.022

Cited by 44 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The analysis of occupational exposure of workers in the copper smelter factory, the nature and localization of clinical and neurophysiological lesions, the characteristic feature of the optic neuron dysfunction and the correlations between biological monitoring parameters and inorganic arsenic levels in the workplace air strongly support the hypothesis of the predominating neurotoxic effect of inorganic arsenic. Compared to the studies reported earlier [22,23], results presented in this paper were obtained with the use of ICP-MS and apply to a different population of workers exposed to inorganic arsenic. Monitoring of the effects of occupational exposure to arsenic and its inorganic compounds on the nervous system, as well as the outcomes of determining urine concentrations of As species should contribute to the prevention of As exposure and provide the direction for further studies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Neurological and neurophysiological examinations of workers exposed to arsenic levels exceeding hygiene standards

Sińczuk-Walczak¹,

Janasik²,

Trzcinka-Ochocka³

et al. 2014

IJOMEH

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Objectives: The assessment of the neurotoxic effect of arsenic (As) and its inorganic compounds is still the subject of interest due to a growing As application in a large array of technologies and the need to constantly verify the principles of prevention and technological parameters. The aim of this study was to determine the status of the nervous system (NS) in workers exposed to As at concentrations exceeding hygiene standards (Threshold Limit Values (TLV) -10 μg/m 3 , Biological Exposure Index (BEI) -35 μg/l) and to analyze the relationship between the NS functional state, species of As in urine and As levels in the workplace air. Material and Methods: The study group comprised 21 men (mean age: 47.43±7.59) employed in a copper smelting factory (mean duration of employment: 22.29±11.09). The control group comprised 16 men, matched by age and work shifts. Arsenic levels in the workplace air (As-A) ranged from 0.7 to 92.3 μg/m 3 ; (M = 25.18±28.83). The concentration of total arsenic in urine (As tot -U) ranged from 17.35 to 434.68 μg/l (M = 86.82±86.6). Results: Syndrome of peripheral nervous system (PNS) was manifested by extremity fatigue (28.6%), extremity pain (33.3%) and paresthesia in the lower extremities (33.3%), as well as by neuropathy-type mini-symptoms (23.8%). Electroneurographic (ENeG) tests of peroneal nerves showed significantly decreased response amplitude with normal values of motor conduction velocity (MCV). Stimulation of sural nerves revealed a significantly slowed sensory conduction velocity (SCV) and decreased sensory potential amplitude. Neurophysiological parameters and the results of biological and environmental monitoring showed a relationship between As tot , As III (trivalent arsenic), the sum of iAs (As III +As V (pentavalent arsenic))+MMA (monomethylarsonic acid) concentration in urine and As levels in the air. Conclusions: The results of the study demonstrate that occupational exposure to inorganic arsenic levels exceeding hygiene standards (TLV, BEI) generates disorders typical of peripheral neuropathy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Neurological and neurophysiological examinations of workers exposed to arsenic levels exceeding hygiene standards

Sińczuk-Walczak¹,

Janasik²,

Trzcinka-Ochocka³

et al. 2014

IJOMEH

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“…in another study [19] lasting reduction of nerve conduction velocity and abnormal action potentials were seen in survivors of a single as dose. in [13] lengthened latency of the pattern reversal visual eps and various peripheral nerve abnormalities more frequently observed in as-exposed workers of a copper smelter than in nonexposed control employees of the same factory. in as-exposed rats, slowed conduction velocity of the sural nerve, and massive deposition of as, was seen [10].…”

Section: Electrophysiologymentioning

confidence: 84%

“…oxidative stress -due among others to binding thiol-containing antioxidants, liberating iron from ferritin, and uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation [16] -plays a major role in the toxicity of as, and biochemical signs of oxidative stress were indeed found in exposed humans [13] and in animal experiments [38]. Rutin, on the contrary (together with related flavonoids) is known to exhibit antioxidant activity [25].…”

Section: Electrophysiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Bangladesh, notorious for mass As exposure as mentioned above, schoolchildren with elevated internal As load showed impaired fine motor control and body coordination [28]. Workers in a copper smelter, exposed by the arsenic content of the ore processed, showed alterations of the eeg patterns, visual evoked potentials, and peripheral nerve action potentials [13]. such effects of as have also been modeled in animals [10,33,35].…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

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Rutin, a flavonoid phytochemical, ameliorates certain behavioral and electrophysiological alterations and general toxicity of oral arsenic in rats

Sárközi¹,

Papp²,

Máté³

et al. 2015

Acta Biologica Hungarica

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department of public health, university of szeged faculty of medicine, dóm tér 10, h-6720 szeged, hungary (Received: may 5, 2014; accepted: June 23, 2014) arsenic affects large populations and attacks, among others, the nervous system. Waterborne or occupational exposure causes electrophysiological alterations and motor disturbances in humans, and analogous effects were found in animals. certain phytochemicals may be protective against as-caused damages.In the present study it was investigated whether the flavonoid rutin, applied via the drinking water (2 g/L), ameliorates the effects of arsenic given by gavage (10 mg/kg b.w., in form of NaAsO 2 ) on open field motility, evoked cortical and peripheral electrophysiological activity, and body weight gain in adult male Wistar rats. Body weight gain was significantly reduced from the 4 th week of the 6 weeks arsenic treatment and this effect was largely abolished by rutin in the combination treatment group. Rats treated by arsenic alone showed decreased open field motility; latency of the cortical evoked potentials increased and peripheral nerve conduction velocity decreased. these functional alterations were also counteracted by co-administration of rutin, and both the antioxidant and the chelating activity of rutin might have contributed to the ameliorative effect. these results are apparently novel and support the potential role of natural agents in preserving human health in a contaminated environment.

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“…Electrophysiological data on As neurotoxicity are scarce, but in As-exposed workers of a copper smelter altered EEG, visual evoked potentials, and peripheral nerve activity were detected (Halatek et al 2009). In the same subjects, signs of oxidative stress were also found and both that and the extent of the electrophysiological alterations were correlated to the …”

Section: Arsenicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional neurotoxicity of arsenic and manganese as environmental agents and the possible protective role of natural antioxidants

Sárközi¹

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SUMMARYOxidative stress apparently plays a major role in the effect of several toxicants, including heavy metals, of environmental or occupational origin. It means inequilibrium between metabolic reactions producing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS), and the capacity of enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions to neutralize these. In itself, oxidative stress is a side effect of oxidative energy production, which can be caused by exposure to a number of environmental xenobiotics, metals and others. Non-neutralized ROS and other radicals damage the nervous system, liver, kidneys etc. Free radicals are more and more held responsible for various chronic non-communicable diseases, and for aging. The central and peripheral nervous system is prone to oxidative damage, due to highly active mitochondrial energy production, to abundance of (unsaturated) structural lipids, and to low antioxidant defence capacity in the brain; and ROS may constitute the final common pathway for several neurotoxicants because oxidative damage to membrane lipids may lead to alterations of the membrane-bound functions crucial to the functioning of neurons. In the present thesis, the relationships of neurotoxicity, oxidative stress and antioxidant protection are investigated in case of two heavy metals with public health importance, arsenic (As) and manganese (Mn). Arsenic used to have numerous practical applications most of which have been discontinued because of the health risks. Its modern applications e.g. in semiconductors, are apparently safe. Increased presence of As in certain rocks may lead to human exposure by As emissions from mining and smelting non-ferrous metal ores or from burning coal with higher As content, but most importantly via drinking water. The problem of As in drinking water has been quite serious in several regions. According to WHO, As is among the ten most important chemicals of major public health concern. Arsenic occurs in various oxidation states in inorganic or organic compounds. Inorganic arsenite (As III ) is more toxic that arsenate (As V ), and most of the organic arsenicals are practically nontoxic. Arsenite strongly binds to the -SH group of proteins, inactivating various enzymes including those in the citrate cycle and terminal oxidation, depleting ATP pool and promoting the generation of ROS in the cells. It also increases oxidative stress by depleting reduced glutathione and thioredoxin. The consequences of chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic include nervous system damage. Electrophysiological data on As neurotoxicity are scarce, but in As-exposed workers altered EEG, visual evoked potentials, and peripheral nerve activity were detected, together with signs of oxidative stress. Manganese (Mn) can have the oxidation states -3 to 7+, indicating its propensity to redox reactions. Mn and its compounds have numerous technical applications (steelmaking, welding, nanotechnology etc). It is an essential trace element, required for normal brain function, and acting as cofactor for several enzyme...

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Association between occupational exposure to arsenic and neurological, respiratory and renal effects

Cited by 44 publications

References 25 publications

Neurological and neurophysiological examinations of workers exposed to arsenic levels exceeding hygiene standards

Neurological and neurophysiological examinations of workers exposed to arsenic levels exceeding hygiene standards

Rutin, a flavonoid phytochemical, ameliorates certain behavioral and electrophysiological alterations and general toxicity of oral arsenic in rats

Functional neurotoxicity of arsenic and manganese as environmental agents and the possible protective role of natural antioxidants

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