Chronic Arsenic Poisoning From Burning High‐Arsenic‐Containing Coal In Guizhou, China

Abstract

Arsenic is an environmental hazard and the reduction of drinking water arsenic levels is under consideration. People are exposed to arsenic not only through drinking water but also through arsenic‐contaminated air and food. Here we report the health effects of arsenic exposure from burning high arsenic‐containing coal in Guizhou, China. Coal in this region has undergone mineralization and thus produces high concentrations of arsenic. Coal is burned inside the home in open pits for daily cooking and crop drying, producing a high concentration of arsenic in indoor air. Arsenic in the air coats and permeates food being dried producing high concentrations in food; however, arsenic concentrations in the drinking water are in the normal range. The estimated sources of total arsenic exposure in this area are from arsenic‐contaminated food (50‐80%), air (10‐20%), water (1‐5%), and direct contact in coal‐mining workers (1%). At least 3,000 patients with arsenic poisoning were found in the Southwest Prefecture of Guizhou, and approximately 200,000 people are at risk for such overexposures. Skin lesions are common, including keratosis of the hands and feet, pigmentation on the trunk, skin ulceration, and skin cancers. Toxicities to internal organs, including lung dysfunction, neuropathy, and nephrotoxicity, are clinically evident. The prevalence of hepatomegaly was 20%, and cirrhosis, ascites, and liver cancer are the most serious outcomes of arsenic poisoning. The Chinese government and international organizations are attempting to improve the house conditions and the coal source, and thereby protect human health in this area.

Urinary Arsenic Speciation and its Correlation with 8-OHdG in Chinese Residents Exposed to Arsenic Through Coal Burning

“…Arsenic is a confirmed human carcinogen. Besides cancers such as skin and lung, induced by arsenic exposure through drinking water (Sun et al 2006), it has also been reported that arsenic exposure through coal burning can induce skin cancers (Liu et al 2002). Since oxidative stress is involved in many stages that regulate cancer development (Karihtala and Soini.…”

“…Since coal is plentiful in this area at the surface, burning coal has become the primary fuel source for domestic use, such as cooking, heating and drying of crops. Chronic exposure to high level of iAs through burning coal in domestic living is associated with skin lesions and cancer (Liu et al 2002).…”

Application of Organometallic Speciation in Clinical Studies

“…Clinical manifestations include hypopigmentation, keratosis, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and even skin, lung and bladder tumoral pathologies [11]. Arsenicosis has been reported to occur in endemic areas with high level of As in drinking water or in burning coal [5,12]. A few cases of arsenicosis due to occupational exposure have also been reported, which probably is the result of reduction of methylation capacity in people who work in As contaminated workplaces [13].…”

Factors impacting on the excess arseniasis prevalence due to indoor combustion of high arsenic coal in a hyperendemic village

“…Several villages in Southwest Guizhou Bouyei and Hmong Ethnic Autonomous Prefecture, China represent a unique case of endemic arseniasis, which is related with indoor combustion of high arsenic-content coal (Jin et al 2003;Zheng et al 2005;Liu et al 2002). The exposure in the endemic villages was given via a multiplex route, consisting of inhalation (Smith et al 2009;Pal et al 2007) of As-polluted indoor air, ingestion of As-contaminated food and, also possible, of direct skin penetration (Wester et al 2004;Lowney et al 2007).…”