Epidemiological investigation of a case of chronic arsenic poisoning in Yunnan Province
10.3760/cma.j.issn.2095-4255.2017.07.010
- VernacularTitle:云南省一起慢性砷中毒的流行病学调查
- Author:
Feng YE
;
Hua LUO
;
Anwei WANG
;
Ling HUANG
;
Jianlong LUO
;
Hesong WU
;
Kailian HUANG
;
Haitao ZHANG
;
Yuming GAO
;
Liangjing SHI
;
Guifan SUN
;
Wenli HUANG
- Keywords:
Arsenic poisoning;
Pesticides;
Drinking water;
Epidemiology
- From:
Chinese Journal of Endemiology
2017;36(7):507-511
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To conduct an epidemiological investigation on a case of familial arsenic poisoning in Yunnan Province,to find arsenic poisoning source and create a archive of typical cases,in order to raise awareness of endemic arsenicosis and provide scientific materials for prevention and treatment of the disease.Methods In Xiaxiaoying Village of Yunnan Province,all members of a family with arsenic poisoning patients were investigated in 2013,their health examination and epidemiological survey of arsenic poisoning were carried out,and arsenic poisoning family profiles and personal files were established.Drinking water,hair and urine samples were collected for arsenic content determination,blood samples were collected for biochemical detection,excessively keratose skin was collected for pathological biopsy.Results A total of 33 family members were investigated.Among them 15 were exposed to arsenic and 18 were not exposed to arsenic.Fifteen people exposed to arsenic were found to be have skin lesions,and two eldest males died of skin cancer and cerebral hemorrhage in 1994 and 2009,respectively.The survey found out that 15 patients born in 1935-1983 had been drinking arsenic pesticides polluted well water for 5 to 16 years from 1973 to 1989.As of 2013,the arsenic exposure had been stopped for 24 years,the content of arsenic in the polluted wells was 0.624 mg/L,which was 62.4 times the recommended maximum limit (0.01 mg/L) of the World Health Organization.The median of hair and urinary arsenic in arsenic exposed population and non-arsenic exposed population was 4.2,3.7 mg/kg and 60.9,41.0 μg/L,respectively.There was no statistically significant difference in hair arsenic (Z =-1.905,P ＞ 0.05),but the difference of urinary arsenic was statistically significant (Z =-3.002,P ＜ 0.05).The median of aspartate aminotransferase (AST),gammaglutamyltransferase (γ-GT) and 24 hours urinary ereatinine (Cr) in arsenic exposed population and non-arsenic exposed population was 37.5,31.0 U/L,25.5,12.0 U/L,13 834.0,and 6 843.0 μmol/L,respectively.The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (Z =-2.776,-2.311,-2.502,P ＜ 0.05).Twelve cases of arsenic poisoned patients who were conducted health examination and epidemiological investigation showed typical triad of skin,among them 2 cases were moderate and 10 cases were severe.Pathological biopsy results showed 8 cases had basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.Conclusions Drinking arsenical pesticide contaminated water can induce chronic arsenic poisoning,even after the cessation of arsenic exposure.We should pay close attention to its long-term serious harmful effect.
