Peripheral neuropathy induced by drinking water contaminated with low-dose arsenic in Myanmar.
10.1186/s12199-019-0781-0
- Author:
Hitoshi MOCHIZUKI
1
;
Khin Phyu PHYU
2
;
Myo Nanda AUNG
2
;
Phyo Wai ZIN
2
;
Yasunori YANO
3
;
Moe Zaw MYINT
4
;
Win Min THIT
4
;
Yuka YAMAMOTO
5
;
Yoshitaka HISHIKAWA
6
;
Kyaw Zin THANT
2
;
Masugi MARUYAMA
7
;
Yoshiki KURODA
5
Author Information
1. Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan. mochizuki-h@umin.net.
2. Department of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Sports, Yangon, Myanmar.
3. Center for International Relations, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
4. Department of Neurology, Yangon General Hospital, Yangon, Myanmar.
5. Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
6. Department of Anatomy, Histochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
7. Department of Applied Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Arsenic;
Groundwater;
Peripheral neuropathy;
Pollution;
Sensory disturbance
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Adult;
Arsenic;
analysis;
toxicity;
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Dietary Exposure;
adverse effects;
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug;
Drinking Water;
adverse effects;
chemistry;
Female;
Groundwater;
chemistry;
Humans;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Myanmar;
epidemiology;
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases;
chemically induced;
epidemiology;
physiopathology;
Sensation Disorders;
chemically induced;
epidemiology;
physiopathology;
Water Pollutants, Chemical;
analysis;
toxicity;
Young Adult
- From:Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine
2019;24(1):23-23
- CountryJapan
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND:More than 140 million people drink arsenic-contaminated groundwater. It is unknown how much arsenic exposure is necessary to cause neurological impairment. Here, we evaluate the relationship between neurological impairments and the arsenic concentration in drinking water (ACDW).
PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS:A cross-sectional study design was employed. We performed medical examinations of 1867 residents in seven villages in the Thabaung township in Myanmar. Medical examinations consisted of interviews regarding subjective neurological symptoms and objective neurological examinations of sensory disturbances. For subjective neurological symptoms, we ascertained the presence or absence of defects in smell, vision, taste, and hearing; the feeling of weakness; and chronic numbness or pain. For objective sensory disturbances, we examined defects in pain sensation, vibration sensation, and two-point discrimination. We analyzed the relationship between the subjective symptoms, objective sensory disturbances, and ACDW.
RESULTS:Residents with ACDW ≥ 10 parts per billion (ppb) had experienced a "feeling of weakness" and "chronic numbness or pain" significantly more often than those with ACDW < 10 ppb. Residents with ACDW ≥ 50 ppb had three types of sensory disturbances significantly more often than those with ACDW < 50 ppb. In children, there was no significant association between symptoms or signs and ACDW.
CONCLUSION:Subjective symptoms, probably due to peripheral neuropathy, occurred at very low ACDW (around 10 ppb). Objective peripheral nerve disturbances of both small and large fibers occurred at low ACDW (> 50 ppb). These data suggest a threshold for the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy due to arsenic exposure, and indicate that the arsenic concentration in drinking water should be less than 10 ppb to ensure human health.
