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BACKGROUND: Arsenic (As) is a risk factor associated with glycemic alterations. However, the mechanisms of action and metabolic aspects associated with changes in glycemic profiles have not yet been completely elucidated. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to investigate the metabolic aspects of As and its mechanism of action associated with glycemic changes. METHODS: We searched the PubMed (MEDLINE) and Google Scholar databases for relevant articles published in English. A combination of free text and medical subject heading keywords and search terms was used to construct search equations. The search yielded 466 articles; however, only 50 were included in the review. RESULTS: We observed that the relationship between As exposure and glycemic alterations in humans may be associated with sex, smoking status, body mass index, age, occupation, and genetic factors. The main mechanisms of action associated with changes induced by exposure to As in the glycemic profile identified in animals are increased oxidative stress, reduced expression of glucose transporter type 4, induction of inflammatory factor expression and dysfunction of pancreatic ß cells. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, As exposure may be associated with glycemic alterations according to inter-individual differences.
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Arsênio , Animais , Humanos , Fatores de Risco , PubMed , Índice de Massa Corporal , Glicemia/metabolismoRESUMO
Inorganic arsenic exposure has been linked to the development of several health conditions, including adverse birth outcomes; and around 150 million of people worldwide are exposed to levels above the WHO suggested limit of 10 µg/L. A recent risk assessment in pregnant women of Tacna, of this same population performed by our group, found that 70.25% were exposed to arsenic concentrations in drinking water ≥25 µg/L. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between prenatal total urinary arsenic (U-tAs) and inorganic arsenic (U-iAs) with adverse birth outcomes. A total of 147 pregnant women from the province of Tacna, Peru, during February - March, 2019, were evaluated for U-tAs and U-iAs exposure during their second trimester of pregnancy, while the birth records of their children were collected from the local hospital. The geometric mean U-tAs was 43.97 ± 25.88 µg/L (P50 22.30, range 5.99 - 181.94 µg/L) and U-iAs was 5.27 ± 2.91 µg/L. Controlling for maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, parity, mother's education and newborn sex, no relationship was observed between tertile of U-tAs and the birth outcomes considered, although we found an apparent but statistically non-significant dose-response relationship for small-for-gestational-age 2.38% ( 95% CI 0.003, 0.16), versus 7.32% (95% CI 0.02, 0.21%), versus 8.57% (0.03, 0.25%). This finding requires further evaluation considering other factors such as metabolic arsenic species, additional maternal covariates and ethnicity.
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BACKGROUND: Arsenic exposure is associated with cardiovascular risk in adults; however, few epidemiologic studies have evaluated biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in children who are environmentally exposed to arsenic. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the associations between urinary arsenic, plasma natriuretic peptides and echocardiographic parameters in Mexican children exposed to arsenic through the drinking water. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 192 children (3-8 years old) from Zimapan, Hidalgo, Mexico. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), NT-proBNP and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were measured by ELISA, urinary arsenic concentration (UAs) were measured via by hydride generation-cryotrapping-atomic absorption spectrometry, and cardiac parameters were measured by echocardiography. RESULTS: The median plasma concentrations of ANP, BNP and NT-proBNP were 36.9 ng/mL, 49.7 pg/mL, and 226.1 pg/mL, respectively. Using multivariable models, a dose-response relationship was observed between BNP concentrations and UAs tertiles (<47 ng/mL: reference, 47-72 ng/mL: 48.7 pg/mL, >72 ng/mL: 52.2 pg/mL, P-trend = 0.020). BNP concentrations also increased with increasing U-tAs as continuous variables (0.43 pg/mL increase per 1 ng/mL increase of U-tAs; P-Value = 0.008). Additionally, BNP was positively associated with arsenic methylated metabolites (U-MAs and U-DMAs). On the other hand, BNP was inversely related to relative wall thickness (RWT). No associations were found for other cardiac parameters. Finally, neither ANP nor NT-proBNP were significantly related to arsenic exposure or echocardiographic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we showed associations between plasma BNP and arsenic exposure. Our results support the importance of reducing childhood arsenic exposure, which may have cardiovascular effects early in life.
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Arsênio/toxicidade , Coração/efeitos dos fármacos , Coração/diagnóstico por imagem , Peptídeos Natriuréticos/metabolismo , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos Transversais , Ecocardiografia , Exposição Ambiental , Poluentes Ambientais/toxicidade , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , MéxicoRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Exposure to lead and arsenic has been associated with child behavior problems. In Arica, a northern city of Chile, the natural presence of arsenic in water has been registered. Also, the city has a history of heavy metals contamination of anthropogenic origin. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between the concentration of blood lead and urinary inorganic arsenic with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as reported by parents. METHODS: Cross-sectional design with data analysis of 2656 children between the ages of 3 and 17 enrolled at the Environmental Health Center of Arica between 2009 and 2015. The diagnosis of ADHD was made based on the parents' response to questions about health history. Multiple logistic regression models were used to adjust for confounding variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of ADHD was 6.4%. The means urinary inorganic arsenic and blood lead were 21 µg/L and 1.5 µg/dl, respectively. In the lead model adjusted for sex, age, housing material quality and exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke report; children with blood lead concentrations ≥5 µg/dl were more likely to develop ADHD [Odds Ratio (OR): 2.33 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.32-4.12)]. Regarding arsenic, the adjusted model revealed a higher chance of developing ADHD in the fifth quintile of exposure (OR = 2.02 IC 95% 1.12-3.61). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that exposure of children to lead and inorganic arsenic was associated with ADHD. This study provides additional evidence to existing literature regarding the potential role of toxic metals such as lead and arsenic in children's behavior. However, our findings should be interpreted with caution due to the limitations of the study.
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Arsênio/urina , Transtorno do Deficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade/epidemiologia , Poluentes Ambientais/sangue , Poluentes Ambientais/urina , Chumbo/sangue , Adolescente , Transtorno do Deficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade/sangue , Transtorno do Deficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade/urina , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Chile/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Razão de Chances , Pais , Prevalência , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (T2D) is a multifactorial disease. However, it is known that there is an important effect in pancreatic ß-cells caused by apoptosis of pro-apoptotic proteins, possibly related to arsenic exposure and atorvastatin treatment. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of atorvastatin treatment on apoptosis of pancreatic ß-cells in Wistar rats with induced diabetes type 2 exposed to arsenic. MATERIAL & METHODS: T2D in Wistar rats was induced by administration of Streptozotocin. The plasmatic glucose concentrations were measured using the glucose oxidase method, and the concentration of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in whole blood was determined. Exposure to arsenic was measured from urine using atomic absorption with hydride generation, and pro-apoptotic proteins in pancreatic ß-cells were observed using the Western blotting technique. RESULTS: Caspase-3 was present in rats that were treated with 10â¯mg/kg of oral atorvastatin and exposed to 0.01 and 0.025â¯mg/L of arsenic, but no others proteins were present, such as pro Caspase-8, bcl-2, and Fas. The glycemic levels were 129.2⯱â¯7.0â¯mg/dL in the control group and 161.8⯱â¯14.6â¯mg/dL and 198.3⯱â¯18.2â¯mg/dL (pâ¯<â¯.05) in the study groups. HbA1c increased from 2.53% to 3.64% (pâ¯<â¯.05) in the control and study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Atorvastatin treatment and arsenic exposure alone are capable of generating apoptosis in pancreatic ß-cells of Wistar rats with T2D. Together, all of these factors induce apoptosis in pancreatic cells.
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Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Arsênio/toxicidade , Atorvastatina/toxicidade , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/patologia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/patologia , Inibidores de Hidroximetilglutaril-CoA Redutases/toxicidade , Células Secretoras de Insulina/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Glicemia/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/induzido quimicamente , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/induzido quimicamente , Feminino , Células Secretoras de Insulina/patologia , Masculino , Ratos Endogâmicos WKY , EstreptozocinaRESUMO
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) offers low-skilled workers an opportunity to elevate themselves out of poverty. However, this industry operates with little to no pollution controls and the cost to the environment and human health can be large. The objectives of this study were to measure levels of arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) in the environment and characterize health risks to miners and residents in an area with active ASGM operations. An exposure assessment was conducted at two different mining sites and a nearby village in the Bolivian Anders. The resulting measurements were then used to quantify cancerous and noncancerous health risks to children and adults working at and living near ASGM areas. Soil concentrations of As were well above background levels and showed great variations between the village and mining area. Mercury vapor levels at the two mining sites were approximately 30 times larger than the EPA reference concentration. The risk of developing non-cancerous health effects were primarily due to exposure to As and Hg. The probability of individuals developing cancer was considerably increased with adult miners having a probability of 1.3 out of 100. Cancer potential was driven by exposure to As, with de minimus cancer risk from all other elements. Based on the environmental characterization of elements in soils and Hg vapors, the risk of developing cancerous and non-cancerous health outcomes were above a level of concern based on EPA risk assessment guidance. Personal protective equipment was not worn by workers and Hg amalgam is commonly heated in workers' homes. Better education of the risks of ASGM is needed as well as simple controls to reduce exposure.
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Exposição Ambiental/análise , Mineração/métodos , Exposição Ocupacional/análise , Administração por Inalação , Adolescente , Adulto , Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Poluentes Ocupacionais do Ar/análise , Arsênio/administração & dosagem , Arsênio/análise , Arsênio/toxicidade , Bolívia , Carcinógenos/análise , Carcinógenos/toxicidade , Criança , Humanos , Mercúrio/administração & dosagem , Mercúrio/análise , Mercúrio/toxicidade , Metais/administração & dosagem , Metais/análise , Metais/toxicidade , Medição de Risco , Pele/efeitos dos fármacos , Poluentes do Solo/análiseRESUMO
Ethnic groups from the Atacama Desert (known as Atacameños) have been exposed to natural arsenic pollution for over 5000 years. This work presents an integral study that characterizes arsenic species in water used for human consumption. It also describes the metabolism and arsenic elimination through urine in a chronically exposed population in northern Chile. In this region, water contained total arsenic concentrations up to 1250 µg L(-1), which was almost exclusively As(V). It is also important that this water was ingested directly from natural water sources without any treatment. The ingested arsenic was extensively methylated. In urine 93% of the arsenic was found as methylated arsenic species, such as monomethylarsonic acid [MMA(V)] and dimethylarsinic acid [DMA(V)]. The original ingested inorganic species [As(V)], represent less than 1% of the total urinary arsenic. Methylation activity among individuals can be assessed by measuring primary [inorganic As/methylated As] and secondary methylation [MMA/DMA] indexes. Both methylation indexes were 0.06, indicating a high biological converting capability of As(V) into MMA and then MMA into DMA, compared with the control population and other arsenic exposed populations previously reported.