Cardiovascular disease in arsenic-exposed subjects living in the arseniasis-hyperendemic areas in Taiwan
Journal
Atherosclerosis
Journal Volume
199
Journal Issue
1
Pages
12-18
Date Issued
2008
Author(s)
Abstract
There are two arsenic exposure endemic areas in Taiwan, one confined to the southwestern coast and the other to the northeastern coast. Blackfoot disease is an endemic peripheral vascular disease leading to gangrenous change of the foot and the lower extremity, which was found to be confined to the southwestern coast of Taiwan for approximately a century. A series of epidemiologic studies since mid-twentieth century suggest arsenic exposure from drinking artesian well water as a major cause of the disease. More recent studies carried out over the past decades confirmed the association between arsenic exposure and peripheral vascular disease in a dose-responsive pattern. Furthermore, the other clinical manifestations related to the cardiovascular system including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, cerebral infarction and mortality from cardiovascular disease were also highly associated with arsenic exposure in the endemic areas. Studies also suggest the presence of subclinical arterial insufficiency and microcirculatory defects in seemingly normal subjects living in the blackfoot disease hyperendemic villages and that lower serum antioxidant levels of α- and β-carotene are associated with a higher risk of arsenic-related ischemic heart disease. More recent studies suggest that the risk of peripheral vascular disease and hypertension is associated with the individual incapability to completely methylate inorganic arsenic. ? 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Subjects
Blackfoot disease; Cardiovascular disease; Health hazards; Human exposure; Inorganic arsenic
SDGs
Other Subjects
alpha carotene; arsenic; arsenic trioxide; beta carotene; arterial insufficiency; blackfoot disease; brain infarction; cardiovascular disease; cardiovascular risk; diabetes mellitus; environmental exposure; hypertension; ischemic heart disease; leukemia; microangiopathy; mortality; peripheral vascular disease; priority journal; psoriasis; review; Arsenic; Cardiovascular Diseases; Endemic Diseases; Humans; Risk Factors; Taiwan; Water Pollutants; Water Supply
Type
review