Arsenic methylation capability and hypertension risk in subjects living in arseniasis-hyperendemic areas in southwestern Taiwan
Journal
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
Journal Volume
218
Journal Issue
2
Pages
135-142
Date Issued
2007
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: Cumulative arsenic exposure (CAE) from drinking water has been shown to be associated with hypertension in a dose-response pattern. This study further explored the association between arsenic methylation capability and hypertension risk among residents of arseniasis-hyperendemic areas in Taiwan considering the effect of CAE and other potential confounders. Method: There were 871 subjects (488 women and 383 men) and among them 372 were diagnosed as having hypertension based on a positive history or measured systolic blood pressure ? 140?mm?Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ? 90?mm?Hg. Urinary arsenic species were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-hydride generator and atomic absorption spectrometry. Primary arsenic methylation index [PMI, defined as monomethylarsonic acid (MMAV) divided by (AsIII + AsV)] and secondary arsenic methylation index (SMI, defined as dimethylarsinic acid divided by MMAV) were used as indicators for arsenic methylation capability. Results: The level of urinary arsenic was still significantly correlated with cumulative arsenic exposure (CAE) calculated from a questionnaire interview (p = 0.02) even after the residents stopped drinking the artesian well water for 2-3 decades. Hypertensive subjects had higher percentages of MMAV and lower SMI than subjects without hypertension. However, subjects having CAE > 0?mg/L-year had higher hypertension risk than those who had CAE = 0?mg/L-year disregard a high or low methylation index. Conclusion: Inefficient arsenic methylation ability may be related with hypertension risk. ? 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
SDGs
Other Subjects
arsenic; cacodylic acid; drinking water; methanearsonic acid; well water; adult; anamnesis; arsenic poisoning; article; atomic absorption spectrometry; calculation; correlation analysis; diastolic blood pressure; dose response; endemic disease; female; fluid intake; high performance liquid chromatography; human; hypertension; major clinical study; male; measurement; methylation; primary methylation index; questionnaire; risk assessment; risk factor; secondary methylation index; systolic blood pressure; Taiwan; water contamination; water pollutant; water supply; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Alcohol Drinking; Arsenic; Arsenic Poisoning; Arsenicals; Blood Pressure; Cholesterol; Endemic Diseases; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Lipids; Male; Methylation; Middle Aged; Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Smoking; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; Taiwan; Triglycerides
Type
journal article