Abstract-A prevalence comparison of hypertension among subjects with and those without arsenic exposure through drinking water was conducted in Bangladesh to confirm or refute an earlier observation of a relation in this respect. Wells with and without present arsenic contamination were identified, and we interviewed and examined 1595 subjects who were depending on drinking water from these wells for living, all Ն30 years of age. The interview was based on a questionnaire, and arsenic exposure was estimated from the history of well-water consumption and current arsenic levels. Of the 1595 subjects studied, 1481 had a history of arsenic-contaminated drinking water, whereas 114 had not. Time-weighted mean arsenic levels (in milligrams per liter) and milligram-years per liter of arsenic exposure were estimated for each subject. Exposure categories were assessed as Ͻ0.5 mg/L, 0.5 to 1.0 mg/L, and Ͼ1.0 mg/L and alternatively as Ͻ1.0 mg-y/L, 1.0 to 5.0 mg-y/L, Ͼ5.0 but Յ10.0 mg-y/L, and Ͼ10.0 mg-y/L, respectively. Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure of Ն140 mm Hg in combination with a diastolic blood pressure of Ն90 mm Hg. Corresponding to the exposure categories, and using "unexposed" as the reference, the prevalence ratios for hypertension adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index were 1.2, 2.2, 2.5 and 0.8, 1.

We studied a group of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who were chronically exposed to arsenic through drinking water to identify the pregnancy outcomes in terms of live birth, stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, and preterm birth. We compared pregnancy outcomes of exposed respondents with pregnancy outcomes of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who were not exposed to arsenic-contaminated water. In a cross-sectional study, we matched the women in both exposed and nonexposed groups for age, socioeconomic status, education, and age at marriage. The total sample size was 192, with 96 women in each group (i.e., exposed and nonexposed). Of the respondents in the exposed group, 98% had been drinking water containing [Greater and equal to] 0.10 mg/L arsenic and 43.8% had been drinking arsenic-contaminated water for 5-10 years. Skin manifestation due to chronic arsenic exposure was present in 22.9% of the respondents. Adverse pregnancy outcomes in terms of spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, and preterm birth rates were significantly higher in the exposed group than those in the nonexposed group (p = 0.008, p = 0.046, and p = 0.018, respectively).

To determine the relationship of arsenic-associated skdn lesions and degree of arsenic xposure, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Bangladesh, where a large part of the population is eposed through drinking water. Four vges in Bangladesh were identified as mainly dependent on wells contaminated with arsenic. We interviewed and examined 1,481 subjects 30 years of age in these villa. A total of 430 subject had skin lesions (keratosis, hyperpientaion, or hypopigmentaton). Individual exposure assessment could only be estimated by present levels and in terms of a dose index, i.e., arsenic lecvls divided by individual body weight. Arsenic water concentraions ranged from 10 to 2,0 pgL, and the crude overall prelence rate for sin lesions was 29/100. After age adjustment to the world population the prevalence rate was 30.1/100 and 26.5/100 for males and females, respectively. There was a sigificant trend for the prevalence rate both in relation to exposure levels and to dose index (p c 0.05), dless of sex. This study shows a higher prevalence rate of arsenic skin lesions in males than females, with clear dose-rponse relationship. The overall high prevaence rate in the studied villages is an alarming sign of arsenic exposure and requires an urgent remedy. Key wuord cross-sectional study, ecology, environment, epidemiology, exposure, keratosis, public health.

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Introduction. Use of lead acid battery (LAB) in Bangladesh has risen with sharp rise of motor vehicles. As result, manufacture of LAB is increasing. Most of the lead used by these industries comes from recycling of LAB. Workers in LAB industry are at risk of exposure lead and thus development of lead toxicity. Objective. The objective of this study was to measure the blood lead concentration and to assess the magnitude of health problems attributable to lead toxicity among the LAB manufacturing workers. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the workers of LAB manufacturing industries located in Dhaka city. Result. Mean blood lead level (BLL) among the workers was found to be high. They were found to be suffering from a number of illnesses attributable to lead toxicity. The common illnesses were frequent headache, numbness of the limbs, colic pain, nausea, tremor, and lead line on the gum. High BLL was also found to be related to hypertension and anemia of the workers. Conclusion. High BLL and illnesses attributable to lead toxicity were prevalent amongst workers of the LAB manufacturing industries, and this requires attention especially in terms of occupational hygiene and safety.