Arsenic Exposure and Motor Function among Children in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Several reports indicate that drinking water arsenic (WAs) and manganese (WMn) are associated with children’s intellectual function. Very little is known, however, about possible associations with other neurologic outcomes such as motor function.Methods: We investigated the associations of WAs and WMn with motor function in 304 children in Bangladesh, 8–11 years of age. We measured As and Mn concentrations in drinking water, blood, urine, and toenails. We assessed motor function with the Bruininks-Oseretsky test, version 2, in four subscales—fine manual control (FMC), manual coordination (MC), body coordination (BC), and strength and agility—which can be summarized with a total motor composite score (TMC).Results: Log-transformed blood As was associated with decreases in TMC [β = –3.63; 95% confidence interval (CI): –6.72, –0.54; p < 0.01], FMC (β = –1.68; 95% CI: –3.19, –0.18; p < 0.05), and BC (β = –1.61; 95% CI: –2.72, –0.51; p < 0.01), with adjustment for sex, school attendance, head circumference, mother’s intelligence, plasma ferritin, and blood Mn, lead, and selenium. Other measures of As exposure (WAs, urinary As, and toenail As) also were inversely associated with motor function scores, particularly TMC and BC. Square-transformed blood selenium was positively associated with TMC (β = 3.54; 95% CI: 1.10, 6.0; p < 0.01), FMC (β = 1.55; 95% CI: 0.40, 2.70; p < 0.005), and MC (β = 1.57; 95% CI: 0.60, 2.75; p < 0.005) in the unadjusted models. Mn exposure was not significantly associated with motor function.Conclusion: Our research demonstrates an adverse association of As exposure and a protective association of Se on motor function in children.

Arsenic levels in immigrant children from countries at risk of consuming arsenic polluted water compared to children from Barcelona

“…It also causes other health effects, including vascular diseases, probably diabetes mellitus and hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and poor intellectual function (Rahman et al 1999;Kwok et al 2007;Heck et al 2008). Children are the most threatened group, especially regarding neurological damage, since the brain undergoes changes during childhood that can have a lasting impact on behavior and cognitive processing (Calderon et al 2001;Wasserman et al 2007;Von Ehrenstein et al 2007;Parvez et al 2011).…”

Ground Water Arsenic Contamination and Its Health Effects in Bangladesh

“…In that study 18% of the children who were exposed to arsenic-contaminated water (arsenic levels >50 μg/L) showed abnormal mental development and reduced intellectual function compared to the children who did not drink arsenic-contaminated water [70]. Another study conducted among children aged 8-11 years revealed an inverse association of arsenic exposure through drinking water with lower developmental scores of the children [71]. Arsenic is a known carcinogen and has the potential to produce cancers at multiple sites, notably in the skin, bladder, kidneys, prostate, and lungs [56][57][58].…”

Inorganic Arsenic Exposure and Children’s Neurodevelopment: A Review of the Evidence

“…On the other hand, inverse associations have also been reported for a variety of nonverbal endpoints, including Performance IQ and Processing Speed [33,31], individual subtests of the Wechsler scales that contribute to Performance IQ, such as Object Assembly (simple jigsaw puzzles) and Picture Completion (attention to visual detail) [34], visual-spatial abilities and sequencing [36], and motor skills such as body coordination and fine manual control [49].…”