Arsenic-induced skin lesions among Atacameño people in Northern Chile despite good nutrition and centuries of exposure.

Abstract

It has been suggested that the indigenous Atacameño people in Northern Chile might be protected from the health effects of arsenic in drinking water because of many centuries of exposure. Here we report on the first intensive investigation of arsenic-induced skin lesions in this population. We selected 11 families (44 participants) from the village of Chiu Chiu, which is supplied with water containing between 750 and 800 microg/L inorganic arsenic. For comparison, 8 families (31 participants) were also selected from a village where the water contains approximately 10 microg/L inorganic arsenic. After being transported to the nearest city for blind assessment, participants were examined by four physicians with experience in studying arsenic-induced lesions. Four of the six men from the exposed village, who had been drinking the contaminated water for more than 20 years, were diagnosed with skin lesions due to arsenic, but none of the women had definite lesions. A 13-year-old girl had definite skin pigmentation changes due to arsenic, and a 19-year-old boy had both pigmentation changes and keratoses on the palms of his hands and the soles of his feet. Family interviews identified a wide range of fruits and vegetables consumed daily by the affected participants, as well as the weekly intake of red meat and chicken. However, the prevalence of skin lesions among men and children in the small population studied was similar to that reported with corresponding arsenic drinking water concentrations in both Taiwan and West Bengal, India--populations in which extensive malnutrition has been thought to increase susceptibility.

Nutritional deficiency and arsenical manifestations: a perspective study in an arsenic-endemic region of West Bengal, India

“…People in northern Chile exposed to arsenic had a good nutritious dietary intake. However, the prevalence of skin lesions among men and children in the population studied was similar to that reported at corresponding concentrations of arsenic in drinking water in both Taiwan and West Bengal, India -populations in which malnutrition has been thought to increase susceptibility (33) .…”

Family correlations of arsenic methylation patterns in children and parents exposed to high concentrations of arsenic in drinking water.

“…Four adult men had arsenicinduced skin lesions (15). In one family, both the daughter and her father had skin lesions.…”

“…Selection of the Chiu Chiu study site in Chile is explained in detail elsewhere (15). For many years, Chiu Chiu's drinking water was piped in and until only recently had high arsenic content (750-800 µg/L).…”

Assessment of Arsenic Exposure to Human, Concentrations in Tube Well Water and Urine, and Body Mass Index

“…Lower BMI was reported among the arsenicosis patients compared to the unexposed population in a previous study in Bangladesh [40]. However, a study from Atacameño in northern Chile reported no evidence of malnutrition among individuals with arsenic induced skin lesions [42].…”