Persistent Conjunctivitis Associated with Drinking Arsenic-Contaminated Water

Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutag

Mitra

et al. 2011

Genetic variants are expected to play an important role in arsenic susceptibility. Our previous study revealed deficient DNA repair capacity to be a susceptibility factor for arsenicism. T241M polymorphism in XRCC3 (a homologous recombination repair pathway gene) is widely studied for its association with several cancers. We have investigated the association of XRCC3 T241M polymorphism with arsenic-induced precancerous and non-cancer disease outcomes. The present study evaluated the association of T241M polymorphism with arsenic-induced skin lesions, peripheral neuropathy (neurodegenerative changes), conjunctivitis and other ocular diseases. A case-control study was conducted in West Bengal, India, involving 206 cases with arsenic-induced skin lesions and 215 controls without arsenic-induced skin lesions having similar arsenic exposure. XRCC3 T241M polymorphism was determined using conventional PCR-sequencing method. Chromosomal aberration assay, arsenic-induced neuropathy and ocular diseases were also evaluated. The data revealed that presence of at least one Met allele (Met/Met or Thr/Met) was protective towards development of arsenic-induced skin lesions [OR= 0.45, 95% CI: 0.30 – 0.67], peripheral neuropathy [OR=0.49; 95%CI: 0.30–0.82] and conjunctivitis [OR=0.60; 95%CI: 0.40–0.92]. A significant correlation was also observed between protective genotype and decreased frequency of chromosomal aberrations. Thus the results indicate the protective role of Met allele against the arsenic-induced skin lesions, chromosomal instability, peripheral neuropathy and conjunctivitis.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Precancerous and non-cancer disease endpoints of chronic arsenic exposure: The level of chromosomal damage and XRCC3 T241M polymorphism

Kundu

Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutag

Mitra

et al. 2011

“…Long term exposure to low doses of arsenic might lead to the development of dermatological symptoms like raindrop pigmentation, hyperpigmentation, hyperkeratosis as well as skin cancers like Bowen’s Disease, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, which are considered to be hallmarks of arsenic toxicity. However, mounting evidence suggests that exposed individuals who do not exhibit skin lesions are also susceptible to chronic arsenic toxicity, albeit to non-dermatological disorders like conjunctivitis, peripheral neuropathy and opportunistic infections (Ghosh et al, 2007; Baidya et al, 2006; Hossain et al, 2005; Soto-Pena et al, 2006). This implies that chronic arsenic exposure exerts its toxic effects much before the dermatological symptoms begin to appear, which typically appear after a latency period of about 10 years or more after first exposure (Haque et al 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the serum catalase and myeloperoxidase activities in chronic arsenic-exposed individuals and concomitant cytogenetic damage

Banerjee

Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

et al. 2010

Chronic arsenic exposure through contaminated drinking water is a major environmental health issue. Chronic arsenic exposure is known to exert its toxic effects by a variety of mechanisms, of which generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the most important. High level of ROS, in turn, leads to DNA damage that might ultimately culminate in cancer. In order to keep the level of ROS in balance, an array of enzymes is present, of which catalase (CAT) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) are important members. Hence, in this study, we determined the activites of these two enzymes in the sera and chromosomal aberrations (CA) in peripheral blood lymphocytes in individuals exposed and unexposed to arsenic in drinking water. Arsenic in drinking water and in urine was used as a measure of exposure. Our results show that individuals chronically exposed to arsenic have significantly higher CAT and MPO activity and higher incidence of CA. We found moderate positive correlations between CAT and MPO activities, induction of CA and arsenic in urine and water. These results indicate that chronic arsenic exposure causes higher CAT and MPO activity in serum that correlates with induction of genetic damage. We conclude that the serum levels of these enzymes might be used as biomarkers of early arsenic exposure induced disease much before the classical dermatological symptoms of arsenicosis begin to appear.

“…According to the published literature little or no attention had been given to those individuals who were free of skin lesion despite arsenic exposure. Till date, only a single study from our group focused association of conjunctivitis with arsenic (Baidya et al, 2006). Conjunctivitis was found to be strongly associated with arsenicism.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Respiratory disease is also common in arsenic toxicity (Mazumder et al, 2000). Recently, ophthalmologist from our group has also showed association of persistent conjunctivitis with arsenic contaminated drinking water (Baidya et al, 2006). A delayed sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy may occur after acute arsenic poisoning.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Individuals frequently reporting irritation, watering and redness in both eyes, actually prompted us to focus our attention towards studying the probable association of eye problems with arsenic intake. Conjunctivitis ultimately emerged as the most consistent eye symptom related to arsenic toxicity (Baidya et al, 2006), which has also been Arsenic in drinking water and its health effects Ghosh et al reported from Bangladesh population (Hossain et al, 2005). Cases having history of mucopurulent discharge (characteristic of bacterial conjunctivitis), history of severe watering and photophobia (characteristic of viral conjunctivitis), and history of severe itching and ropy discharge (characteristic of allergic conjunctivitis) were not considered.…”

Section: Identification Of Eye Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Comparison of health effects between individuals with and without skin lesions in the population exposed to arsenic through drinking water in West Bengal, India

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

Banerjee

Chaudhuri

et al. 2006

Self Cite

A study was conducted to explore the effect of arsenic causing conjunctivitis, neuropathy and respiratory illness in individuals, with or without skin lesions, as a result of exposure through drinking water, contaminated with arsenic to similar extent. Exposed study population belongs to the districts of North 24 Parganas and Nadia, West Bengal, India. A total of 725 exposed (373 with skin lesions and 352 without skin lesions) and 389 unexposed individuals were recruited as study participants. Participants were clinically examined and interviewed. Arsenic content in drinking water, urine, nail and hair was estimated. Individuals with skin lesion showed significant retention of arsenic in nail and hair and lower amount of urinary arsenic compared to the group without any skin lesion. Individuals with skin lesion also showed higher risk for conjunctivitis ((odd's ratio) OR: 7.33, 95% CI: 5.05-10.59), peripheral neuropathy (OR: 3.95, 95% CI: 2.61-5.93) and respiratory illness (OR: 4.86, 95% CI: 3.16-7.48) compared to the group without any skin lesion. The trend test for OR of the three diseases in three groups was found to be statistically significant. Again, individuals without skin lesion in the exposed group showed higher risk for conjunctivitis (OR: 4.66, 95% CI: 2.45-8.85), neuropathy (OR: 3.99, 95% CI: 1.95-8.09), and respiratory illness (OR: 3.21, 95% CI: 1.65-6.26) when compared to arsenic unexposed individuals. Although individuals with skin lesions were more susceptible to arsenicinduced toxicity, individuals without skin lesions were also subclinically affected and are also susceptible to arsenic-induced toxicity and carcinogenicity when compared to individuals not exposed to arsenic.