Advertisement

Field Researches on Chronical Arsenic Poisoning in Inner Mongolia, China

  • Takahiko YoshidaEmail author
  • Guifan Sun
  • Jungbo Pi
  • Xin Li
  • Bing Li
  • Hiroshi Yamauchi
Chapter
First Online:
Part of the Current Topics in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine book series (CTEHPM)

Abstract

Chronic arsenic (As) poisoning in China as endemic disease observed in local residents is summarized with reference to the field research reports. The importance of choosing the appropriate parameter for As exposure based on the property of each field in the analytical research on the relationship between As exposure level and As-related diseases is discussed. Our field cohort study of chronic waterborne As poisoning established in Inner Mongolia is introduced as one of the leading models demonstrating that it is possible to evaluate the improvement of As-related diseases including skin lesions and to validate the attenuation of carcinogenesis by the mitigation of As exposure. Our cohort study reveals that the improvement of skin lesions due to chronic As poisoning occurred in the early phase as 1 or 2 years after the mitigation of As exposure, and then slow alleviation continued for long periods. On the other hand, after long, more than 25 years As exposure period, and even if the exposure had mitigated, the number of As-induced malignancy including skin cancer is expected to rise. So for well-directed screening to find the As-related malignancy cases, the use of appropriate parameters for identifying high-risk subjects is needed.

Keywords

Arsenic poisoning Parameters for As exposure level China Gangfangying village Mitigation trial Improvement of skin lesions Carcinogenesis 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. 1.
    Wu HY, Chen KP, Tseng WP, Hsu CL. Epidemiologic studies on blackfoot disease. 1. Prevalence and incidence of the disease by age, sex, year, occupation, and geographic distribution. In:Memoirs, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, vol. 7. Taipei: National Taiwan University College of Medicine; 1961. p. 33–50.Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    Lan CC, Yu HS, Ko YC. Chronic arsenic exposure and its adverse health effects in Taiwan: a paradigm for management of a global environmental problem. Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2011;27:411–6.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kjms.2011.05.009.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. 3.
    Tseng CH. Blackfoot disease and arsenic: a never-ending story. J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. 2005;23(1):55–74.  https://doi.org/10.1081/GNC-200051860.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    Tseng CH, Huang YK, Huang YL, Chung CJ, Yang MH, Chen CJ, Hsueh YM. Arsenic exposure, urinary arsenic speciation, and peripheral vascular disease in blackfoot disease-hyperendemic villages in Taiwan. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2005;206(3):299–308.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2004.11.022.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    Tseng CH. An overview on peripheral vascular disease in blackfoot disease-hyperendemic villages in Taiwan. Angiology. 2002;53(5):529–37.  https://doi.org/10.1177/000331970205300505.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. 6.
    CHEN KL, WU HY. Epidemiologic studies on blackfoot disease. 2. A study of source of drinking water in relation to the disease. Yi Xue Hui Za Zhi. 1962;61:611–8.Google Scholar
  7. 7.
    Pi JB, Kumagai Y, Sun GF, Yamauchi H, Yoshida T, Iso H, Endo A, Yu L, Yuki K, Miyauchi T, Shimojo N. Decreased serum concentrations of nitric oxide metabolites among Chinese in an endemic area of chronic arsenic poisoning in Inner Mongolia. Free Radic Biol Med. 2000;28(7):1137–42.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    Chen CJ, Chuang YC, Lin LM, Wu HY. Malignant neoplasms among residents of a blackfoot disease-endemic area in Taiwan: high-arsenic artesian well water and cancers. Cancer Res. 1985;45:5895–9.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    Hsu LI, Chen GS, Lee CH, Yang TY, Chen YH, Wang YH, Hsueh YM, Chiou HY, Wu MM, Chen CJ. Use of arsenic-induced palmoplantar hyperkeratosis and skin cancers to predict risk of subsequent internal malignancy. Am J Epidemiol. 2013;177(3):202–12.  https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kws369.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    Huang L, Wu H, van der Kuijp TJ. The health effects of exposure to arsenic-contaminated drinking water: a review by global geographical distribution. Int J Environ Health Res. 2015;25(4):432–52.  https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2014.958139.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    Wu MM, Kuo TL, Hwang YH, Chen CJ. Dose-response relation between arsenic concentration in well water and mortality from cancers and vascular diseases. Am J Epidemiol. 1989;130(6):1123–32.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. 12.
    Hsueh YM, Cheng GS, Wu MM, Yu HS, Kuo TL, Chen CJ. Multiple risk factors associated with arsenic-induced skin cancer: effects of chronic liver disease and malnutritional status. Br J Cancer. 1995;71(1):109–14. PMCID: PMC2033480.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    Guo HR, Lipsitz SR, Hu H, Monson RR. Using ecological data to estimate a regression model for individual data: the association between arsenic in drinking water and incidence of skin cancer. Environ Res. 1998;79(2):82–93.  https://doi.org/10.1006/enrs.1998.3863.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    Rodríguez-Lado L, Sun G, Berg M, Zhang Q, Xue H, Zheng Q, Johnson CA. Groundwater arsenic contamination throughout China. Science. 2013;341(6148):866–8.  https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1237484.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. 15.
    Xia Y, Liu J. An overview on chronic arsenism via drinking water in PR China. Toxicology. 2004;198(1–3):25–9.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2004.01.016.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. 16.
    Yu G, Sun D, Zheng Y. Health effects of exposure to natural arsenic in groundwater and coal in China: an overview of occurrence. Environ Health Perspect. 2007;115(4):636–42.  https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.9268.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. 17.
    Sun GF. Arsenic contamination and arsenicosis in China. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2004;198(3):268–71.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2003.10.017.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. 18.
    Sun G, Xu Y, Zheng Q, Xi S. Arsenicosis history and research progress in Mainland China. Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2011;27(9):377–81.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kjms.2011.05.004.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. 19.
    Xia Y, Wade TJ, Wu K, Li Y, Ning Z, Le XC, He X, Chen B, Feng Y, Mumford JL. Well water arsenic exposure, arsenic induced skin-lesions and self-reported morbidity in Inner Mongolia. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2009;6(3):1010–25.  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph6031010.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. 20.
    Liu FF, Wang JP, Zheng YJ, Ng JC. Biomarkers for the evaluation of population health status 16 years after the intervention of arsenic-contaminated groundwater in Xinjiang, China. J Hazard Mater. 2013;262:1159–66.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.03.058.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. 21.
    Sun GF, Xu Y, Li X, Jin Y, Li B, Sun X. Urinary arsenic metabolites in children and adults exposed to arsenic in drinking water in Inner Mongolia, China. Environ Health Perspect. 2007;115(4):648–52.  https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.9271.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. 22.
    Zhang Q, Rodriguez-Lado L, Liu J, Johnson CA, Zheng Q, Sun G. Coupling predicted model of arsenic in groundwater with endemic arsenism occurrence in Shanxi Province, Northern China. J Hazard Mater. 2013;262:1147–53.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.02.017.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. 23.
    Guo X, Liu Z, Huang C, You L. Levels of arsenic in drinking-water and cutaneous lesions in Inner Mongolia. J Health Popul Nutr. 2006;24(2):214–20.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  24. 24.
    Sun G, Li X, Pi J, Sun Y, Li B, Jin Y, Xu Y. Current research problems of chronic arsenicosis in China. J Health Popul Nutr. 2006;24(2):176–81.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  25. 25.
    Wade TJ, Xia Y, Wu K, Li Y, Ning Z, Le XC, Lu X, Feng Y, He X, Mumford JL. Increased mortality associated with well-water arsenic exposure in Inner Mongolia, China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2009;6(3):1107–23.  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph6031107.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. 26.
    Liu J, Zheng B, Aposhian HV, Zhou Y, Chen ML, Zhang A, Waalkes MP. Chronic arsenic poisoning from burning high-arsenic-containing coal in Guizhou, China. Environ Health Perspect. 2002;110(2):119–22. PMCID:PMC1240722.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. 27.
    Finkelman RB, Belkin HE, Zheng B. Health impacts of domestic coal use in China. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999;96:3427–31.  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.96.7.3427 PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. 28.
    Li D, An D, Zhou Y, Liu J, Waalkes MP. Current status and prevention strategy for coal-arsenic poisoning in Guizhou, China. J Health Popul Nutr. 2006;24(3):273–6. PMCID:PMC3013247.PubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  29. 29.
    Chen JG, Chen YG, Zhou YS, Lin GF, Li XJ, Jia CG, Guo WC, Du H, Lu HC, Meng H, Zhang XJ, Golka K, Shen JH. A follow-up study of mortality among the arseniasis patients exposed to indoor combustion of high arsenic coal in Southwest Guizhou Autonomous Prefecture, China. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2007;81(1):9–17.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-007-0187-y.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. 30.
    Yoshida T, Yamauchi H, Sun GF. Chronic health effects in people exposed to arsenic via the drinking water: dose-response relationships in review. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2004;198(3):243–52.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2003.10.022.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. 31.
    Pi J, Yamauchi H, Sun G, Yoshida T, Aikawa H, Fujimoto W, Iso H, Cui R, Waalkes MP, Kumagai Y. Vascular dysfunction in patients with chronic arsenosis can be reversed by reduction of arsenic exposure. Environ Health Perspect. 2005;113(3):339–41. PMCID: PMC1253762.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. 32.
    Tseng CH. A review on environmental factors regulating arsenic methylation in humans. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2009;235(3):338–50.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2008.12.016.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  33. 33.
    Yang L, Chai Y, Yu J, Wei B, Xia Y, Wu K, Gao J, Guo Z, Cui N. Associations of arsenic metabolites, methylation capacity, and skin lesions caused by chronic exposure to high arsenic in tube well water. Environ Toxicol. 2017;32(1):28–36.  https://doi.org/10.1002/tox.22209.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. 34.
    Gao J, Yu J, Yang L. Urinary arsenic metabolites of subjects exposed to elevated arsenic present in coal in Shaanxi Province, China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2011;8(6):1991–2008.  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph8061991.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. 35.
    Zhang Q, Wang D, Zheng Q, Zheng Y, Wang H, Xu Y, Li X, Sun G. Joint effects of urinary arsenic methylation capacity with potential modifiers on arsenicosis: a cross-sectional study from an endemic arsenism area in Huhhot Basin, northern China. Environ Res. 2014;132:281–9.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2014.04.036.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. 36.
    Li X, Li B, Xu Y, Wang Y, Jin Y, Itoh T, Yoshida T, Sun G. Arsenic methylation capacity and its correlation with skin lesions induced by contaminated drinking water consumption in residents of chronic arsenicosis area. Environ Toxicol. 2011;26(2):118–23.  https://doi.org/10.1002/tox.20535.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. 37.
    Wei B, Yu J, Yang L, Li H, Chai Y, Xia Y, Wu K, Gao J, Guo Z, Cui N. Arsenic methylation and skin lesions in migrant and native adult women with chronic exposure to arsenic from drinking groundwater. Environ Geochem Health. 2017;39(1):89–98.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-016-9809-1.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. 38.
    Zhang Q, Li Y, Liu J, Wang D, Zheng Q, Sun G. Differences of urinary arsenic metabolites and methylation capacity between individuals with and without skin lesions in Inner Mongolia, Northern China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014;11(7):7319–32.  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph110707319.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. 39.
    Wei B, Yu J, Wang J, Yang L, Li H, Kong C, Xia Y, Wu K. The relationships between arsenic methylation and both skin lesions and hypertension caused by chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2017;53:89–94.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2017.05.009.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. 40.
    Wei BG, Ye BX, Yu JP, Yang LS, Li HR, Xia YJ, Wu KG. Blood pressure associated with arsenic methylation and arsenic metabolism caused by chronic exposure to arsenic in tube well water. Biomed Environ Sci. 2017;30(5):334–42.  https://doi.org/10.3967/bes2017.044.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. 41.
    Li Y, Wang D, Li X, Zheng Q, Sun G. A potential synergy between incomplete arsenic methylation capacity and demographic characteristics on the risk of hypertension: findings from a cross-sectional study in an arsenic-endemic area of Inner Mongolia, China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015;12:3615–32.  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120403615.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  42. 42.
    Huang YL, Hsueh YM, Huang YK, Yip PK, Yang MH, Chen CJ. Urinary arsenic methylation capability and carotid atherosclerosis risk in subjects living in arsenicosis-hyperendemic areas in southwestern Taiwan. Sci Total Environ. 2009;407(8):2608–14.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.12.061.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  43. 43.
    Li X, Pi J, Li B, Xu Y, Jin Y, Sun G. Urinary arsenic speciation and its correlation with 8-OHdG in Chinese residents exposed to arsenic through coal burning. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2008;81(4):406–11.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-008-9471-0.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  44. 44.
    Xu Y, Wang Y, Zheng Q, Li X, Li B, Jin Y, Sun X, Sun G. Association of oxidative stress with arsenic methylation in chronic arsenic-exposed children and adults. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2008;232(1):142–9.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2008.06.010.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  45. 45.
    Hsieh RL, Huang YL, Shiue HS, Huang SR, Lin MI, Mu SC, Chung CJ, Hsueh YM. Arsenic methylation capacity and developmental delay in preschool children in Taiwan. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2014;217(6):678–86.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2014.02.004.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  46. 46.
    Sun HJ, Xiang P, Luo J, Hong H, Lin H, Li HB, Ma LQ. Mechanisms of arsenic disruption on gonadal, adrenal and thyroid endocrine systems in humans: a review. Environ Int. 2016;95:61–8.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2016.07.020.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  47. 47.
    Wang X, Zhang J, Xu W, Huang Q, Liu L, Tian M, Xia Y, Zhang W, Shen H. Low-level environmental arsenic exposure correlates with unexplained male infertility risk. Sci Total Environ. 2016;571:307–13.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.07.169.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  48. 48.
    Wu MM, Chiou HY, Wang TW, Hsueh YM, Wang IH, Chen CJ, Lee TC. Association of blood arsenic levels with increased reactive oxidants and decreased antioxidant capacity in a human population of northeastern Taiwan. Environ Health Perspect. 2001;109(10):1011–7. PMCID:PMC1242077.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  49. 49.
    Zhang XJ, Chen DX, Xu HH, Zhao ML, Fang N, Du H, Zhou YS, Cheng ML, Yuan W, Jiang L, Xiao H, Wa QB, Liu LM, Liu J, Waalkes MP. Increased glycophorin A somatic cell variant frequency in arsenic-exposed patients of Guizhou, China. Toxicol Lett. 2006;167(1):47–53.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2006.08.008.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  50. 50.
    Mo J, Xia Y, Ning Z, Wade TJ, Mumford JL. Elevated human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene expression in blood cells associated with chronic arsenic exposure in Inner Mongolia, China. Environ Health Perspect. 2009;117(3):354–60.  https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.11532.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  51. 51.
    Hsu LI, Wu MM, Wang YH, Lee CY, Yang TY, Hsiao BY, Chen CJ. Association of Environmental arsenic exposure, genetic polymorphisms of susceptible genes, and skin cancers in Taiwan. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:892579.  https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/892579.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  52. 52.
    Zhanga A, Gao C, Hana X, Wanga L, Yua C, Zeng X, Chenb L, Li D, Chen W. Inactivation of p15INK4b in chronic arsenic poisoning cases. Toxicol Rep. 2014;1:692–8.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2014.08.007.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  53. 53.
    Guo Z, Hu Q, Tian J, Yan L, Jing C, Xie HQ, Bao W, Rice RH, Zhao B, Jiang G. Proteomic profiling reveals candidate markers for arsenic-induced skin keratosis. Environ Pollut. 2016;218:34–8.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.08.035.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2019

Authors and Affiliations

  • Takahiko Yoshida
    • 1
    Email author
  • Guifan Sun
    • 2
  • Jungbo Pi
    • 3
  • Xin Li
    • 4
  • Bing Li
    • 2
  • Hiroshi Yamauchi
    • 5
  1. 1.Department of Social MedicineAsahikawa Medical UniversityAsahikawaJapan
  2. 2.Research Center of Chronic Diseases and EnvironmentSchool of Public Health, China Medical UniversityShenyangPeople’s Republic of China
  3. 3.Department of Environmental ToxicologySchool of Public Health, China Medical UniversityShenyangPeople’s Republic of China
  4. 4.Department of Occupational HealthSchool of Public Health, China Medical UniversityShenyangPeople’s Republic of China
  5. 5.Department of Preventive MedicineSt. Marianna University School of MedicineKawasakiJapan

Personalised recommendations

Cite chapter

Buy options