Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Arsenic methylation and skin lesions in migrant and native adult women with chronic exposure to arsenic from drinking groundwater

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Environmental Geochemistry and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In order to figure out the prevalence of skin lesions and methylation capacity for migrant and native adult women in an endemic area for arsenic poisoning in Inner Mongolia, China, 207 adult women were selected for study subjects. The results showed that the prevalence of skin lesions for the external group, provincial group and native group was 36.54, 26.15 and 35.56 %, respectively. The nail content of arsenic and urinary concentrations of dimethylarsenic (DMA), monomethylarsenic (MMA) and inorganic arsenic (iAs) were significantly higher in women with skin lesions than in those without skin lesions. The highest urinary concentrations of DMA, MMA and iAs were 213.93, 45.72 and 45.01 μg/L in the native group. The arsenic methylation capacity index revealed that the external group had the greatest capacity, while the native group had the lowest. The odds ratios of skin lesions in relation to arsenic metabolites and arsenic methylation capacity varied widely among the three groups. Urinary MMA and iAs concentrations were positively associated with risk of skin lesions in the three groups of adult women, while primary and secondary methylation capacities were negatively related to risk of skin lesions in native and provincial groups. The external group might be more susceptible to MMA and iAs, while the provincial and native groups were more tolerance to MMA and iAs. Lower primary and secondary arsenic methylation capacities increased the risk of skin lesions in native and provincial groups. Moreover, higher nail arsenic concentration increased the risk of skin lesions of adult women.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Argos, M., Kalra, T., Pierce, B. L., Chen, Y., Parvez, F., Islam, T., et al. (2011). A prospective study of arsenic exposure from drinking water and incidence of skin lesions in Bangladesh. American Journal of Epidemiology, 174, 185–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balakumar, P., & Kaur, J. (2009). Arsenic exposure and cardiovascular disorders: An overview. Cardiovascular Toxicology, 9, 169–176.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharjee, P., Banerjee, M., & Giri, A. K. (2013). Role of genomic in stability in arsenic induced carcinogenicity: A review. Environmental International, 53, 29–40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brima, E. I., Haris, P. I., Jenkins, R. O., Polya, D. A., Gault, A. G., & Harrington, C. F. (2006). Understanding arsenic metabolism through a comparative study of arsenic levels in the urine, hair and fingernails of healthy volunteers from three unexposed ethnic groups in the United Kingdom. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 216, 122–130.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y., Wu, F., Graziano, J. H., Parvez, F., Liu, M., Paul, R. R., et al. (2013). Arsenic exposure from drinking water, arsenic methylation capacity, and carotid intima-media thickness in Bangladesh. American Journal of Epidemiology, 178(3), 372–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chung, C., Hsueh, Y., Bai, C., Huang, Y. K., Huang, Y. L., Yang, M. H., & Chen, C. J. (2009). Polymorphisms in arsenic metabolism genes, urinary arsenic methylation profile and cancer. Cancer Causes and Control, 20, 1653–1661.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deng, Y., Wang, Y., Ma, T., & Gan, Y. (2009). Speciation and enrichment of arsenic in strongly reducing shallow aquifers at western Hetao Plain, northern China. Environmental Geology, 56, 1467–1477.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, S., Wu, J., Li, Y., Liu, Y., Gao, Y., Yao, F., et al. (2014). Urinary arsenic metabolism in a Western Chinese population exposed to high-dose inorganic arsenic in drinking water: Influence of ethnicity and genetic polymorphisms. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 274, 117–123.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gamble, M. V., Liu, X. H., Ahsan, H., Pilsner, J. R., Llievski, V., & Slavkovich, V. (2005). Folate, homocysteine, and arsenic metabolism in arsenic-exposed individuals in Bangladesh. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113, 1683–1688.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, J., Yu, J., & Yang, L. (2011). Urinary arsenic metabolites of subjects exposed to elevated arsenic present in coal in Shaanxi Province, China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 8, 1991–2008.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gault, A. G., Rowland, H. A. L., Charnock, J. M., Wogelius, R. A., Gomez-Morilla, I., Vong, S., et al. (2008). Arsenic in hair and nails of individuals exposed to arsenic-rich groundwaters in Kandal province, Cambodia. Science of the Total Environment, 393, 168–176.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, X., Fujino, Y., Chai, J., Wu, K., Xia, Y., Li, Y., et al. (2003). The prevalence of subjective symptoms after exposure to arsenic in drinking water in Inner Mongolia, China. Journal of Epidemiology, 13, 211–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, X., Fujino, Y., Kaneko, S., Wu, K., Xia, Y., & Yoshimura, T. (2001). Arsenic contamination of groundwater and prevalence of arsenical dermatosis in the Hetao plain area, Inner Mongolia, China. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 222, 137–140.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, Z., Wu, K., Li, Y., Timothy, J., Judy, M., & Xia, Y. (2011). The analyses of relationships between nail arsenic, selenium and the clinical type for arsenic exposed population. China Journal of Control Endemic Disease, l26, 10–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • He, J., & Charlet, L. (2013). A review of arsenic presence in China drinking water. Journal of Hydrology, 492, 79–88.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, Y. L., Hsueh, Y. M., Huang, Y. K., Yip, P. K., Yang, M. H., & Chen, C. J. (2009). Urinary arsenic methylation capability and carotid atherosclerosis risk in subjects living in arsenicosis-hyperendemic areas in southwestern Taiwan. Science of the Total Environment, 407, 2608–2614.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, Y. K., Tseng, C. H., Huang, Y. L., Yang, M. H., Chen, C., & Hsueh, Y. M. (2007). Arsenic methylation capacity and hypertension risk in subjects living in arseniasis hyperendemic areas in southwestern Taiwan. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 218, 135–142.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IARC. (2004). Arsenic in drinking water. IARC Monograph Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, 84, 39–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kile, M. L., Hoffman, E., Rodrigues, E. G., Breton, C. V., Quamruzzaman, Q., Rahman, M., et al. (2011). A pathway-based analysis of urinary arsenic metabolites and skin lesions. American Journal of Epidemiology, 173(7), 778–786.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, X., Li, B., Xi, S., Zhang, Q. M., Wang, D., & Sun, G. F. (2013). Association of urinary monomethylated arsenic concentration and risk of hypertension: A cross-sectional study from arsenic contaminated areas in northwestern China. Environmental Health, 12, 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindberg, A. L., Ekstrom, E. C., Nermell, B., Rahman, M., Lonnerdal, B., Persson, L. A., & Vahter, M. (2008a). Gender and age differences in the metabolism of inorganic arsenic in a highly exposed population in Bangladesh. Environmental Research, 106, 110–120.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lindberg, A. L., Rahman, M., Persson, L. A., & Vahter, M. (2008b). The risk of arsenic induced skin lesions in Bangladeshi men and women is affected by arsenic metabolism and the age at first exposure. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 230, 9–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mao, G., Guo, X., Kang, R., Ren, C., Yang, Z., Sun, Y., et al. (2010). Prevalence of disability in an arsenic exposure area in Inner Mongolia, China. Chemosphere, 80, 978–981.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Naranmandura, H., Suzuki, N., Iwata, K., Hirano, S., & Suzuki, K. T. (2007). Arsenic metabolism and thioarsenicals in hamsters and rats. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 20, 616–624.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pan, W. C., Seow, W. J., Kile, M. L., Hoffman, E. B., Quamruzzaman, Q., Rahman, M., et al. (2013). Association of low to moderate levels of arsenic exposure with risk of type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh. American Journal of Epidemiology, 178, 1563–1570.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pierce, B. L., Tong, L., Argos, M., Gao, J., Jasmine, F., Roy, S., et al. (2013). Arsenic metabolism efficiency has a causal role in arsenic toxicity: Mendelian randomization and gene-environment interaction. International Journal of Epidemiology, 42, 1862–1872.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahman, A., Vahter, M., Ekstrom, E. C., Rahman, M., Mustafa, A. M. G., Wahed, M. A., et al. (2007). Association of arsenic exposure during pregnancy with fetal loss and infant death: A cohort study in Bangladesh. American Journal of Epidemiology, 165, 1389–1396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahman, M., Vahter, M., Sohel, N., Yunus, M., Wahed, M. A., Streatfield, P. K., et al. (2006). Arsenic exposure and age and sex specific risk for skin lesions: A population-based case-referent study in Bangladesh. Environmental Health Perspectives, 114, 1847–1852.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rudnai, T., Sándor, J., Kádár, M., Borsányi, M., Béres, J., Métneki, J., et al. (2014). Arsenic in drinking water and congenital heart anomalies in Hungary. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 217, 813–818.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seow, W. J., Pan, W. C., Kile, M. L., Baccarelli, A. A., Quamruzzaman, Q., Rahman, M., et al. (2012). Arsenic reduction in drinking water and improvement in skin lesions: A follow-up study in Bangladesh. Environmental Health Perspectives, 20, 1733–1738.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slotnick, M. J., & Nriagu, J. O. (2006). Validity of human nails as a biomarker of arsenic and selenium exposure: A review. Environmental Research, 102, 125–139.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • States, J. C., Srivastava, S., Chen, Y., & Barchowsky, A. (2009). Arsenic and cardiovascular disease. Toxicological Sciences, 107, 312–323.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steinmaus, C., Yuan, Y., Kalman, D., Rey, O. A., Skibola, C. F., Dauphine, D., et al. (2010). Individual differences in arsenic metabolism and lung cancer in a case-control study in Cordoba, Argentina. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 247, 138–145.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, G. F., Xu, Y. Y., Li, X., Jin, Y. P., Li, B., & Sun, X. C. (2007). Urinary arsenic metabolites in children and adults exposed to arsenic in drinking water in Inner Mongolia, China. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115, 648–652.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng, C. H. (2007). Arsenic methylation, urinary arsenic metabolites and human diseases: Current perspective. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part C, 25, 1–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Valenzuela, O. L., Borja-Aburto, V. H., Garcia-Vargas, G. G., Cruz-Gonzalez, M. B., Garcia-Montalvo, E. A., Calderon, E. S., & Del Razo, L. M. (2005). Urinary trivalent methylated arsenic species in a population chronically exposed to inorganic arsenic. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113, 250–254.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe, T., & Hirano, S. (2013). Metabolism of arsenic and its toxicological relevance. Archives of Toxicology, 87, 969–979.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wen, J., Wen, W., Li, L., & Liu, H. (2012). Methylation capacity of arsenic and skin lesions in smelter plant workers. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 34, 624–630.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (2003). Arsenic in drinking water. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xia, Y., Wade, T. J., Wu, K., Li, Y., & Ning, Z. (2009). Well water arsenic exposure, arsenic induced skin-lesions and self-reported morbidity in Inner Mongolia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 6, 1010–1025.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, S., Guo, H., Tang, X., & Shen, Z. (2008). Distribution of abnormal groundwater arsenic in Hetao Plain. Inner Mongolia Earth Science Frontiers, 15(1), 242–249.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, L., Peterson, P. W., Williams, P., Wang, W., Hou, S., & Tan, J. (2002a). The relationship between exposure to arsenic concentrations in drinking water and the development of skin lesions in farmers from Inner Mongolia, China. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 24, 293–303.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, L., Wang, W., Hou, S., Williams, P., & Peterson, P. (2002b). Arsenism clinical stages and their relation with hair arsenic concentration of residents of Bayinmaodao rural district, Inner Mongolia, China. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 24, 337–348.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, G., Sun, D., & Zheng, Y. (2006). Health effects of exposure to natural arsenic in groundwater and coal in China: An overview of occurrence. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115, 636–642.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yunus, M., Sohel, N., Hore, S. K., & Rahman, M. (2011). Arsenic exposure and adverse health effects: A review of recent findings from arsenic and health studies in Matlab, Bangladesh. Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences, 27, 371–376.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Q., Wang, D., Zheng, Q., Zheng, Y., Wang, H. H., Xu, Y. Y., et al. (2014). Joint effects of urinary arsenic methylation capacity with potential modifiers on arsenicosis: Across-sectional study from an endemic arsenism area in Huhhot Basin, northern China. Environmental Research, 132, 281–289.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The work described in this paper was financially supported by the State Key Program of National Natural Science of China (Grant No. 41230749), and the National Public Welfare sectors (Agriculture) special research (Project No. 201203012-6).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11 A Datun Road, Beijing, 100101, China

    Binggan Wei, Jiangping Yu, Linsheng Yang, Hairong Li, Yuanqing Chai & Jianwei Gao

  2. Inner Mongolia Center for Endemic Disease Control and Research, Huhhot, Inner Mongolia, China

    Yajuan Xia, Kegong Wu, Zhiwei Guo & Na Cui

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Yuanqing Chai

Authors
  1. Binggan Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jiangping Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Linsheng Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hairong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yuanqing Chai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yajuan Xia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Kegong Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Jianwei Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Zhiwei Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Na Cui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Linsheng Yang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wei, B., Yu, J., Yang, L. et al. Arsenic methylation and skin lesions in migrant and native adult women with chronic exposure to arsenic from drinking groundwater. Environ Geochem Health 39, 89–98 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-016-9809-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-016-9809-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation