Research on Urinary Arsenic Metabolites of Population Exposed to Different Concentrations of Arsenic by Drinking Water / 环境与健康杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective Based on the health standards for arsenic in drinking water recommended by WHO (0.01 mg/L) and adopted by decentralized rural water supply in China (0.05 mg/L), to explore the conditions of arsenic metabolism and levels of methylation in population consuming drinking water with different concentrations of arsenic. Methods Three hundred and forty-eight adults in Shanxi exposed to different concentrations of arsenic(≥0.05 mg/L, ≥0.01-0.05) in arsenic species , TAs , first methylation ratio (FMR) and SMR in lower exposure group and the control group. In higher exposure group, the FMR of adults aged over 60 years was significantly higher than that in groups of 18-39 years old and 40-49 years old (P0.05). Conclusion In higher exposure group, the 2nd reaction of the metabolic pathway is more active in female than that in male, and arsenic methylation capacity of the higher age group arise. No significant effects of gender and age on arsenic methylation capacity is found among population exposed to drinking water with lower level of arsenic.