2014-Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS 2014 Volume 7: Energy Production, Environmental & Multiscale
| Editors: | Kongoli F |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2014 |
| Pages: | 528 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-1-987820-09-6 |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
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Relationship between different types of genotoxic damage and arsenic blood concentration in individuals residing in an arsenic contaminated area in central Mexico
Patricia Mussali-Galante1; Ma. Laura Ortiz-Hernandez1; Enrique Sanchez-Salinas1; Efrain Tovar-Sanchez1;1UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA DEL ESTADO DE MORELOS, Cuernavaca, Mexico;
Type of Paper: Regular
Id Paper: 218
Topic: 8
Abstract:
As contaminated drinking water is a well-known problem that affects millions worldwide, many biomarkers of exposure have been developed in the last years, such as total urinary arsenic and hair and toenail arsenic. However, few studies have investigated total arsenic blood levels as a biomarker of internal dose in non-occupationally exposed individuals and its relationship with different genotoxic endpoints. Huautla, Morelos, Mexico, is known for its mining activity and its natural arsenic content. The aims of this study were: A) To examine As concentration in drinking water and in whole blood samples from the individuals residing in Huautla, B) To evaluate DNA damage levels in whole blood lymphocytes from the exposed individuals and C) To assess if there is a correlation between DNA damage induction and total As blood levels. Arsenic was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and genotoxic damage was evaluated using the alkaline comet assay, the frequency of chromosome aberrations and the percentage of micronucleus in buccal epithelial cells. Our results demonstrate that drinking water is contaminated with arsenic and that these concentrations are above the national and international standards (0.24A ± 0.037A μ g/ml). Total arsenic levels in whole blood samples from the exposed individuals corroborate this exposure (60A ± 9A μ g/L). Arsenic was capable of inducing single strand breaks, chromosomal aberrations and micronucleus in exposed individuals and they were positively and significantly correlated with arsenic concentrations in whole blood samples, supporting the idea that total blood arsenic concentrations are a useful biomarker of internal exposure. Finally, as chromosomal aberration is the most accepted technique when estimating risks of human exposures, we can conclude that Huautla settlers are at risk of developing arsenic-related diseases and cancer, being this study the first report of arsenic contamination and human health hazard in this region, a fact that urgently needs further evaluation.