This study was designed to assess the effects of exposure to arsenic in drinking water on neurosensory function. A questionnaire including neurological signs and symptoms and a brief neurological exam consisting of pinprick testing of the arms and legs and knee-jerk test were administered to 321 residents of the Bamen region of Inner Mongolia, China. Arsenic in water was measured by hydride generation atomic fluorescence. Participants were divided into three exposure groups—low (non-detectible-20), medium (100–300) and high (400–700 μg/l) arsenic. Significant group differences were observed in pinprick scores for all four limbs. Results indicate that arsenic alters pinprick (pain) thresholds at well-water concentrations as low as 400 μg/l, well below the 1000 μg/l threshold for neurological effect specified by NRC (1999). Regression models suggest that a 50% increase in pinprick score is associated with a 71–159 ppb increase in arsenic concentration.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
March 01 2006
Neurosensory effects of chronic exposure to arsenic via drinking water in Inner Mongolia: I. signs, symptoms and pinprick testing
Yanhong Li;
Yanhong Li
1Inner Mongolia Center For Endemic Disease Control and Research, Huhhot, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Yajuan Xia;
Yajuan Xia
1Inner Mongolia Center For Endemic Disease Control and Research, Huhhot, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Kegong Wu;
Kegong Wu
1Inner Mongolia Center For Endemic Disease Control and Research, Huhhot, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Linlin He;
Linlin He
2Bamen Anti-Epidemic Station, Lin He, Inner Mongolia, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Zhixiong Ning;
Zhixiong Ning
2Bamen Anti-Epidemic Station, Lin He, Inner Mongolia, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Baixiao Zhao;
Baixiao Zhao
3Lin He Anti-Epidemic Station, Lin He, Inner Mongolia, China
Search for other works by this author on:
X. Chris Le;
X. Chris Le
4University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Richard Kwok;
Richard Kwok
5RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC., USA
Search for other works by this author on:
Michael Schmitt;
Michael Schmitt
6U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC., USA
Search for other works by this author on:
Timothy Wade;
... Show more
Timothy Wade
6U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC., USA
Search for other works by this author on:
Judy Mumford;
Judy Mumford
6U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC., USA
Search for other works by this author on:
David Otto
6U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC., USA
Tel: +1 (919) 966-6226, Fax: +1 (919) 966-6367; E-mail: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
J Water Health (2006) 4 (1): 29–37.
Citation
Yanhong Li, Yajuan Xia, Kegong Wu, Linlin He, Zhixiong Ning, Baixiao Zhao, X. Chris Le, Richard Kwok, Michael Schmitt, Timothy Wade, Judy Mumford, David Otto; Neurosensory effects of chronic exposure to arsenic via drinking water in Inner Mongolia: I. signs, symptoms and pinprick testing. J Water Health 1 March 2006; 4 (1): 29–37. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2006.0002
Download citation file: