This study was designed to assess the effects of exposure to arsenic in drinking water on visual and vibrotactile function in residents of the Bamen region of Inner Mongolia, China. Arsenic was measured by hydride generation atomic fluorescence. 321 participants were divided into three exposure groups– low (non-detectable-20), medium (100-300) and high (400-700 μg /l) arsenic in drinking water (AsW). Three visual tests were administered: acuity, contrast sensitivity and color discrimination (Lanthony's Desaturated 15 Hue Test). Vibration thresholds were measured with a vibrothesiometer. Vibration thresholds were significantly elevated in the high exposure group compared to other groups. Further analysis using a spline regression model suggested that the threshold for vibratory effects is between 150-170 μg /l AsW. These findings provide the first evidence that chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water impairs vibrotactile thresholds. The results also indicate that arsenic affects neurological function well below the 1000 μg /l concentration reported by NRC (1999). No evidence of arsenic-related effects on visual function was found.
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Research Article|
March 01 2006
Neurosensory effects of chronic exposure to arsenic via drinking water in Inner Mongolia: II. Vibrotactile and visual function
David Otto;
1U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
Tel: +1 (919) 966-6226, Fax: +1 (919) 966-6367; E-mail: [email protected]
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H. Kenneth Hudnell;
H. Kenneth Hudnell
1U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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Judy Mumford;
Judy Mumford
1U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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Andrew Geller;
Andrew Geller
1U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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Timothy Wade;
Timothy Wade
1U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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Yanhong Li;
Yanhong Li
2Inner Mongolia Center For Endemic Disease Control and Research, Huhhot, China
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Yajuan Xia;
Yajuan Xia
2Inner Mongolia Center For Endemic Disease Control and Research, Huhhot, China
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Kegong Wu;
Kegong Wu
2Inner Mongolia Center For Endemic Disease Control and Research, Huhhot, China
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Linlin He;
Linlin He
3Bamen Anti-Epidemic Station, Lin He, Inner Mongolia, China
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Zhixiong Ning;
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Zhixiong Ning
3Bamen Anti-Epidemic Station, Lin He, Inner Mongolia, China
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Baixiao Zhao;
Baixiao Zhao
4Lin He Anti-Epidemic Station, Lin He, Inner Mongolia, China
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Richard Kwok
Richard Kwok
5RTI International, Research Triangle Park,, NC, USA
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J Water Health (2006) 4 (1): 39–48.
Citation
David Otto, H. Kenneth Hudnell, Judy Mumford, Andrew Geller, Timothy Wade, Yanhong Li, Yajuan Xia, Kegong Wu, Linlin He, Zhixiong Ning, Baixiao Zhao, Richard Kwok; Neurosensory effects of chronic exposure to arsenic via drinking water in Inner Mongolia: II. Vibrotactile and visual function. J Water Health 1 March 2006; 4 (1): 39–48. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2006.0003
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