Abstract

A Short Note on Evaluation of Biochemical Changes in Chronic Arsenic Poisoning among Bangladeshi Patients

Author(s): Aisha Sehari

An estimated 40 million people in Bangladesh have been suffering from arsenic toxicityrelated diseases because of drinking water contamination with high levels of naturally occurring arsenic. Drinking water, urine and peripheral blood samples were collected from all participants and analyzed. The average levels of arsenic in the drinking water and spot urine samples of the arsenicosis patients were 218.18g/L and 234.68g/L, respectively Prevalence of diabetes mellitus among chronic arsenic-exposed subjects was about 2.8 times higher than the unexposed subjects. The activities of alkaline phosphatase were significantly elevated in the patients, 197 U/L compared to 149 U/L in the controls Of the total 115 patients enrolled in this study, there were 36 males and 79 females. The whole population of patients had the mean age of 35.4 ± 13.7 yrs. The mean age of the male patients was 35.5 ± 16.1 yrs that varied from 14 to 85 yrs, and that of the female patients was 35.3 ± 12.7 yrs ranging from 14 to 75. The male patients had the mean height of 1.67 meters, body weight of 56.4 ± 8.1 Kg and body mass index (BMI) of 20.4 ± 3.1. On the other hand, the female patients had the mean height of 1.49 meters, body weight of 49.2 ± 8.1 Kg and BMI of 21.4 ± 3.3.