INFLUENCE OF DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON ARSENIC ACCUMULATION IN HUMAN POPULATION: CASES OF TWO ARSENIC AFFECTED VILLAGES IN BANGLADESH.

This study was conducted to investigate the relationships between arsenic () levels in human hair and demographic factors on accumulation in humans. Hair samples of 619 subjects (383 females and 236 males), including 390 confirmed arsenicosis patients, 11 fish and six vegetable samples were analyzed using the Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) method. The results revealed that in hair accumulates in different patterns for males and females in accordance with age. Within patient groups, male patients accumulated higher amounts of than female patients. For all individuals, middle aged females accumulated higher amounts in hair than children, adolescents and females over 50 years old, while children, adolescents and males over 50 accumulated higher amounts of than middle aged males in both villages. Surprisingly, high levels of concentrations were found in hair samples of those living near safe drinking water in both villages, irrespective of age and sex. There were weak positive correlations between hair levels and groundwater levels in both villages. Furthermore, toxic levels of were found in different kinds of food products. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that accumulation in hair is dependent not only on water contamination, but also on food contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]