Arsenic exposure and oral cavity lesions in Bangladesh.

Authors :: Syed EH
Melkonian S
Poudel KC
Yasuoka J
Otsuka K
Ahmed A
Islam T
Parvez F
Slavkovich V
Graziano JH
Ahsan H
Jimba M
Source :: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine [J Occup Environ Med] 2013 Jan; Vol. 55 (1), pp. 59-66.
Publication Year :: 2013
Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the relationship between arsenic exposure and oral cavity lesions among an arsenic-exposed population in Bangladesh.<br />Methods: We carried out an analysis utilizing the baseline data of the Health Effects of Arsenic Exposure Longitudinal Study, which is an ongoing population-based cohort study to investigate health outcomes associated with arsenic exposure via drinking water in Araihazar, Bangladesh. We used multinomial regression models to estimate the risk of oral cavity lesions.<br />Results: Participants with high urinary arsenic levels (286.1 to 5000.0 μg/g) were more likely to develop arsenical lesions of the gums (multinomial odds ratio = 2.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.11 to 7.54), and tongue (multinomial odds ratio = 2.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.51 to 5.15), compared with those with urinary arsenic levels of 7.0 to 134.0 μg/g.<br />Conclusions: Higher level of arsenic exposure was positively associated with increased arsenical lesions of the gums and tongue.