Epidemiological Study of Skin Effects of Exposure to Low Concentration of Arsenic from Drinking Water in Two Villages of Sarab

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Arsenic in drinking water is a well-known hazardous material that its pathogenesis has been reported by different researches. Present study was conducted as an epidemiological study for skin effects of exposure to low concentration of arsenic from drinking water. Materials and Methods: Present study was conducted as a cross sectional study in two exposed and unexposed villages to arsenic through drinking water (Sarab county: Razliq and Farkoosh villages, in 2012) and skin effects were studied among 279 persons over 10 years. Drinking water sources of both villages were analyzed chemically with an emphasis on arsenic. For statistical analysis of data, independent sample T-test was used and p value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Arsenic concentration in drinking water of the exposed and unexposed villages was 96µg/l and zero, respectively. 9.7% of studied population had pigmentation (13.8% of exposed population, 6% of unexposed population). Odds ratio of pigmentation in the exposed village was calculated 2.5 fold higher than unexposed village (CI 95% = 1.082- 5.778). In the exposed village, keratosis just was observed in three persons (equal to 2.3% of village population) however, in unexposed village there was no keratosis. Conclusion: Although there were more pigmentation cases in exposed village compared to unexposed one, however, in comparison with other studies, rate of skin lesions (keratosis and pigmentation) were lower indicating that incidence of skin lesions will be minimal if exposure dose of arsenic through drinking water be less than 100 µg/l.