Arsenic Contamination in Asia: Biological Effects and Preventive Measures

216 Pages·2019·4.86 MB·English

by  Hiroshi Yamauchi

Current Topics in
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine
Hiroshi Yamauchi
Guifan Sun Editors
Arsenic
Contamination
in Asia
Biological Effects and Preventive
Measures
Current Topics in Environmental
Health and Preventive Medicine
Series Editor
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Kurashiki, Japan
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Hiroshi Yamauchi • Guifan Sun
Editors
Arsenic Contamination
in Asia
Biological Effects and Preventive Measures
Editors
Hiroshi Yamauchi Guifan Sun
Department of Preventive Medicine Research Center of Chronic Diseases
St. Marianna University School of Medicine and Environment
Kawasaki School of Public Health
Japan China Medical University
Shenyang, Liaoning
People’s Republic of China
ISSN 2364-8333 ISSN 2364-8341 (electronic)
Current Topics in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine
ISBN 978-981-13-2564-9 ISBN 978-981-13-2565-6 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2565-6
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018960946
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Preface
In the late 1970s, the contamination of air and water by various potentially toxic
substances discharged as by-products of industrial activities was recognized as a
serious social problem in more economically developed countries. However, this
nonnatural environmental contamination was not a serious problem in most of Asia,
as agriculture was the predominant industry and this area was not at this time under-
going heavy industrialization. However, unlike the contamination due to human
activities, toxic substances can be deposited in air and water due to natural pro-
cesses, and the finding of arsenic in the drinking water in many places in Asia is an
excellent example. Indeed, geological findings have demonstrated that arsenic in
ores that arise from the earth’s magma have a complex distribution due to the activi-
ties of the crust. A trace amount of arsenic can leach from the underground ores and
rocks into nearby rivers, leading to the sedimentation of inorganic arsenic in the
watershed and estuary regions of these rivers. Consequently, for instance, the
Ganges River and Mekong River which both originate in the Himalayas have some
of the highest recorded arsenic contamination in Asia. Similarly in China, ground-
water flowing through underground rock formations beneath mountains where the
Great Wall of China was constructed is also heavily contaminated with arsenic.
Thus, the large-scale chronic arsenic poisonings seen in Asia are not caused by
arsenic emanating from industries but are the manifestation of a rare health hazard
arising from inorganic arsenic found in nature.
As the population increased in various developing Asian countries in the 1970s,
a switch in the use of surface water to groundwater was recommended as a preven-
tive measure against diseases associated with surface water consumption.
International organizations widely supported the large-scale placement of pump-
type wells to afford a supply of clean water to regional residents. However, in doing
so, the exposure to inorganic arsenic occurred, and this exposure continues even
today, particularly in people who sank wells into the estuary sediment in search of
groundwater. Unfortunately, these people did not understand how to properly con-
duct a safety risk assessment when using well water and lacked both the equipment
and techniques to test for arsenic. In our previous epidemiological survey of chronic
arsenic poisoning in China, it was impossible to assay arsenic at the survey sites
v
vi Preface
during 1996–2000; thus, we analyzed the test samples for arsenic after transporting
them back to Japan. We believe that other cooperative surveys on people in other
Asian countries likely had to be conducted in a similar manner. Chinese and
Japanese researchers who participated in a field survey in China conducted from
1996 to 2017 are in charge of several chapters of this book and will discuss their
issues and findings.
Epidemiological studies of chronic arsenic poisoning in Asian countries reveal
serious health hazards in Bangladesh, Western India, and China. Severe keratosis is
common on the palms, the soles of the feet, and elsewhere and occasionally results
in skin cancer in some patients. As epidemiological surveys progressed, a relation-
ship between exposure to inorganic arsenic and lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes
and hypertension, was also revealed. New problems, such as influences on the next
generation and brain dysfunction arising from the exposure of pregnant women and
children to inorganic arsenic, have recently gained attention.
It is important to discuss how chronic arsenic poisoning has become a social
problem in Asia. The general keratosis that develops on the palms and soles of the
patients causes severe pain. Hand and foot pathology and pain make it difficult for
patients to work, causing them and their family’s economic difficulties. Additionally,
cancer mortality arising from the exposure to inorganic arsenic, which has increased
over time, has become a serious problem. Therefore, efforts are being made to
reduce this risk by decreasing the level of exposure.
A new problem has arisen in several more economically developed countries in
which the health hazards from arsenic exposure are not yet fully understood. The
ingestion of ω − 3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid),
via the consumption of fish and shellfish, is recommended as a preventive measure
for lifestyle diseases for people who have generally improved living standards in
advanced countries. However, marine organisms contain abundant arsenic com-
pounds, although the potential toxicity of these organic arsenical compounds is
poorly defined as partially because concern was focused on inorganic arsenic in
seafood. However, recent research results indicate that the toxicity of organic arsen-
ical compounds and their metabolites can be equal to or even higher than that of
inorganic arsenic; the safety of seafood-derived organic arsenicals requires further
scientific evaluation.
Thus, Asian residents who are exposed to inorganic arsenic or those who ingest
organic arsenical compounds along with health-promoting substances live in dis-
tinctive areas with regard to “natural” overexposure to arsenic. They may also face
unique and serious problems, such as arsenic-induced impact on the next generation
and brain dysfunction, which will continue as long as pregnant women and children
are exposed to inorganic or organic arsenical compounds. Potential future problems
resulting from these phenomena include work loss and influence on social security
expenditure, including medical welfare disbursements. Currently, there are no effec-
tive drugs or treatment methods for chronic arsenic poisoning, and exposures to
high concentrations of arsenic occur all too frequently. We believe that research
activities using new approaches, particularly regarding various preventive measures
for this health hazard, are necessary for the study of arsenic toxicity.
Preface vii
This book discusses the relationships between exposure to inorganic arsenic and
its biological influences elucidated from surveys of chronic arsenic poisoning in
Asia; international research achievements are also considered. The book
introduces proposed drugs aimed to prevent and/or improve disease states created
by arsenic. In addition, we discuss the significance and status of developing
elimination technologies for the detoxification of arsenic. We hope that the
information provided in this book will help develop new innovations that will
contribute to the prevention and amelioration of the influences of arsenic on health
that are present in contemporary society.
Kawasaki, Japan Hiroshi Yamauchi
Contents
1 Past and Current Arsenic Poisonings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hiroshi Yamauchi and Ayako Takata
2 Arsenic Metabolism and Toxicity in Humans and Animals:
Racial and Species Differences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Yayoi Kobayashi and Tetsuro Agusa
3 Arsenic Exposure and Reproductive Toxicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Osamu Udagawa, Kazuyuki Okamura, Takehiro Suzuki,
and Keiko Nohara
4 Characteristics and Health Effects of Arsenic Exposure
in Bangladesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Khaled Hossain, M. M. Hasibuzzaman, and Seiichiro Himeno
5 Field Researches on Chronical Arsenic Poisoning
in Inner Mongolia, China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Takahiko Yoshida, Guifan Sun, Jungbo Pi, Xin Li, Bing Li,
and Hiroshi Yamauchi
6 Arsenic Exposure and Lifestyle-Related Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Yuanyuan Xu, Jingqi Fu, Huihui Wang, Yongyong Hou,
and Jingbo Pi
7 Metabolism and Toxicity of Organic Arsenic Compounds
in Marine Organisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Yang Cao, Ayako Takata, Toshiaki Hitomi,
and Hiroshi Yamauchi
8 Arsenic Intake and Health Risk from Diet in Asia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Tomoko Oguri
9 Preventive Agents and Phytochemicals for Reducing
the Adverse Health Effects of Arsenic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Yumi Abiko and Yoshito Kumagai
ix
x Contents
10 Development of Arsenic Removal Technology from Drinking
Water in Developing Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Yong Fang Li, Da Wang, Bing Li, Liangjie Dong,
and Guifan Sun
11 Agronomic Strategies for Reducing Arsenic Risk in Rice . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Satoru Ishikawa, Tomohito Arao, and Tomoyuki Makino
12 The Development and Purposes of Arsenic
Detoxification Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Hiroshi Yamauchi, Ayako Takata, Yang Cao,
and Koichiro Nakamura