Assessment of Arsenic Levels in Body Samples and Chronic Exposure in People Using Water with a High Concentration of Arsenic: a Field Study in Kutahya

Abstract

<br/><b>Objective</b>: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of skin lesions, which is a health effect of chronicarsenic (As) exposure, and determine the hair/blood arsenic concentrations of people living in Kutahya villageswho are using and drinking tap water with a high concentration of arsenic. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: A total of303 people were included in the present cross-sectional study. A prepared questionnaire form was used to collectthe participants’ information and environmental history. Skin examination was performed on all participants.Hair, blood and water samples were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The cumulative arsenicindex (CAI) was calculated for all participants. <br/><b>Results</b>: Villages were divided into two groups according tothe arsenic level (<20 μg/L, Group I; >20 μg/L, Group II) in their water. The prevalence of skin lesions, hairand blood arsenic level, and CAI were found to be higher in the Group II participants. There was a positiveassociation between body arsenic levels and CAI in the participants of each group. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: The numberof skin lesions and arsenic concentrations in body samples were found to increase with the water arsenic leveland exposure time. We hope that sharing this study’s results with local administrators will help accelerate therehabilitation of water sources in Kutahya.