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Arsenic and porphyrins
P Apostoli1, M Sarnico, P Bavazzano
1Institute of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, University of Brescia, Italy. Apostali@med.unibs.it
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|September 5, 2002
Summary
Inorganic arsenic exposure in art glass workers significantly increased urinary excretion of specific porphyrin homologues, particularly pentaporphyrins and uroporphyrins. This suggests arsenic may inhibit heme biosynthesis, indicating potential early health effects.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Biochemistry
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure is a concern in occupational settings.
- The impact of iAs and its specific chemical forms on porphyrin metabolism requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure on urinary porphyrin homologue excretion.
- To identify correlations between specific arsenic species and altered porphyrin levels.
Main Methods:
- Urine samples from 86 art glass workers exposed to iAs and 54 controls were analyzed.
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) measured total porphyrins and homologues (copro, penta, hexa, hepta, uroporphyrins).
- HPLC-ICP MS identified arsenic species (trivalent/pentavalent As, MMAA, DMAA, AB).
Main Results:
- Art glass workers exposed to arsenic showed significantly increased excretion of pentaporphyrins and uroporphyrins.
- Trivalent arsenic (As3) exhibited the strongest correlation with elevated urinary porphyrin excretion.
Conclusions:
- Increased urinary porphyrin excretion suggests arsenic inhibits URO-decarboxylase in the heme biosynthesis pathway.
- Urinary porphyrin homologue analysis may serve as a biomarker for early arsenic effects.
- This analysis could reveal individual susceptibility to arsenic toxicity.