Arsenic Exposure During Pregnancy and Childhood: Factors Explaining Changes over a Decade

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Toxicology
• Public Health

Background:

• Chronic inorganic arsenic exposure is a significant global health concern.
• Arica, Chile, presents a unique case of dual natural and anthropogenic arsenic exposure.
• Long-term exposure trends and determinants in vulnerable populations require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze temporal changes in inorganic arsenic levels in a cohort of pregnant women and their children over a decade.
• To identify key determinants influencing urinary inorganic arsenic concentrations.
• To assess the effectiveness of mitigation strategies and inform public health interventions.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study using maternal urine samples (2013-2016) and child assessments (2023).
• Statistical analysis included Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test for temporal changes.
• Mixed linear regression model identified factors associated with urinary inorganic arsenic levels.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in mean arsenic concentrations was observed between the two measurement periods (p = 0.4026).
• Children drinking bottled water showed 8.3% lower arsenic levels compared to tap water consumers.
• Children from ethnic groups had 8.64% higher arsenic levels, while those with highly educated caregivers had 13.67% lower levels.

Conclusions:

• Despite efforts, significant inorganic arsenic exposure risks persist for vulnerable populations in Arica.
• Consumption of bottled water and higher caregiver education are associated with reduced arsenic exposure.
• Targeted interventions are crucial to address disparities and mitigate risks from natural arsenic contamination.