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Bhaswati Ganguly

Bio: Bhaswati Ganguly is an academic researcher from University of Calcutta. The author has contributed to research in topics: Arsenic toxicity & Population. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 30 citations.

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TL;DR: Those with skin lesions were found to have higher arsenic in urine and hair compared to those without skin lesion with similar arsenic intake through water and diet, while these values were low in people living in non-endemic region (Group-2).
Abstract: Few reports are available that characterize daily arsenic exposure through water and diet among people living in groundwater-contaminated regions and correlate it with biomarkers. The present study describes the total individual arsenic exposure and arsenic level in urine and hair of such an arsenic-exposed population in West Bengal. Demographic characteristics and the total daily arsenic intake through water and diet were determined in 167 (Group-1 participants selected from arsenic endemic region) and 69 (Group-2 participants selected from arsenic non-endemic region) in West Bengal. Out of 167 Group-1 participants 78 (Group-1A) had arsenical skin lesions while 89 Group-1B) had no such lesion. Arsenic level in water samples as well as diet, urine and hair samples, collected from all the individual participants, were estimated. The mean value of estimated total arsenic content from water and diet was 349 (range: 20-1615) μg/day in 167 (Group-1) participants living in As endemic region [As in water: mean value 54 (range:BDL-326) μg/L] and 36 (range:12-120) μg/day in 69 (Group-2) participants living in As non-endemic region (As in water: below detection level (BDL), < 0.3 μg/L). Estimated mean arsenic level in urine in these two groups of participants was 116 (range: 6-526) μg/L and 17 (range: BDL-37) μg/L and in hair was 1.0 (range: 0.22-3.98) mg/Kg and 0.16 (range: 0.06-0.37) mg/Kg, respectively. Multiple regressions analysis in Group-1 participants showed that total arsenic intake was associated significantly with urinary and hair arsenic level. The estimated regression coefficient was 0.0022 (95% confidence interval, C.I: 0.0016, 0.0028; P < 0.001) and 0.0024 (95% C.I: 0.0021, 0.003; P < 0.001), respectively. In sub group analysis, higher median urinary arsenic value relative to arsenic intake through water and diet was observed in 78 Group-1A subjects with skin lesion compared to urinary arsenic value in 89 Group-1B subjects without skin lesions, though there was a marginal difference of median total arsenic intake in these two groups. This study showed that significant elevation of arsenic level in urine and hair was associated with elevated arsenic intake through water and diet in people living in arsenic endemic region (Group-1), while these values were low in people living in non-endemic region (Group-2). Those with skin lesions were found to have higher arsenic in urine and hair compared to those without skin lesion with similar arsenic intake through water and diet.

32 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Comparing and contrast the similarities and differences in arsenic occurrence in West Bengal with those of other parts of the world and assess the unique socio-cultural factors that determine the risks of exposure to arsenic in local groundwater are compared.

191 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data strongly supports a non-linear dose response for the effects of inorganic arsenic, and in various in vitro and in vivo models and in human epidemiology studies there appears to be a threshold for biological responses, including cancer.
Abstract: Inorganic arsenic induces a variety of toxicities including cancer. The mode of action for cancer and non-cancer effects involves the metabolic generation of trivalent arsenicals and their reaction with sulfhydryl groups within critical proteins in various cell types which leads to the biological response. In epithelial cells, the response is cell death with consequent regenerative proliferation. If this continues for a long period of time, it can result in an increased risk of cancer. Arsenicals do not react with DNA. There is evidence for indirect genotoxicity in various in vitro and in vivo systems, but these involve exposures at cytotoxic concentrations and are not the basis for cancer development. The resulting markers of genotoxicity could readily be due to the cytotoxicity rather than an effect on the DNA itself. Evidence for genotoxicity in humans has involved detection of chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges in lymphocytes and micronucleus formation in lymphocytes, buccal mucosal cells, and exfoliated urothelial cells in the urine. Numerous difficulties have been identified in the interpretation of such results, including inadequate assessment of exposure to arsenic, measurement of micronuclei, and potential confounding factors such as tobacco exposure, folate deficiency, and others. Overall, the data strongly supports a non-linear dose response for the effects of inorganic arsenic. In various in vitro and in vivo models and in human epidemiology studies there appears to be a threshold for biological responses, including cancer.

65 citations

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TL;DR: An up-to-date review of the different sources of arsenic, indicators of human exposure, epidemiological and toxicological studies on carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic health outcomes, and risk assessment approaches demonstrates a need for more work evaluating the risks of different arsenic species.
Abstract: Millions of people are exposed to arsenic resulting in a range of health implications. This paper provides an up-to-date review of the different sources of arsenic (water, soil, and food), indicators of human exposure (biomarker assessment of hair, nail, urine, and blood), epidemiological and toxicological studies on carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic health outcomes, and risk assessment approaches. The review demonstrates a need for more work evaluating the risks of different arsenic species such as, arsenate, arsenite monomethylarsonic acid, monomethylarsonous acid, dimethylarsinic acid, and dimethylarsinous acid as well as a need to better integrate the different exposure sources in risk assessments.

60 citations

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TL;DR: Toxic limit of extractable As in soil for rice in relation to soil properties and human health hazard, associated with consumption of rice grain by human, was established.

45 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A total of 228 groundwater samples were collected at a depth of 10-30 feet below ground level (bgl) during one year period from nineteen wells around Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India which is known for nuclear installations as discussed by the authors.

38 citations