The New Map of Argentine Population Exposed to Arsenic in Drinking Water

Overview

Journal J Water Health

Specialties Environmental Health
Public Health

Date 2025 Feb 28

PMID 40018957

Authors

Leandro Duarte

Laura De Gracia

Sergio Montico

Alejandro Oliva

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the population exposed to arsenic in Argentina, proposing a key risk indicator. By employing specific criteria selection, a systematic search of the published evidence on arsenic content in drinking water samples at the provincial level was carried out. Considering the limit recommended by the WHO - 10 μg/L - representativeness of evidence was calculated, as well as the percentage of exposed population (PEP) to high levels of arsenic. For this research, 61 useful publications were found and included in the analysis. They provide relevant data for 50% of the provinces, which represent 70% of the national population. The use of the PEP index, to denote the 'percentage of population exposed' to high arsenic, is proposed as a summary variable, to homogenize the information in the country, and in this way give it comparative value. Information has been systematized and variables identified that may be useful for analysis in eco-epidemiological studies, detailing the current situation of publications of arsenic in drinking water in Argentina.

References

Ayotte J, Medalie L, Qi S, Backer L, Nolan B . Estimating the High-Arsenic Domestic-Well Population in the Conterminous United States. Environ Sci Technol. 2017; 51(21):12443-12454. PMC: 8842838. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b02881. View

Bhattacharyya R, Chatterjee D, Nath B, Jana J, Jacks G, Vahter M . High arsenic groundwater: mobilization, metabolism and mitigation--an overview in the Bengal Delta Plain. Mol Cell Biochem. 2003; 253(1-2):347-55. DOI: 10.1023/a:1026001024578. View

Buchhamer E, Blanes P, Osicka R, Gimenez M . Environmental risk assessment of arsenic and fluoride in the Chaco Province, Argentina: research advances. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2012; 75(22-23):1437-50. DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2012.721178. View

Bundschuh J, Litter M, Parvez F, Roman-Ross G, Nicolli H, Jean J . One century of arsenic exposure in Latin America: a review of history and occurrence from 14 countries. Sci Total Environ. 2011; 429:2-35. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.06.024. View

Calatayud M, Farias S, de Paredes G, Olivera M, Carreras N, Gimenez M . Arsenic exposure of child populations in Northern Argentina. Sci Total Environ. 2019; 669:1-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.415. View

Concha G, Nermell B, Vahter M . Metabolism of inorganic arsenic in children with chronic high arsenic exposure in northern Argentina. Environ Health Perspect. 1998; 106(6):355-9. PMC: 1533000. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.98106355. View

Duarte L, Delgado F, Di Leo N, Bertone C, Franci Alvarez M, Montico S . [Mortality from cancer, arsenic, and nitrates in drinking water and cropland in ArgentinaMortalidade por câncer, arsênio e nitratos na água para consumo humano e em áreas semeadas na Argentina]. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2022; 46:e129. PMC: 9426947. DOI: 10.26633/RPSP.2022.129. View

Ferragut Cardoso A, Udoh K, States J . Arsenic-induced changes in miRNA expression in cancer and other diseases. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2020; 409:115306. PMC: 7772821. DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2020.115306. View

Guo X, Fujino Y, Kaneko S, Wu K, Xia Y, Yoshimura T . Arsenic contamination of groundwater and prevalence of arsenical dermatosis in the Hetao plain area, Inner Mongolia, China. Mol Cell Biochem. 2001; 222(1-2):137-40. View

10.

Jaafarzadeh N, Poormohammadi A, Almasi H, Ghaedrahmat Z, Rahim F, Zahedi A . Arsenic in drinking water and kidney cancer: a systematic review. Rev Environ Health. 2022; 38(2):255-263. DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2021-0168. View

11.

Navoni J, De Pietri D, Olmos V, Gimenez C, Bovi Mitre G, de Titto E . Human health risk assessment with spatial analysis: study of a population chronically exposed to arsenic through drinking water from Argentina. Sci Total Environ. 2014; 499:166-74. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.08.058. View

12.

Nicolli H, Garcia J, Falcon C, Smedley P . Mobilization of arsenic and other trace elements of health concern in groundwater from the Salí River Basin, Tucumán Province, Argentina. Environ Geochem Health. 2011; 34(2):251-62. DOI: 10.1007/s10653-011-9429-8. View

13.

Rahman M, Chowdhury U, Mukherjee S, Mondal B, Paul K, Lodh D . Chronic arsenic toxicity in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India--a review and commentary. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2002; 39(7):683-700. DOI: 10.1081/clt-100108509. View

14.

Rehman K, Fatima F, Waheed I, Akash M . Prevalence of exposure of heavy metals and their impact on health consequences. J Cell Biochem. 2017; 119(1):157-184. DOI: 10.1002/jcb.26234. View

15.

Rousseau M, Straif K, Siemiatycki J . IARC carcinogen update. Environ Health Perspect. 2005; 113(9):A580-1. PMC: 1280416. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.113-1280416. View

16.

Smith A, Smith M . Arsenic drinking water regulations in developing countries with extensive exposure. Toxicology. 2004; 198(1-3):39-44. DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2004.02.024. View

17.

Smith A, Marshall G, Yuan Y, Ferreccio C, Liaw J, von Ehrenstein O . Increased mortality from lung cancer and bronchiectasis in young adults after exposure to arsenic in utero and in early childhood. Environ Health Perspect. 2006; 114(8):1293-6. PMC: 1551995. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.8832. View

18.

Young J, Cai L, States J . Impact of prenatal arsenic exposure on chronic adult diseases. Syst Biol Reprod Med. 2018; 64(6):469-483. PMC: 6291241. DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2018.1480076. View