The relationship between arsenic exposure and skin lesions in endemic arsenicosis area of Shanxi Province, China

Arsenic exposure from drinking water was considered to be a risk factor for skin lesions. In our research, the total arsenic in water and urine samples were analyzed by ICP-MS and AFS, respectively, Arsenic concentration in drinking water was 4.04-720μg/L, and there were 63.49% (80/126) samples above 50μg/L. Urinary total arsenic concentration was 6.51-775.73μg/gCr. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the strength of association between arsenic in drinking water and in urine(r=0.686, p<;0.05). The level of iron in drinking water was ranged from 0 to 6.46mg/L, and there were 18.4%(23/125) iron levels exceeding 0.5mg/L We observed the strong association between arsenic in drinking water and in urine, and dose-dependent increase in risk of skin lesions with increasing arsenic exposure. Especially, at lower levels of arsenic exposure(10-50μg/L), the effect of arsenic induced skin lesions was still observed. Iron and arsenic in the arsenic poisoning proceeding might exist combined effect.