Arsenic in drinking-water and reproductive health outcomes: a study of participants in the Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Programme

J Health Popul Nutr. 2006 Jun;24(2):190-205.

Abstract

This study examined 2,006 pregnant women chronically exposed to a range of naturally-occurring concentrations of arsenic in drinking-water in three upazilas in Bangladesh to find out relationships between arsenic exposure and selected reproductive health outcomes. While there was a small but statistically significant association between arsenic exposure and birth-defects (odds ratio=1.005, 95% confidence interval 1.001-1.010), other outcomes, such as stillbirth, low birth-weight, childhood stunting, and childhood under-weight, were not associated with arsenic exposure. It is possible that the association between arsenic exposure from drinking-water and birth-defects may be a statistical anomaly due to the small number of birth-defects observed. Future studies should look more closely at birth-defects, especially neural tube defects, to elucidate any potential health effects associated with arsenic exposure from drinking-water. Further, given the knowledge that serious health effects can result from chronic arsenic exposure, efforts to find alternatives of safe drinking-water for the population must continue.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / epidemiology*
  • Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / etiology
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Arsenic / adverse effects*
  • Arsenic / analysis
  • Arsenic Poisoning / complications*
  • Arsenic Poisoning / epidemiology
  • Bangladesh / epidemiology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Environmental Exposure / analysis
  • Environmental Exposure / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Fetal Growth Retardation / chemically induced
  • Fetal Growth Retardation / epidemiology
  • Food Services
  • Growth Disorders / chemically induced
  • Growth Disorders / epidemiology
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Maternal-Child Health Centers
  • Population Surveillance
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome / epidemiology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Stillbirth / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / adverse effects*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis
  • Water Supply / analysis
  • Water Supply / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Arsenic