Blood pressure changes associated with drinking water arsenic exposure in inner Mongolia, China

The papers presented examined the effects of drinking water arsenic on blood pressure in a population of women of reproductive age, and also over the course of pregnancy when they would potentially be more susceptible to environmental contaminants. Modestly elevated categorical drinking water arsenic exposure (0.031–0.050 mg of As/L) was associated with an elevation of 2.33 mm Hg (95% CI = 1.05, 3.60) in the systolic and an elevation of 2.56 mm Hg (95% CI = 1.46, 3.66) in the diastolic blood pressure in an otherwise healthy population of reproductive aged women. This association increased in a dose-response fashion, ultimately resulting in an elevation of 5.81 mm Hg (95% CI = 4.29, 7.33) in systolic blood pressure between the high (>0.100 mg of As/L) and referent exposure groups (below limit of detection to 0.010 mg of As/L).; Under the cardiovascular challenge of pregnancy, women with modestly elevated categorical drinking water arsenic exposure (0.031–0.050 mg of As/L) exhibited an elevation in mean arterial pressure. This association exhibited a dose response relationship with drinking water arsenic exposure, with an almost 10 mm Hg mean arterial pressure difference between the high and referent exposure groups. Drinking water arsenic seemed to affect blood pressure differently at different points during pregnancy (indicated by an interaction between arsenic and time) suggesting potential mechanistic interference with the normal cardiovascular changes occurring during pregnancy.; Collectively, these findings suggest exposure to drinking water arsenic may be associated with a slight elevation in the population mean blood pressure levels. Both studies imply a possible effect on cardiovascular health consistent with other reported studies, but occurring at lower drinking water arsenic exposure levels. Moreover, the documented effects are in a younger, presumably healthier population, which suggests possible long-term cardiovascular effects related to drinking water arsenic exposure. The potentially enormous burden of disease related to low-level drinking water arsenic exposure makes this an association worth further study. The crude measures of blood pressure suggest a positive association, although future studies using better measurement of blood pressure may be able to estimate the magnitude of effect more precisely.