Genetics and Health

Arsenic in Drinking Water Impedes DNA Repair

by Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD on May 29th, 2006

Arsenic in drinking water is a global problem for both developing and developed countries alike. I remembering reading about the situation in Bangladesh a few years back. Terrifyingly sad.

Treating arsenic poisoning is made difficult by the lack of clear disease definition as well as poor reporting and data collection. A new study suggests that arsenic in drinking water may have an effect on the body’s ability to repair its DNA

Angeline Andrew, the lead author and a research assistant professor of community and family medicine at Dartmouth Medical School:

This work supports the idea that arsenic in drinking water can promote the carcinogenic effects of other chemicals. This is evidence that it’s more important than ever to keep arsenic out of drinking water.

Other effects of arsenic poisoning include:

• Vomiting
• Esophageal and abdominal pain
• Bloody “rice water” diarrhea
• Cancer of the skin, lungs, urinary bladder, and kidney
• Skin changes, such as pigmentation changes and thickening (hyperkeratosis)
• Possible hypertensive and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and reproductive effects
• Disease of the blood vessels leading to gangrene aka “black foot disease”

For more information on arsenic in drinking water, visit the WHO website and BBC News Medical Notes.
Medical News Today, May 29, 2006

Technorati Tags: arsenic, water, drinking water, poisoning, arsenic poisoning, genetics, genes, dna, disease, health

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POSTED IN: General Genetics and Health