Pilot Projects

Title: Arsenicosis in Bangladesh: Pilot studies of water and urinary arsenic concentrations and their relation to skin lesions.

Investigator: Habib Ahsan, MD  

Description: Although health effects of arsenic (As) from drinking water have been examined in many countries, very little systematic work has been conducted in Bangladesh, where ground water has been found to be contaminated since the 1970s. It has been estimated that 25-30 million people have been chronically exposed. This pilot study was a feasibility study aimed at the collection of water, urine and skin samples from exposed and non-exposed residents of Bangladesh.  The study has already been completed and a manuscript published.  The findings indicate that arsenic-induced skin lesions are more strongly associated with urine As concentrations than with water As concentrations.  These findings have important public health implications.  The results from this pilot study were used to support a successful Superfund grant application.

Grant: NIEHS/EPA Superfund Grant: “Health Effects and Geochemistry of Arsenic and Lead” 1 P42 ES10349

Publications:  Ahsan H, Perrin M, Rahman A, Hasnat A, Parvez F, BrandtRauf P, Zheng Y, Stute M, van Geen A, Graziano J.  Associations between drinking water and urinary arsenic levels and skin lesions in Bangladesh.  J Occup  Environ Med 42:19951201, 2000.

Do T, Gambelunghe A, Ahsan H, Graziano J, Perrin M, Slavkovich V, Parvez F, Milton AH, BrandtRauf PW Urinary transforming growth factoralpha in individuals exposed to drinking water in Bangladesh.  Biomarkers 6:127132, 2001.