Abstract

VILLAAMIL LEPORI¹, Edda Cristina. Chronicendemic regional hydroarsenicism in Argentina. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2015, vol.49, n.1, pp.00-00. ISSN 0325-2957.

The natural contamination of drinking water with arsenic (As) in Argentina has been known for more than 100 years, and still has not been solved. Numerous scientific studies showed that the problem of As in Argentina affects about four million people. The HACRE (chronic regional endemic hydroarsenicism), caused by chronic ingestion of As in water and food causes skin lesions (leukoderma and/or keratosis), cancer in the skin, lungs, bladder, kidney, and others, developmental effects, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and neurotoxicity. Given the importance of the subject, progress in scientific knowledge about the problem of As in Argentina, especially in recent years, is pointed out. Various aspects will be developed, such as current levels of As in water in various regions of Argentina and food contamination by use of water with arsenic. In Argentina's population, biomarkers of exposure, metabolic profile, biomarkers and genetic polymorphisms involved in the susceptibility to arsenic toxicity, biomarkers of effect and genotoxic and carcinogenic risk assessments related to arsenic exposure are evaluated. The evidence compiled in this update leaves no doubt about the severity of the problem and the risk to health due to chronic exposure to As for a large proportion of the country's inhabitants.

Keywords : Arsenic; Chronic regional endemic hydroarsenicism; Metabolic profile; Susceptibility; Carcinogenic Risk.

        · abstract in Spanish | Portuguese     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )