Neuro behavioral effects of arsenic exposure among secondary school children in the Kandal Province, Cambodia

Sao, Vibol, Hashim, Jamal H. and Sarmani, Sukiman, (2014). Neuro behavioral effects of arsenic exposure among secondary school children in the Kandal Province, Cambodia. Environmental Research, 137 329-337

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  • Sub-type Journal article
    Author Sao, Vibol
    Hashim, Jamal H.
    Sarmani, Sukiman
    Title Neuro behavioral effects of arsenic exposure among secondary school children in the Kandal Province, Cambodia
    Appearing in Environmental Research
    Volume 137
    Publication Date 2014-02-01
    Place of Publication New York
    Publisher Elsevier B.V.
    Start page 329
    End page 337
    Language eng
    Abstract

    The research was carried out at 3 study sites with varying groundwater arsenic (As) levels in the Kandal Province of Cambodia. Kampong Kong Commune was chosen as a highly contaminated site (300–500 μg/L), Svay Romiet Commune was chosen as a moderately contaminated site (50–300 μg/L) and Anlong Romiet Commune was chosen as a control site. Neurobehavioral tests on the 3 exposure groups were conducted using a modified WHO neurobehavioral core test battery. Seven neurobehavioral tests including digit symbol, digit span, Santa Ana manual dexterity, Benton visual retention, pursuit aiming, trail making and simple reaction time were applied. Children's hair samples were also collected to investigate the influence of hair As levels on the neurobehavioral test scores. The results from the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses of hair samples showed that hair As levels at the 3 study sites were significantly different (p<0.001), whereby hair samples from the highly contaminated site (n=157) had a median hair As level of 0.93 μg/g, while the moderately contaminated site (n=151) had a median hair As level of 0.22 μg/g, and the control site (n=214) had a median hair As level of 0.08 μg/g. There were significant differences among the 3 study sites for all the neurobehavioral tests scores, except for digit span (backward) test. Multiple linear regression clearly shows a positive significant influence of hair As levels on all the neurobehavioral test scores, except for digit span (backward) test, after controlling for hair lead (Pb), manganese (Mn) and cadmium (Cd). Children with high hair As levels experienced 1.57–4.67 times greater risk of having lower neurobehavioral test scores compared to those with low hair As levels, after adjusting for hair Pb, Mn and Cd levels and BMI status. In conclusion, arsenic-exposed school children from the Kandal Province of Cambodia with a median hair As level of 0.93 µg/g among those from the highly contaminated study site, showed clear evidence of neurobehavioral effects.

    Keyword Arsenic
    Neurobehavioral
    Groundwater
    Secondary school children
    Cambodia
    Copyright Holder Elsevier Inc
    Copyright Year 2014
    Copyright type All rights reserved
    ISSN 129351
    DOI 10.1016/j.envres.2014.12.001
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    Created: Tue, 29 Sep 2015, 12:33:45 JST