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. 2015 Apr 24;12(5):4587-601.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph120504587.

A concurrent exposure to arsenic and fluoride from drinking water in Chihuahua, Mexico

Carmen González-Horta  1 , Lourdes Ballinas-Casarrubias  2 , Blanca Sánchez-Ramírez  3 , María C Ishida  4 , Angel Barrera-Hernández  5 , Daniela Gutiérrez-Torres  6 , Olga L Zacarias  7 , R Jesse Saunders  8 , Zuzana Drobná  9 , Michelle A Mendez  10 , Gonzalo García-Vargas  11 , Dana Loomis  12 , Miroslav Stýblo  13 , Luz M Del Razo  14
Affiliations

A concurrent exposure to arsenic and fluoride from drinking water in Chihuahua, Mexico

Carmen González-Horta et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) and fluoride (F-) are naturally occurring drinking water contaminants. However, co-exposure to these contaminants and its effects on human health are understudied. The goal of this study was examined exposures to iAs and F- in Chihuahua, Mexico, where exposure to iAs in drinking water has been associated with adverse health effects. All 1119 eligible Chihuahua residents (>18 years) provided a sample of drinking water and spot urine samples. iAs and F- concentrations in water samples ranged from 0.1 to 419.8 µg As/L and from 0.05 to 11.8 mg F-/L. Urinary arsenic (U-tAs) and urinary F- (U-F-) levels ranged from 0.5 to 467.9 ng As/mL and from 0.1 to 14.4 µg F-/mL. A strong positive correlation was found between iAs and F- concentrations in drinking water (rs = 0.741). Similarly, U-tAs levels correlated positively with U-F- concentrations (rs = 0.633). These results show that Chihuahua residents exposed to high iAs concentrations in drinking water are also exposed to high levels of F-, raising questions about possible contribution of F- exposure to the adverse effects that have so far been attributed only to iAs exposure. Thus, investigation of possible interactions between iAs and F- exposures and its related health risks deserves immediate attention.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of arsenic and fluoride concentration in drinking water sources in the study area in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlation between arsenic and fluoride levels in drinking water: (A) Spearman correlation for water samples obtained from tube wells (3–6 samples per location, bars mean the minimum and maximum concentration of each location, n = 94 locations); and (B) from participant’ homes (1 sample per participant, n = 1119).
Figure 3
Figure 3
The distribution of total speciated arsenic (A) and fluoride levels (B) in the urine samples—stratified by 1×, 2× and 4× Biological Exposure Index value. Median values (vertical lines) and the interquartile range (boxes) are shown. The whiskers represent minimum and maximum values.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The percentage of water samples with arsenic and/or fluoride levels below or above the WHO maximum contaminant level of 10 µgAs/L and 1.5 mgF−/L, respectively. The percentage of urine samples with the total speciated arsenic and/or fluoride levels below or above the Biological Exposure Index value of 35 ng/mL and 2 µg/mL, respectively, established by American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist (ACGIH).
Figure 5
Figure 5
The association between urinary arsenic and fluoride concentrations adjusted for specific gravity. Spearman correlation coefficient and p value are shown for 1119 samples.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Correlations between arsenic and fluoride concentrations in water and urine: (A) Positive correlation between urinary arsenic and drinking water arsenic; (B) Positive correlation between urinary fluoride and drinking water fluoride. Urinary arsenic and fluoride concentrations were adjusted for specific gravity. Spearman correlation coefficient and p value are shown for 1119 samples.
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