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Review
. 2017 May 23;14(6):556.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph14060556.

A Review of the Effects of Chronic Arsenic Exposure on Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Abul H Milton  1 , Sumaira Hussain  2 , Shahnaz Akter  3 , Mijanur Rahman  4 , Tafzila A Mouly  5 , Kane Mitchell  6
Affiliations
Review

A Review of the Effects of Chronic Arsenic Exposure on Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Abul H Milton et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Exposure to arsenic has a number of known detrimental health effects but impact on pregnancy outcomes is not as widely recognized. This narrative review examines existing epidemiological evidence investigating the association between arsenic exposure via drinking water and adverse pregnancy outcomes. We reviewed published epidemiological studies from around the world on impact of chronic arsenic exposure on spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, neonatal death, post neonatal death, low birth weight and preterm baby. Plausible mechanisms of arsenic toxicity causing adverse pregnancy outcomes were also determined through literature review. There is convincing evidence to support the association between high inorganic arsenic exposure (>50 ppb) and spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and low birth weight. Limitations of certain studies include study design, small sample size, recall constraints and exposure assessment. There needs to be further research investigating the dose metered impact of arsenic exposure on pregnancy outcomes. Further research on impact of low-moderate arsenic concentration exposure on pregnancy outcomes will allow for appropriate public health policy recommendations.

Keywords: arsenic; chronic exposure; drinking water; pregnancy outcomes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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