Association Between Drinking Water and Urinary Arsenic Concentrations: A Meta-Analysis of Biomonitoring Results in New Mexico

摘要

In New Mexico, along the Rio Grande Rift Valley, arsenic concentrations in groundwater rangernfrom < 1 μg/L to 600 μg/L. Approximately 90% of New Mexico’s drinking water supply is fromrngroundwater. The presence of arsenic in drinking water is a potential public health concern in areasrnof New Mexico where concentrations in groundwater are above the EPA maximum contaminantrnlevel (MCL) of 10 μg/L. The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the association betweenrnarsenic in drinking water concentrations and arsenic body burden as measured by urinary arsenicrnlevels among participants of biomonitoring projects in New Mexico.rnWe utilized data from three New Mexico Department of Health biomonitoring projects conductedrnfrom 2004 through 2012, which included volunteer participants residing in 76 communities. Forrnthis meta-analysis, 1013 adults were identified as eligible participants. They provided samples ofrntheir drinking water, a spot urine sample and completed an exposure assessment survey. Drinkingrnwater and urine samples were analyzed for total arsenic. Sample collections and analytical methodsrnapplied were similar among the biomonitoring projects, therefore, the testing results were pooledrnfor meta-analysis. A multiple regression model was developed to evaluate the effect of drinkingrnwater arsenic concentration on urinary arsenic concentration, with adjustment for potentialrnvariables such as age, sex, dietary supplement use, tobacco use, fish/seafood consumption, andrndaily water consumption.rnThe final regression model is presented, including adjustment for variables along with correlationrncoefficients, and assumptions. Exposure to arsenic through drinking water can be controlled andrnminimized by consumers’ health behavior changes. Future groundwater arsenic mapping orrnpredictive arsenic groundwater transport models are needed to identify potential excessive arsenicrnexposure from groundwater sources used for drinking water.