Children exposed to arsenic may face greater risk of infection, respiratory symptoms

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-11/dc-cet110915.php

Public Release: 9-Nov-2015
Children exposed to arsenic may face greater risk of infection, respiratory symptoms
Dartmouth College

Children born to women who were exposed to higher arsenic during pregnancy have a greater risk of infections and respiratory symptoms within their first year of life, a Dartmouth College-led study shows.

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Findings indicate that infants who were exposed to arsenic in utero had greater numbers of infections that resulted in a doctor visit or treatment with prescription medication. Infants exposed to higher levels of arsenic in utero tended to have more upper and lower respiratory tract infections as well as respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing, that warranted treatment, says lead author Shohreh Farzan, a research scientist at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

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The findings parallel observations of arsenic-related increases in respiratory infections among children in Bangladesh, where children tend to be exposed to much higher levels of arsenic. Arsenic has been linked to disrupted immune function and greater infection susceptibility in highly exposed populations. Well water is the primary source of arsenic for most people and nearly 10-15 percent of private wells in New Hampshire contain arsenic levels above the EPA limit. Private wells are not regulated, so some households may not be aware they have high arsenic in their water. Foods, such as rice and rice products, can also contain arsenic. The researchers recommend that all households using a private well test their water for arsenic.