Comparison of methylation capacity among the people from the arsenic-affected areas of West Bengal, India

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Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is an established human carcinogen. Although methylation of iAs was considered as a detoxification mechanism, recently it is considered as an intoxification pathway in mammals. In the present study, the study population consisted of four groups A-D with drinking water iAs concentrations 33 (7, 148 ( 34, 210 ( 2.6, and 248 ( 59 íg As/l (mean ( SE), respectively in West Bengal, India. The ratios (monomethylated arsenicals)/(inorganic As metabolites – arsenate) ) (MMA + DMA)/-(iAs Met – iAsV), (dimethylated As)/(mono- and di-methylated As)) (DMA)/(MMA + DMA), and (dimethylated As)/(inorganic As metabolites – arsenate) ) (DMA)/(iAs Met – iAsV) were used to assess methylation efficiency in the present study. High performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled argon plasma mass spectrometry (HPLCICP MS) was used to determine As species in spot urine samples. The detection limit of As compounds was 0.14-0.33 í As/l. All trivalent arsenicals were stable for up to 2 months when arsenic spiked urine samples were stored at -28° C without any preservatives. Although females appeared to be better methylators than males and children (considering first and total methylations), they were statistically not significant (p>0.05). Only second methylation capacity was statistically significant between different age groups (p<0.05). The authors concluded that although methylation capacity is not statistically conclusive in the present study, this is the first study, which documents the results on reduction capacity of the As-affected population in the endemic areas. Another outcome of this study suggests that researchers must consider the intake route of As via food chain during the preparation of toxicity model of As.

Authors: Mandal, Badal Kumar; Suzuki, Kazuo T.; Ogra, Yosumitsu; Imai, Hideki ;Full Source: Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][online computer file] 2011, 3(4), 912-936 (Eng) ;

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