The malefactor
MALES are more susceptible to chronic arsenic poisoning than females, shows a recent study conducted by Japanese researchers from the University of Tokyo, Kumamoto University, International Medical Centre of Japan and Niigata University of Health and Welfare. During their study, the researchers analysed the correlation between arsenic exposure and skin lesions. The exposure was calculated by measuring arsenic concentration levels in the urine of the study's subjects. The study, carried out in two rural communities in Nawabganj district of Bangladesh, involved people who were at least 20 years of age (112 males and 138 females from the first community and 108 males and 193 females from the second community).
After conducting several tests the researchers found that the urinary arsenic concentration value for females was much higher than those for males. However, this did not make them susceptible to the adverse affects of arsenic. But the males were found to be more susceptible despite having low concentrations of it their body.
According to the researchers the difference might be due to variations in the duration of exposure: the females were exposed less to arsenic since they had migrated from less contaminated areas after their marriage. Two other potentially confounding factors, sunlight exposure and smoking, may also account for the suspectibility of males.
But the researchers state that the results of the finding cannot be considered conclusive as it has several drawbacks, the main one being the huge difference between the number of males and females studied. The difference could have resulted in over estimation of the susceptibility. They assert that future comprehensive investigations are required to prove the inferences of their study. However, they say that elucidation of such modifying factors should be of great importance in the future implementation of any mitigation or intervention measures.