A pilot study of low-moderate drinking water arsenic contamination and chronic diseases among reproductive age women in Timis, County, Romania

摘要

We conducted a pilot study of associations between drinking water contaminated by inorganic arsenic (iAs), mostly ＜10μg/L, and self-reported chronic diseases in 297 pregnant women. Adjusted for confounding variables, we identified a positive association between iAs and heart disease (OR =1.63,95%CI 0.81 -3.04,p = 0.094), which was stronger for women living at their current residence ≥ 1 Oyears (OR=2.47, 95%CI 0.87-10.43, p = 0.058). Confounder-adjusted associations were also suggested for iAs with kidney disease (OR = 1.32,95%CI 0.77-2.21,p = 0.265) and with high blood pressure (OR= 1.36,95%CI 0.68-2.39, p = 0.300). A post hoc power analysis indicated the need for a larger study with more statistical power.