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[Evaluation of biological impregnation of a population exposed to high concentration of arsenic in water supply, Ferrette, 1997].

BACKGROUND
The population of Ferrette has been exposed to well-water with arsenic (As) levels higher than legal threshold. The aim of this study was to assess the relationships between daily tap-water consumption, As quantities thus ingested and biological arsenical impregnation.


METHODS
The study was carried out on a sample of 100 people in the town of Ferrette and 100 people in the town of Seppois-le-Bas where the water quality is satisfactory. Ingested water and As were assessed by the mean of a food questionnaire. The quantity of ingested As was related to the body weight and compared to the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 2 micrograms/kg/d. Biological impregnation was assessed by measuring out As in hair sample.


RESULTS
The daily ingested As intake of Ferrette population ranged from 0 to 32 micrograms/kg/d. One half of the population ingested more than 2 micrograms/kg/d. A quarter of the population ingested more than 4.3 micrograms/kg/d. 15% of Ferrette inhabitants yielded an As hair level higher than 0.1 ng/mg [IC95%: 8.7%-23.5%], versus 7% [IC95%: 2.9-13.9%] for the inhabitants of Seppois-le-Bas (p = 0.07). Among those who ingested an amount of As higher than the TDI, 19% were found to have detectable As hair levels, versus 9% for those who ingested less than the daily acceptable amount (p = 0.18).


CONCLUSION
One half of the population of Ferrette absorbed an As amount double to the TDI, evidencing the reality of the exposure. We did not find any statistically significant relation between the ingested As amount and biological As impregnation nor between exposure to water containing excessive As level and As biological impregnation.