Parent Title:
Health Effects and Geochemistry of Arsenic
Grant Number:
Principal Investigator:
Ahsan, Habibul; Navas-Acien, Ana
Institution:
Columbia University Health Sciences
Most Recent Award Year:
2017
Lifestage of Participants:
Exposure:
Adulthood (18+ years)
Assessment:
Adulthood (18+ years)
Exposures:
Metals:
Arsenic
Health Outcomes:
Cardiovascular Outcomes:
Stroke; Coronary artery disease
Respiratory Outcomes:
Chronic bronchitis; COPD; Emphysema; Restrictive lung disease ; Asthma
Biological Sample:
Urine
Environmental Sample:
Food Sample, Drinking water sample
Other Participant Data:
Tobacco use, body mass index, physical activity, nutritional, and socioeconomic factors
Abstract:
Nearly 200 million people in the world, including ~57 million in Bangladesh and ~17 million in the United States, are chronically exposed to inorganic arsenic (As). As part of the Columbia's Superfund Research Program (CU SRP) Center, the researchers established the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS)—a large prospective cohort study based on individual-level data among a population exposed to a wide range of inorganic As from drinking water in Araihazar, Bangladesh. Over the past 15 years, using a population-based sampling frame, they recruited 35,050 men and women (with >95% response rates) and collected detailed questionnaires, clinical data, and biospecimen samples at baseline recruitment as well as every two years subsequently. Approximately 73% of participants are exposed to water As at low-to-moderate doses (<100 μg/L). Through a dedicated medical clinic established by Columbia University and The University of Chicago that exclusively serves the HEALS participants, they have also developed an effective mechanism of following the cohort, especially for detecting incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. The researchers are prospectively evaluating: 1. Effects of As exposure (measured in water, urine, and rice) on incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD subtypes, chronic non-malignant respiratory diseases (CNRD) and CNRD subtypes, and diabetes mellitus (DM) 2. Effects of specific urinary As species on the incidence of CVD, CNRD, DM, and their certain subtypes The researchers are also evaluating these association in participants exposed to water As at low-to-moderate doses (<100 μg/L). Furthermore, they plan to conduct individual-level meta-analyses pooling data from HEALS and other major population studies in the U.S. (Strong Heart Study, New Hampshire Arsenic Study, and San Luis Valley Study), Taiwan (Taiwanese Arsenic Study), and China (Inner Mongolia Arsenic Study) to examine full dose-response relationships between As exposure and CVD incidence and mortality. The National Research Council (NRC) has identified non-cancer outcomes as a high-priority outcome for As exposure. Findings from HEALS will have major impact on the health of As-exposed populations globally.
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Related NIEHS-Funded Study Populations
Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS)
Principal Investigator:
Ahsan, Habibul; Graziano, Joseph
| Study Population Page Study Population c63
Institution:
University of Chicago
Location:
Araihazar, Bangladesh
Number of Participants::
~35,000 recruited; Recruitment goal of 50,000
Brief Description::
This large prospective cohort study is based on individual-level data from a population exposed to a wide range of inorganic arsenic from drinking water in Araihazar, Bangladesh. Since 2000, the study has recruited more than 35,000 men and women with extensive questionnaire data, biological samples, drinking water samples, and diagnostic/clinical data.