Biomarkers of arsenic exposure in biogeochemical provinces

Introduction. One of the direct methods of assessing the impact of contaminants on public health is the use of biological markers that allow determining the presence of a substance or its metabolite in human biological tissues and the dose received from all sources of this substance.

The purpose of this study was to determine the dependence of arsenic content in biological samples (hair)
of exposed residents on the level of its content in drinking water and to substantiate the effectiveness of the use of this biomarker in the conditions of a hydrogeochemical province in the Republic of Dagestan.

Material and methods. During this research the arsenic content in the hair of the exposed residents was measured with further comparison of the data obtained with its content in drinking groundwater. To determine the arsenic content in the hair of the exposed residents, an atomic absorption method was used with preliminary preparation of biosubstrate samples. Socio-demographic data were obtained from a questionnaire. Statistical data processing was carried out using Microsoft Excel.

Results. In the course of this study, a correlation was revealed between the arsenic content in the hair of the exposed residents and its content in the drinking water consumed, and a direct proportional relationship between these values was also revealed. Thus, with an increase in the concentration of arsenic in water by
0.1 mg/l, the arsenic content in the hair increases by 0.14 mkg/g. So, using of the hair of exposed residents as a biomarker of long-term exposure is recommended to small doses of arsenic in a biogeochemical province.

limitation of the study is the small sample size. However, this does not prevent the assessment of the effectiveness of using hair as a biomarker of arsenic exposure and preliminary conclusions for subsequent in-depth analysis of biomonitoring in the conditions of biogeochemical provinces.

Conclusion. As a rule, the content of natural toxic elements is characterized by trace amounts in the conditions of biogeochemical provinces. Biomonitoring will reveal the level of stress on the body and timely apply preventive methods before the clinical signs of intoxication are revealed.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of a biomedical ethics committee opinion or other documents.

Authors contribution:
Abdulmutalimova T.O. — setting the purpose of the study, concept and design of the study, statistical data processing, text writing, editing;
Ramazanov O.M. — conducting field work, collecting and processing material, conducting chemical analysis, writing the text.
All co-authors — approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Date of receipt: October 23, 2023 / Date of acceptance for printing: December 3, 2023 / Date of publication: December 29, 2023