Arsenic exposure associated with lung interstitial changes in non-smoking individuals living near a petrochemical complex: A repeated cross-sectional study

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2023-08, Vol.331 (Pt 2), p.121844-121844, Article 121844
• Main Authors: Wang, Chih-Wen, Chen, Szu-Chia, Wu, Da-Wei, Lin, Hung-Hsun, Chen, Huang‐Chi, Hung, Chih-Hsing, Kuo, Chao-Hung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Arsenic; Arsenic - analysis; Bronchiectasis; Creatinine; Cross-Sectional Studies; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Humans; Low-dose computed tomography; Lung - chemistry; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Lung fibrotic changes; Petrochemical complexes
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121844

Arsenic exposure is associated with airway inflammation and decreased lung function tests. Whether arsenic exposure associated with lung interstitial changes remains unknown. We conducted this population-based study in southern Taiwan during 2016 and 2018. Our study recruited individuals aged over 20 years, residing in the vicinity of a petrochemical complex and with no history of cigarette smoking. In both the 2016 and 2018 cross-sectional studies, we conducted chest low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans, as well as urinary arsenic and blood biochemistry analyses. Lung interstitial changes included lung fibrotic changes that were defined as the presence of curvilinear or linear densities, fine lines, or plate opacity in specific lobes; additionally, other interstitial changes were defined as the presence of ground-glass opacity (GGO) or bronchiectasis on the LDCT images. In both cross-sectional studies conducted in 2016 and 2018, participants with lung fibrotic changes exhibited a statistically significant increase in the mean urinary arsenic concentrations compared to those without fibrotic changes (geometric mean = 100.1 vs. 82.8 μg/g creatinine, p