ALTERATION IN BILIRUBIN EXCRETION IN INDIVIDUALS CHRONICALLY EXPOSED TO ARSENIC IN MEXICO

We have studied hepatic function in individuals chronically exposed to arsenic (As) via drinking water in Region Lagunera, Mexico. We studie d 51 individuals living in three villages exposed to As in water. Naza reno (0.014 mgAs/l), Santa Ana (0.1 mgAs/l) and Benito Juarez (0.3 mgA s/l). We determined the serum activity of aspartate aminotransferase ( SAT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as indicators of hepatocellula r injury and that of gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as indicators of cholestasic injury. serum bilirubin was used as an indicator of organic conjugated anion transport. Total proteins, albumin and globulin fraction in serum were used as indicat ors of biosynthetic liver capacity. The main findings of this study we re the predominantly conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and increased serum ALP activity which were related to the concentration of total arsenic (TAs) in urine, suggesting the presence of cholestasis in As-exposed individuals. No significant changes were observed in the other paramet ers studied. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserve d.