Arsenic-induced skin lesions among Atacameno people in Northern Chile despite good nutrition and centuries of exposure

It has been suggested that the indigenous Aracameno people in Northern Chil e might be protected from the health effects of arsenic in drinking water b ecause of many centuries of exposure. Here we report on the first intensive investigation of arsenic-induced shin lesions in this population. We selec ted 11 families (44 participants) from the village of Chin Chiu, which is s upplied with water containing between 750 and 800 mu g/L inorganic arsenic. For comparison, 8 families (31 participants) were also selected from a vil lage where the water contains approximately 10 mu g/L inorganic arsenic. Af ter being transported to the nearest city for blind assessment, participant s were examined by four physicians with experience in studying arsenic-indu ced lesions. Four of the six men from the exposed village, who had been dri nking the contaminated water for more than 20 years, were diagnosed with sk in lesions due to arsenic, but none of the women had definite lesions. A 13 -year-old girl had definite skin pigmentation changes due to arsenic, and a 19-year-old boy had both pigmentation changes and keratoses on the palms o f his hands and the soles of his feet. Family interviews identified a wide range of fruits and vegetables consumed daily by the affected participants, as well as the weekly intake of red meat and chicken. However; the prevale nce of skin lesions among men and children in the small population studied was similar to that reported with corresponding arsenic drinking water conc entrations in both Taiwan and West Bengal, India-populations in which exten sive malnutrition has been thought to increase susceptibility.