Decrease in bladder cell micronucleus prevalence after intervention to lower the concentration of arsenic in drinking water.

Epidemiological studies performed in Taiwan, Argentina, and Chile suggest that ingestion of arsenic (As) may cause bladder cancer. Because of these findings, we previously investigated the relationship between As ingestion and genetic damage to the urothelium in two cross-sectional biomarker studies, one in Nevada and one in Chile. In both studies, we found that increased levels of micronucleated cells (MNCs) in exfoliated bladder cells were associated with elevated concentrations of As in drinking water, suggesting that As induces genetic damage to bladder cells. To further investigate this relationship, we conducted an intervention study in a subset of highly exposed men (n = 34) from the cross-sectional study in Chile. Subjects whose usual source of water contained about 600 micrograms/liter As were supplied with water lower in As (45 micrograms/liter) for 8 weeks, allowing ample opportunity for renewal and exfoliation of bladder epithelial cells. Mean urinary As levels decreased during the intervention from 742 to 225 micrograms/liter. Bladder MNC prevalence also decreased from 2.63 MNCs/1000 cells preintervention to 1.79 MNCs/1000 cells postintervention (P < 0.05). When the analysis was limited to individuals previously having subcytotoxic urinary As levels (< 700 micrograms/liter), the change between pre- and postintervention MNC was more pronounced: the level decreased from 3.54 to 1.47 MNCs/1000 cells, respectively (P = 0.002). Among smokers, MNC prevalences decreased from 4.45 MNCs/1000 cells preintervention to 1.44 MNCs/1000 cells postintervention (P = 0.002). Among nonsmokers, the decrease was much smaller: 2.04 MNCs/1000 cells preintervention to 1.90 MNCs/1000 cells postintervention (P = 0.25), suggesting that smoker's bladder cells could be more susceptible to genotoxic damage caused by As. The reduction in bladder MNC prevalence with reduction in As intake provides further evidence that As is genotoxic to bladder cells.