ORIGINAL PAPER
Study of arsenic exposure in oral/oropharyngeal carcinoma in West Bengal
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1
Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, Kolkata, India
(Department of Genetics)
2
Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, Kolkata, India
(Department of ENT-Head and Neck Surgery)
3
Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, India
(Department of Haematology)
4
Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India
(Department of Anatomy)
5
Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, Kolkata, India
(Department of Biochemistry)
Online publication date: 2017-03-17
Corresponding author
Pritha Pal
Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Genetics, 99 Sarat Bose Road, Kolkata 700026, India
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2017;30(2):271-9
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: To study any possible correlation between arsenic toxicity and the development of oral carcinoma in West Bengal
population. Material and Methods: Ethical clearance for this study was obtained from the Vivekananda Institute of Medical
Sciences. Out of 30 785 patients attending our hospital from November 2012 to July 2015, 107 cases and 50 control individuals
were selected. The hair and buccal smear samples were obtained upon their consent for the purpose of the analysis of
arsenic count and cytogenetic damage, respectively. Results: Ninety-six percent of cases came from the highly arsenic affected
districts and 81.3% showed their arsenic count above the safe limit (0.8 μg/g) whereas 96% of the controls’ arsenic count was
within the safe limit. The study showed a significant difference of the micronuclei and apoptosis frequency between the cases
and controls. Conclusions: The difference of micronuclei and apoptosis frequency between cases and controls was significant.
The maximum number of cases came from highly arsenic affected areas and a higher percentage of cases showed elevated
arsenic count, as compared to controls, which may indicate a possible link between arsenic toxicity and this disease. However,
a larger sample size is required for a proper correlation. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(2):271–279