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Aims of MHSR Journal

• To serve as an important medium for the publication of original research in the field of medical science and health research, thus filling gaps in health knowledge for effective utilization of research findings
• To impart current medical knowledge and updated scientific information obtained from research to health professionals for better and appropriate health care management
• To disseminate recent basic, applied and social research findings among health personnel of different strata for enhancing worldwide health development

Archives   2015

Myanmar   Health   Sciences   Research   Journal

Volume   27,  Number   3

TITLE:   The Relationship between Blood Arsenic Level and Cognitive Function of Adolescents in Nyaungdone Township, Ayeyawaddy Region
AUTHOR:   May Zin Tun, Cho Lwin Aung & Nwe Nwe Yee
SOURCE:   Myanmar Health Sciences Research Journal, Vol. 27, No. 3, 2015
ABSTRACT:   This study was aimed to find out the relationship between blood arsenic levels and its effect on cognitive function in 120 adolescents of mean age (16±1.9 years) who drank arsenic contaminated groundwater (10 to 200 µg/l) for more than 5 years in Mazali Village, Nyaungdone Township, Ayeyawaddy Region, Myanmar. The blood arsenic concentration was measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer(GF-AAS) and cognitive function was assessed by General Memory Scale (GMS). This is the first study that used GMS to relate with blood arsenic level in Myanmar. The blood arsenic level of study population ranged from 0 to 0.09 µg/ml and mean value was 0.03±0.02 µg/ml. Among study population, blood arsenic levels of 69 subjects (57.5%) were within normal range: 0-0.025 µg/ml and they were regarded as low arsenic group. Those of remaining 51 subjects (42.5%) were higher than normal blood arsenic level and they were regarded as high arsenic group. The duration of arsenic exposure in subjects of high arsenic group is significantly longer than that of low arsenic group (16±1.83 vs. 12±4.78, years, p<0.05). There were weakly inverse correlations between blood arsenic level (µg/ml) and Mental Control and Paired Associate Learning (n=120, r=-0.19, p<0.05), respectively. The mean score of Mental Control in low arsenic group was also significantly higher than that of high arsenic group (3.70±1.42 vs. 2.92±1.61, p<0.05). Moreover, total scores of cognitive function test in high arsenic group is significantly lower than that of low arsenic subjects (50.93±14.48 vs. 56.85±14.88, p<0.05). Therefore, this study suggested that prolonged drinking of arsenic contaminated water might effect on cognitive function.
SUBJECT HEADINGS:   Blood arsenic, Cognitive function, Adolescents
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