OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of chronic occupational arsenic exposure on thyroid homeostasis and endothelial dysfunction using an integrated biomarker approach. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 85 arsenic-exposed male workers and 85 controls. Urinary arsenic was measured as an exposure biomarker. Thyroid hormones and endothelial biomarkers were analyzed. Correlation and multivariable regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Exposed workers had lower triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels and higher thyroid-stimulating hormone levels (all P < 0.001). ADMA and SDMA concentrations were significantly elevated. Urinary arsenic correlated with endocrine and endothelial biomarkers and independently predicted ADMA (β = 0.009) and SDMA (β = 0.003) (both P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic occupational arsenic exposure is associated with concurrent endocrine and endothelial alterations, supporting integrated biomarker-based surveillance in occupational health.
Büyükşekerci et al. (Mon,) studied this question.