[An overview on biomarkers of arsenic-induced health hazardsan].

A series of molecular environmental epidemiological studies have been carried out to elucidate biomarkers of exposure, effect, and susceptibility for arsenic-related health hazards in Taiwan area in China. Arsenic levels in urine, hair, and nail could be biomarkers for short-term internal dose, skin hyperpigmentation and palmoplantar hyperkeratosis could be biomarkers for long-term (many years) internal dose, and percentage of monomethylarsonic acid in total metabolites of inorganic arsenic in urine could be considered as an exposure marker for biologically effective dose. The biomarkers of early biological effects of ingested inorganic arsenic could include blood levels of reactive oxidants and antioxidant capacity, genetic expression of inflammatory molecules, as well as cytogenetic changes including sister chromatid exchange, micronuclei, and chromosome aberrations of peripheral lymphocytes. Biomarkers of susceptibility to arsenic-induced health hazards could include genetic polymorphisms of enzymes involved in xenobiotic metabolism, DNA repair, and oxidative stress, as well as serum level of carotenoids. Gene-gene and gene-environment interactions could be involved in arsenic-induced health hazards through toxicological mechanisms including genomic instability and oxidative stress.