Integrated Endocrine–Endothelial Biomarker Alterations in Chronic Occupational Arsenic Exposure
Murat BÜYÜKŞEKERCİ, Servet Birgin İRİTAŞ, Lütfiye TUTKUN, Melih Gaffar GÖZÜKARA, Deniz Özkan VARDAR, Serdar DENİZ, Özgür ÖZTAN, Vugar Ali TÜRKSOY, Engin TUTKUNObjective:
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.