High risk for neural tube defects; the role of arsenic in drinking water and rice in Asia

Neural tube defects (NTDs) affect>300,000 children annually worldwide. The incidence of NTDs in Northern India (7.7/1000), is tenfold higher than in the US (0.7/1000). Higher rates were previously reported in Northern China. The causes of these trends have not been elucidated. Arsenic is a teratogen shown in animals to induce NTDs. The main potential sources for environmental arsenic exposure, groundwater and rice as a staple food, are high in India and China.
Source: Medical Hypotheses - Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Source Type: research