Arsenic exposure associated with anthropometry and anemia in children aged one to eleven years in the peruvian Pancán-Jauja district

Huamán Guadalupe E.R.; Villanes Aliaga N.Y.; Robles Iriarte G.R.; Deza Quispe J. · Nutricion Clinica y Dietetica Hospitalaria (2026) · DOI: 10.12873/461erhuaman

Resumen

Introduction: Childhood anemia remains the most critical nutritional deficiency in the rural highlands of Peru due to its association with maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, it involves multiple causal factors, including nutritional and environmental deficiencies. Environmental factors such as exposure to arsenic in drinking water have been linked to the problem. Objective: To analyze the association between arsenic exposure and anemia in children aged 1 to 11 years in the district of Pancán-Jauja. Material and methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 100 children. Urine samples were collected to measure arsenic levels using atomic absorption spectrometry, and hemoglobin levels were measured using capillary blood with a hemoglobinometer. Anthropometric values were also evaluated, and age groups and sex were considered. Ordinal logistic regression was used to assess the association. Results.- 83% presented arsenic levels ≥35 μg/L. Additionally, 37% presented with anemia. Among them, 43.2% of girls and 23.2% of boys had anemia and high arsenic levels. Logistic regression analysis showed no association with arsenic exposure but did show an association with length-for-age and a significant trend with age group, sex, BMI, and anemia symptoms. Furthermore, anemia was more likely in boys, children aged 6 to 23 months, children with obesity and short stature, and those with symptoms consistent with anemia. Conclusions: No significant association was found between arsenic levels and anemia. However, the percentage of anemia was higher in exposed children compared to those with lower arsenic levels. Furthermore, ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that length-for-age in children is significantly associated with anemia.

Instituciones: Universidad Tecnológica del Perú; Universidad Nacional del Centro del Perú