Kidney effects in long term exposed lead smelter workers.

Abstract

signs of renal impairment were found among Occupational exposure to lead may cause the workers. No correlations of clinical kidney damage. This study was carried out on a importance existed between concentrations of cohort of 70 active and 30 retired long'term-U-albumin,; f-Ii2-m, and U:.NAG activity -on exposed lead smelter workers. Their kidney the one hand and the concentrations of B-Pb, function was compared with 31 active and 10 cumulative blood lead index, U-Pb, and lead retired truck assembly workers who had no concentrations in the calcaneus and tibia on occupational exposure to lead. The lead the other, among lead workers and controls. workers had been regularly followed up with Despite many years of moderate to heavy measurements of lead concentration in blood exposure to lead, particularly for the retired since 1950. Previous exposure to lead was cal-lead workers, no signs of adverse effects on the culated as a time integrated blood lead index kidney such as early tubular or glomerular for each worker. Blood and urine samples were malfunction were found. Reversible changes in obtained from all subjects. The concentration kidney function during the 1950s and 1960s of lead in blood (B-Pb) and urine (U-Pb) was could not be excluded, however, due to a analysed. The urinary concentrations of greater exposure to lead during that time. several sensitive indicators of early tubular (U-p,-microglobulin (U-p2-m); U-N-acetyl-p-Inorganic lead is widely distributed. As well as glucosaminidase (U-NAG)) and glomerular exposure from the general environment, exposure to kidney damage (U-albumin) were determined. lead may occur in lead mines, lead smelting and The B-Pb and U-Pb values were significantly refining operations, storage battery factories, brass higher among active and retired lead workers foundries, and glass works. In the working environcompared with their corresponding control ment exposure may occur both through inhalation groups. The highest concentrations were found and through ingestion of contaminated food, drinks, among the active lead workers. The concentra-and snuff. tions of the parameters of kidney function The Ronnskar smelter in the northern part of investigated were of the same magnitude for Sweden has specialised in the processing of complex exposed workers and controls. No clinical and contaminated raw materials. In addition to the

Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbo-contaminated soils, comprehensive report, December 1999

“…While high exposure to lead is known to affect kidney function, one group of workers with median blood lead values of 1.54 µmol/L had no abnormal signs of kidney function. This study does not rule out the possibility that reversible kidney damage may have occurred in the past, when exposures were higher (Gerhardsson et al, 1992).…”

Associations of Patella Lead and Other Lead Biomarkers With Renal Function in Lead Workers

“…Blood lead was not associated with any of the renal outcomes. Gehardsson and colleagues 18 found no significant correlations between NAG and either calcaneus or tibia lead in 70 current or 30 retired lead workers.…”

“…This pattern of progression has been observed in rats with high lead exposure, 19 although less so with lower lead exposure. 20 The mean ages of the lead workers in the studies cited above were 43.6 17 and 37.4 years, 18 respectively. The mean age of workers in our oldest tertile was 54.1 years and the mean age of the Normative Aging population was 67.0 years.…”

Avaliação da exposição ocupacional ao chumbo em uma metalúrgica um estudo transversal

“…Alguns estudos demonstraram a contaminação, principalmente de crianças, através do material particulado em casario antigo pintado com tinta a base de chumbo, proximidade de autoestrada e do contato direto com o solo 7,-9 . As principais fontes de exposição ocupacional ao chumbo são representadas principalmente pelas minerações, fundições e refinarias de chumbo, fábricas de baterias (acumuladores), indústria cerâmica e fundições de metais não ferrosos [10][11][12][13] , encontradas com grande freqüência em diversos estados brasileiros, inclusive na Bahia.…”