This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by EL-Safty, I. A. Articles by Shouman, A. E Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by EL-Safty, I. A. Articles by Shouman, A. E Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Effect of mercury vapour exposure on urinary excretion of calcium, zinc and copper: relationship to alterations in functional and structural integrity of the kidney

Biochemistry Sec., Chemistry Dept., Faculty of Education, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, elsafty54{at}yahoo.com

Mohsen Gadallah

Department of Commun. Environ. Occup. Med., Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Ahmed Shafik

Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt

Ahmed E Shouman

Department of Commun. Environ. Occup. Med., Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Background: The kidney has a remarkable capacity to concentrate mercury (Hg) and as such is a primary target organ when exposure to Hg occurs, and it is also an organ for Hg excretion. Objective: The present work aims to investigate the effect of occupational Hg vapour exposure on the urinary excretion of calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu), and the possible association of this excretion to work duration as well as renal alterations. Methods: 83 non-smoker participants (36 referents, age: 35.69 ^/ 9.5 years; 27 Hg vapour-exposed workers with 5 ^/ 10 years work duration, age: 33.09 ^/ 5.1 years; and 20 Hg vapour-exposed workers with] ^/ 11 years work duration, age: 39.509 ^/ 8.50 years) were included in the present study. Urinary levels of microalbumin (U-Malb) and retinol-binding protein (U-RBP) as well as cytosolic glutathione S-transferase activity (U-GST) were measured to assess the glomerular and proximal tubular reabsorption functions as well as structural integrity of proximal tubules; respectively. In addition, blood Hg (B-Hg), serum levels of Hg (S-Hg) and Ca (S-Ca), and urinary levels of Hg (U-Hg), Ca (U-Ca), Zn (U-Zn), Cu (U-Cu) and creatinine (U-cr) were estimated. Results: In comparison to referents, all investigated parameters showed significant increase (except S-Ca and U-Zn/U-Cu ratio that significantly decreased among the workers as one group, S-Ca and U-Zn/U-Cu ratio that significantly and nonsignificantly decreased; respectively among workers with 5 ^/ 10 years work duration, S-Ca and U-Zn/U-Cu ratio that significantly decreased among workers with] ^/ 11 years work duration). In addition, B-Hg was nonsignificantly increased and S-Ca was significantly decreased; also, both U-Hg and U-Zn/U-Cu were nonsignificantly decreased among workers with] ^/ 11 years work duration in comparison to those with 5 ^/ 10 years work duration. Also, each of U-Hg, U-Ca, U-Zn and U-Cu was related to one another, while each of U-Ca, U-Zn and U-Cu was related to each of U-Malb, U-RBP and U-GST (except U-Zn was not related to U-GST). Conclusion: Hg vapour exposure leads to renal alterations which may parallel the change in proteinuria and enzymuria as well as the increased loss in urine of each of Ca, Zn and Cu. The urinary assessment of these metals may be used as a good indicator for renal dysfunction.

Key Words: calcium • copper • glutathione S-transferase • mercury vapour • microalbuminuria • nephrotoxicity • retinol-binding protein • Zinc

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?