Lack of renal changes in stainless steel welders exposed to chromium and nickel.
Biochemical markers of kidney damage were examined in 52 male stainless steel welders (manual metal arc welding) exposed to chromium and nickel. No difference was found in the mean urinary excretion of total proteins, albumin, protein 1, transferrin, retinol-binding protein, lactate dehydrogenase, lysozyme, or beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase in a comparison with matched referents. Beta 2-microglobulin was slightly increased in those welders with a urinary chromium concentration of greater than 64.5 nmol.mmol-1 creatinine. The prevalences of abnormal values did not differ from those observed in the reference group. No correlation was found between the concentrations of chromium or nickel in urine and that of proteins or enzymes. No consistent or clinically significant renal impairment was revealed among the stainless steel welders exposed to a chromium air concentration slightly above the current threshold limit value of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists for water-soluble hexavalent chromium compounds (50 micrograms.m-3).
Vyskocil
A
A
Charles University, Hradec Kralové, Czechoslovakia.
Smejkalova
J
J
Tejral
J
J
Emminger
S
S
Vincentova
M
M
Ettlerova
E
E
Lauwerys
R
R
Bernard
A
A
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002857:Chromium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D007683:Kidney Tubular Necrosis, Acute / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000139:chemically induced; D012307:Risk Factors; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014896:Welding
D002857:Chromium; D013193:Stainless Steel; D009532:Nickel