title: Occupational factors and renal disease.
abstract: The male-to-female ratio of patients requiring dialysis treatment commonly approaches 2:1. It is proposed that environmental factors, particularly occupational exposure to hydrocarbons, may account for the excess number of male patients. The term "hydrocarbon" refers to the aliphatic, alicyclic, aromatic, and halogenated hydrocarbons (carbon tetrachloride, chloroform); glycols (ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dioxane, glycerol); and organic solvents. Hydrocarbons commonly find use as solvents in industrial manufacturing practices because of their lipid solubility. Hydrocarbons have long been known to be neurotoxicants, affecting both peripheral and central nervous systems. Although benzene and its derivative have a known association with uroepithelial tumors, there is now a considerable body of evidence suggesting a possible role for hydrocarbon exposure in the development of non-neoplastic renal diseases. This article presents an epidemiological case for such an association and critically reviews the literature.
authors.affiliation: Royal Liverpool University Hospital, U.K.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yaqoob
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons