Assessment of renal dysfunction in workers previously exposed to mercury vapour at a chloralkali plant.
Urinary albumin concentration (U-alb) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (U-NAG) and glomerular basement membrane antibodies (a-GBMs) in serum samples were measured in 77 chloralkali workers previously exposed to mercury (Hg) vapour and 53 age matched referents. The exposure ceased on average 12.3 (range 1-35) years before the study. The mean exposure time was 7.9 (range 1.1-36.2) years. The mean yearly urinary Hg concentration (U-Hg) was 531 nmol/l. The concentrations of the urinary isoenzymes NAG A (U-NAG A) and NAG B (U-NAG B) were determined in 30 highly exposed subjects and 30 referents. No differences in U-alb or U-NAG, U-NAG A, or U-NAG B were found between the groups. Higher concentrations of a-GBMs were found among subjects who stopped exposure a short time before the study, but there was no association between a-GBMs and U-alb. The U-NAG and U-NAG A were negatively correlated with storage time. The results may suggest that microalbuminuria and enzymuria reported in subjects with ongoing exposure to Hg vapour are reversible in most instances.
Ellingsen
D G
DG
Department of Occupational Medicine, Telemark Central Hospital, Porsgrunn, Norway.
Barregård
L
L
Gaarder
P I
PI
Hultberg
B
B
Kjuus
H
H
D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000652:urine; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000139:chemically induced; D002617:Chemical Industry; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase; D008628:Mercury