title: Early detection of nephrotoxic effects due to low-dose exposure of cadmium among cigarette smokers.
abstract: The effects of low-level exposure to cadmium due to cigarette smoking on renal function were judged by the estimation of urinary levels of total proteins, cadmium, alpha-1-microglobulin (alpha1M) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity among 50 males (38 smokers and 12 control non-smokers). Elevated urinary cadmium levels [2.408-28.160; 9.31 +/- 7 .1 microg Cd/gm urine creatinine] were observed among the majority of smokers (24 cases, 63.16%) and these levels showed a positive correlation with age and smoking index. Furthermore, urine total proteins [115.18-652.14; 242.89 +/- 121.88 mg protein/gm urine creatinine) were increased suggesting glomerular involvement among 20 cases (52.63%) of smokers. In addition, urinary alpha1M levels (14.645-86.053; 34.05 +/- 16.83 mg alpha1M/gm urine creatinine) and urinary GST activity [0.0-0.008; 0.00015 +/- 0.0002 micromol/min/100 microl/gm urine creatinine] were elevated among 18 (47.37%) and 20 (52.63%) cases of smokers respectively. Since urinary alpha1M and GST originate from renal proximal tubules, the data of the present investigation could reflect early low-level cadmium exposure nephrotoxic effect on both the glomeruli and tubules.
authors.affiliation: Biochem. Sec., Chem. Dept., Faculty of Education, Ain-Shams Univ., Egypt.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: El-Safty
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Shouman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anwar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004534:Egypt; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000209:etiology; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium