title: Cadmium-induced renal tubular dysfunction in a group of welders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occupational exposure to welding fumes has been associated with several diseases including metal fume fever, lung cancer, welder's pneumoconiosis and manganism. However, there are few reports on cadmium-induced renal tubular dysfunction in welders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the body burden of cadmium and cadmium-induced proteinuria in a group of Chinese welders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cadmium concentrations in the breathing zone and in urine were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. β(2)-microglobulin (β(2)-MG) in urine as a marker of renal tubular function was measured using an ELISA kit. All urinary parameters were adjusted by urinary creatinine (Cr).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 103 welders participated. The concentration of airborne cadmium in the welders' breathing zones ranged from 5 to 86 μg/m(3), and 17% of samples exceeded the threshold limit value. Six welders' urinary cadmium levels exceeded the Chinese recommended reference value. Urinary β(2)-MG levels increased significantly with increasing urinary cadmium levels and in two welders, the values were close to the level for chronic cadmium poisoning in China.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Environmental and urinary cadmium levels were raised in this group of welders and were associated with raised markers of renal tubular dysfunction. The exact source of the cadmium warrants further assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, School of Radiation Medicine and Public Health, Soochow University, Suzhou Industrial Park, Renai Road 199, Suzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002681:China; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000652:urine; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D014896:Welding
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D002104:Cadmium; D003404:Creatinine