title: The effects of rhodium on the renal function of female Wistar rats.
abstract: In recent years, the increased use of rhodium (Rh) as an active catalyst material in modern three-way automobile catalytic converters has led to a parallel rise in environmental levels of this metal. In spite of this, the literature contains few studies of the effects of Rh on human health. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of Rh on the renal function of female Wistar rats. Our findings show that sub-acute exposure to six increasing concentrations, ranging from 0.001 to 1 mg L(-1), of Rh (III) chloride hydrate in drinking water does not induce alterations in urinary albumin levels, while, at concentrations from 0.1 to 1 mg L(-1), a significant rise in urinary levels of Retinol Binding Protein is evident and an increasing trend in urinary β2-microglobulin, which becomes significant at 1 mg L(-1), is observed. These results therefore demonstrate a nephrotoxic action of Rh at tubular level in a wide range of doses. Interestingly, because of the recent increase in environmental Rh levels, these findings may have relevant implications both for occupationally exposed subjects and for the general population, especially children.
authors: Institute of Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: iavicoli.ivo@rm.unicatt.it.
authors: Ivo
authors: I
authors: Iavicoli
authors: Institute of Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: veruscka@email.it.
authors: Veruscka
authors: V
authors: Leso
authors: Institute of Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: lfontana73@yahoo.it.
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Fontana
authors: Epidemiology Unit, Occupational Medicine Department, Research Division, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Via Alessandria, 220/E, 00198 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: a.marinaccio@inail.it.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Marinaccio
authors: Institute of Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: bergamaschi@rm.unicatt.it.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Bergamaschi
authors: Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Morrill I, N344, Amherst, MA 01003, USA. Electronic address: edwardc@schoolph.umass.edu.
authors: Edward J
authors: EJ
authors: Calabrese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012238:Rhodium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D012238:Rhodium
keywords: Albumin; Kidney; Rats; Retinol Binding Protein; Rhodium; β2-Microglobulin