title: Is a long term work in automotive industry a risk factor for renal dysfunction?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disorders of renal system can cause renal failure; therefore screening is necessary especially in workers who are exposed to harmful materials. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hazardous exposures are non-occupational and occupational risk factors for renal diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the effects of working in automotive industry on renal function in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a historical cohort study, workers of automotive industry who worked in production and had low exposure to metal fumes were selected and divided to three groups with 5-10, 11-20, and 21-30 years work duration. risk factors for renal diseases were collected and analyzed with SPSS using one-way ANOVA, correlation coefficient and with P < 0.05 and relative risk with a confidence interval (CI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The means of work duration in Groups (A), (B) and (C) were 9.8 (0.6), 13.8 (2.0), 22.3 (1.6) years respectively with ANOVA (F) =187.864 and P < 0.01. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 59.75 (0.70), 59.16 (1.52) and 59.10 (2.23) in Groups (A), (B), and (C) respectfully The relative risk of creatinine clearance, uric acid and mean blood pressure were the highest in Group (B); 1.970 - CI, 0.541-7.169, 1.571 95% CI: 0.198-12.470, and 1.519 95% CI: 0.425-5.426, but the differences were not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GFRs were decreased with work duration, but the differences were not significant. Working in automotive Industry with low exposure to toxic metals and solvents has no significant effect on GFR, creatinine clearance, uric acid, and mean blood pressure.
authors: Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Health Sciences Research Center, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors: Seyedeh Negar
authors: SN
authors: Assadi
keywords: Creatinine clearance; Glomerular filtration rate; Kidney disorders; Uric acid; Work duration