Top

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Published in:

01-04-2011 | Original Article

Renal impairment caused by chronic occupational chromate exposure

Authors: Tiancheng Wang, Guang Jia, Ji Zhang, Yanhui Ma, Weiyue Feng, Lanzheng Liu, Ning Zhang, Lei Yan, Xiang Wang, Xueyan Zhang, Zihong Liu, Xianmei Du, Sen Zhen

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 4/2011

Abstract

Purpose

To determine the nephritic toxicity of chromate after chronic occupational exposure.

Methods

The environmental contamination was assessed by measuring the chromium (Cr) in 8-h airborne sampler. The integrated level of Cr was determined by Cr concentrations in the whole blood (WB-Cr) and the urine (U-Cr). The renal glomerular and tubule impairment was evaluated by determination of cystatin C (Cys-C) in the serum and microalbumin (mALB), urinary beta₂-microglobulin (β₂M), N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity in the urine.

Results

The mean occupational exposure time to Cr was 12.86 years with average daily air level of 27.13 μg/m³ comparing to 0.11 μg/m³ of the background level. The WB-Cr and U-Cr were 23.49 μg/L and 17.41 μg/g creatinine (Cre), respectively in the chromate-exposed workers comparing to 3.32 μg/L and 1.52 μg/g Cre in the controls. The serum Cys-C and urinary mALB were significantly increased in the chromate-exposed workers. Exposure to Cr seems to induce an enhanced level of urinary NAG activity and β₂M concentration. The increased serum Cys-C concentration was positively correlated with the level of serum Cre. The U-Cr was positively correlated to the concentrations of urinary mALB, β₂M, and the activity of NAG.

Conclusions

Chronic occupational exposure to chromate causes comprehensive renal impairment though more severity could occur in the tubule than in the glomeruler.

Agras PI, Derbent M, Ozcay F, Baskin E, Turkoglu S, Aldemir D, Tokel K, Saatci U (2005) Effect of congenital heart disease on renal function in childhood. Nephron Physiol 99:10–15CrossRef

Appenroth D, Bräunlich H (1988) Age dependent differences in sodium dichromate nephrotoxicity in rats. Exp Pathol 33:179–185

Assadi FK (2005) Value of urinary excretion of microalbumin in predicting glomerular lesions in children with isolated microscopic hematuria. Pediatr Nephrol 20:1131–1135CrossRef

Awad H, el-Safty I, Abdel-Gawad M, el-Said S (2003) Glomerular and tubular dysfunction in children with congenital cyanotic heart disease: effect of palliative surgery. Am J Med Sci 325:110–114CrossRef

Bagchi D, Stohs SJ, Downs BW, Bagchi M, Preuss HG (2002) Cytotoxicity and oxidative mechanisms of different forms of chromium. Toxicology 180:5–22CrossRef

Berndt WO (1976) Renal chromium accumulation and its relationship to chromium-induced nephrotoxicity. J Toxicol Environ Health 1:449–459CrossRef

Birmingham DJ, Rovin BH, Shidham G, Bissell M, Nagaraja HN, Hebert LA (2008) Relationship between albuminuria and total proteinuria in systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis: diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 3:1028–1033CrossRef

Bonde JP, Vittinghus E (1996) Urinary excretion of proteins among metal welders. Hum Exp Toxicol 15:1–4CrossRef

Brzóska MM, Kamiński M, Supernak-Bobko D, Zwierz K, Moniuszko-Jakoniuk J (2003) Changes in the structure and function of the kidney of rats chronically exposed to cadmium. I. Biochemical and histopathological studies. Arch Toxicol 77:344–352

Costa M, Klein CB (2006) Toxicity and carcinogenicity of chromium compounds in humans. Crit Rev Toxicol 36:155–163CrossRef

De Mattia G, Bravi MC, Laurenti O, De Luca O, Palmeri A, Sabatucci A, Mendico G, Ghiselli A (2004) Impairment of cell and plasma redox state in subjects professionally exposed to chromium. Am J Ind Med 46:120–125CrossRef

Evan AP, Dail WG Jr (1974) The effects of sodium chromate on the proximal tubules of the rat kidney. Fine structural damage and lysozymuria. Lab Invest 30:704–715

Foa V, Riboldi L, Patroni M, Zocchetti C, Sbrana C, Mutti A (1988) Effects derived from long-term low-level chromium exposure in ferro-alloy metallurgy. Study of absorption and renal function in workers. Sci Total Environ 71:389–400CrossRef

Franchini I, Mutti A (1988) Selected toxicological aspects of chromium (VI) compounds. Sci Total Environ 71:379–387CrossRef

Franchini I, Mutti A, Cavatorta A, Corradi A, Cosi A, Olivetti G, Borghetti A (1978) Nephrotoxicity of chromium. Remarks on an experimental and epidemiological investigation. Contrib Nephrol 10:98–110

Gao M, Levy LS, Faux SP, Aw TC, Braithwaite RA, Brown SS (1994) Use of molecular epidemiological techniques in a pilot study on workers exposed to chromium. Occup Environ Med 51:663–668CrossRef

Holmes AL, Wise SS, Wise JP Sr (2008) Carcinogenicity of hexavalent chromium. Indian J Med Res 128:353–372

Kazama JJ, Kutsuwada K, Ataka K, Maruyama H, Gejyo F (2002) Serum cystatin C reliably detects renal dysfunction in patients with various renal diseases. Nephron 91:13–20CrossRef

Kim E, Na KJ (1991) Nephrotoxicity of sodium dichromate depending on the route of administration. Arch Toxicol 65:537–541CrossRef

Kirschbaum BB, Sprinkel FM, Oken DE (1981) Proximal tubule brush border alterations during the course of chromate nephropathy. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 58:19–30CrossRef

Lindberg E, Vesterberg O (1983a) Urinary excretion of proteins in chromeplaters, exchromeplaters and referents. Scand J Work Environ Health 9:505–510

Lindberg E, Vesterberg O (1983b) Monitoring exposure to chromic acid in chromeplating by measuring chromium in urine. Scand J Work Environ Health 9:333–340

Lindberg E, Vesterberg O (1989) Urinary excretion of chromium in chromeplaters after discontinued exposure. Am J Ind Med 16:485–492

Littorin M, Welinder H, Hultberg B (1984) Kidney functions in stainless steel welders. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 53:279–282CrossRef

Liu KJ, Shi X (2001) In vivo reduction of chromium (VI) and its related free radical generation. Mol Cell Biochem 222:41–47CrossRef

Liu CS, Kuo HW, Lai JS, Lin TI (1998) Urinary N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase as an indicator of renal dysfunction in electroplating workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 71:348–352CrossRef

Mandiwana KL, Panichev N, Resane T (2006) Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of total and hexavalent chromium in atmospheric aerosols. J Hazard Mater 36:379–382CrossRef

McAughey JJ, Samuel AM, Baxter PJ, Smith NJ (1988) Biological monitoring of occupational exposure in the chromate pigment production industry. Sci Total Environ 71:317–322CrossRef

Mojiminiyi OA, Abdella N, George S (2000) Evaluation of serum cystatin C and chromogranin A as markers of nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 60:483–489CrossRef

Mutti A, Lucertini S, Valcavi P, Neri TM, Fornari M, Alinovi R, Franchini I (1985) Urinary excretion of brush-border antigen revealed by monoclonal antibody: early indicator of toxic nephropathy. Lancet 26:914–917CrossRef

Nagaya T, Ishikawa N, Hata H, Takahashi A, Yoshida I, Okamoto Y (1994) Early renal effects of occupational exposure to low-level hexavalent chromium. Arch Toxicol 68:322–324CrossRef

Newman DJ, Thakkar H, Edwards RG, Wilkie M, White T, Grubb AO, Price CP (1995) Serum cystatin C measured by automated immunoassay: a more sensitive marker of changes in GFR than serum creatinine. Kidney Int 47:312–318CrossRef

Ortiz F, Harmoinen A, Paavonen T, Koskinen P, Grönhagen-Riska C, Honkanen E (2008) Is Cystatin C more sensitive than creatinine in detecting early chronic allograft nephropathy? Clin Nephrol 70:18–25

Ozer BA, Dursun B, Baykal A, Gultekin M, Suleymanlar G (2005) Can cystatin C be a better marker for the early detection of renal damage in primary hypertensive patients? Ren Fail 27:247–253

Pedersen RS, Mørch PT (1978) Chromic acid poisoning treated with acute hemodialysis. Nephron 22:592–595CrossRef

Royle H (1975) Toxicity of chromic acid in the chromium plating industry (1). Environ Res 10:39–53CrossRef

Sarmiento-González A, Marchante-Gayón JM, Tejerina-Lobo JM, Paz-Jiménez J, Sanz-Medel A (2008) High-resolution ICP-MS determination of Ti, V, Cr, Co, Ni, and Mo in human blood and urine of patients implanted with a hip or knee prosthesis. Anal Bioanal Chem 391:2583–2589CrossRef

Sjögren B, Hedström L, Ulfvarson U (1983) Urine chromium as an estimator of air exposure to stainless steel welding fumes. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 51:347–354CrossRef

Stout MD, Herbert RA, Kissling GE, Collins BJ, Travlos GS, Witt KL, Melnick RL, Abdo KM, Malarkey DE, Hooth MJ (2009) Hexavalent chromium is carcinogenic to F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice after chronic oral exposure. Environ Health Perspect 117:716–722

Thomas LD, Hodgson S, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Jarup L (2009) Early kidney damage in a population exposed to cadmium and other heavy metals. Environ Health Perspect 117:181–184

Tola S, Kilpiö J, Virtamo M, Haapa K (1977) Urinary chromium as an indicator of the exposure of welders to chromium. Scand J Work Environ Health 3:192–202

Uzun H, Ozmen Keles M, Ataman R, Aydin S, Kalender B, Uslu E, Simsek G, Halac M, Kaya S (2005) Serum cystatin C level as a potentially good marker for impaired kidney function. Clin Biochem 38:792–798CrossRef

Verschoor MA, Bragt PC, Herber RF, Zielhuis RL, Zwennis WC (1988) Renal function of chrome-plating workers and welders. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 60:67–70CrossRef

Vyskocil A, Smejkalova J, Tejral J, Emminger S, Vincentova M, Ettlerova E, Lauwerys R, Bernard A (1992) Lack of renal changes in stainless steel welders exposed to chromium and nickel. Scand J Work Environ Health 18:252–256

Vyskocil A, Viau C, Cízková M, Truchon G (1993) Kidney function in male and female rats chronically exposed to potassium dichromate. J Appl Toxicol 13:375–376CrossRef

Wang X, Qin Q, Xu X, Xu J, Wang J, Zhou J, Huang S, Zhai W, Zhou H, Chen J (1994) Chromium-induced early changes in renal function among ferrochromium-producing workers. Toxicology 90:93–101CrossRef

Wang AH, Zhu SM, Qiu YL, Zhu R, Qu YB, Li YL, Brandt-Rauf PW, Xia ZL (2008a) CYP2E1 mRNA expression, genetic polymorphisms in peripheral blood lymphocytes and liver abnormalities in Chinese VCM-exposed workers. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 21:141–146CrossRef

Wang J, Sim AS, Wang XL, Salonikas C, Moriatis M, Naidoo D, Wilcken DE (2008b) Relations between markers of renal function, coronary risk factors and the occurrence and severity of coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis 197:853–859CrossRef

Wang HJ, Du XM, Wang M, Wang TC, Ou-Yang H, Wang B, Zhu MT, Wang Y, Jia G, Feng WY (2010) Using ion-pair reversed-phase HPLC ICP-MS to simultaneously determine Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in urine of chromate workers. Talanta 81:1856–1860CrossRef

Wedeen RP, Qian LF (1991) Chromium-induced kidney disease. Environ Health Perspect 92:71–74CrossRef

Wedeen RP, Haque S, Udasin I, D’Haese PC, Elseviers M, De Broe ME (1996) Absence of tubular proteinuria following environmental exposure to chromium. Arch Environ Health 51:321–323CrossRef

Wedeen RP, Udasin I, Fiedler N, D’Haese P, De Broe M, Gelpi E et al (1999) Urinary biomarkers as indicators of renal disease. Ren Fail 21:241–249CrossRef

Title: Renal impairment caused by chronic occupational chromate exposure
Authors: Tiancheng Wang
Guang Jia
Ji Zhang
Yanhui Ma
Weiyue Feng
Lanzheng Liu
Ning Zhang
Lei Yan
Xiang Wang
Xueyan Zhang
Zihong Liu
Xianmei Du
Sen Zhen
Publication date: 01-04-2011
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 4/2011
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-010-0569-4

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Renal impairment caused by chronic occupational chromate exposure

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 4/2011

Cancer morbidity in Swedish dry-cleaners and laundry workers: historically prospective cohort study

Burnout risk in medical students in Spain using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey

Association of occupation with prevalent hypertension in an elderly East German population: an exploratory cross-sectional analysis

The impact of the 2008 financial crisis on psychological work stress among financial workers and lawyers

Cyclododecane exposure in the field of conservation and restoration of art objects

Job strain, effort-reward imbalance and ambulatory blood pressure: results of a cross-sectional study in call handler operators