Urinary Markers of Workers Chronically Exposed to Mercury Vapor

Authors: Abdennour C.¹; Khelili K.¹; Boulakoud M.S.¹; Nezzal A.²; Boubsil S.¹; Slimani S.¹

Source: Environmental Research, Volume 89, Number 3, July 2002 , pp. 245-249(5)

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Abstract:

The effects of chronic mercury intoxication on urinary markers in workers from northeast Algeria were investigated. Workmen were chosen from highly and moderately mercury-exposed factories, while controls were selected from a nonexposed site. The number of proteinuria cases were higher in the highly exposed subjects, although the nature (glomerular or tubular) of proteinuria remains unclear. However, it appears difficult to assess the degree of renal disturbance among the different exposure levels, such as the amount of excreted proteins, which have not clearly reflected the kidney lesion severity. The results also reveal that urine acidity increased progressively with increased levels of exposure, while a remarkable inverse relationship between urinary pH and urinary Hg in the highly exposed workers has been recorded. Furthermore, the significant differences in blood and urinary mercury concentrations of the three sites reflect the dose–response relationships. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).

Keywords: mercury; occupational medicine; proteinuria; toxicity; urinary markers.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Faculty of Sciences, University of Annaba, Annaba, 23000, Algeria 2: Occupational Medicine Centre, C.H.U., Annaba, 23000, Algeria

Publication date: 2002-07-01