Assessment of renal dysfunction in workers previously exposed to mercury vapour at a chloralkali plant

• Published in: British Journal of Industrial Medicine Vol. 50; no. 10; pp. 881 - 887
• Main Authors: Ellingsen, D G, Barregård, L, Gaarder, P I, Hultberg, B, Kjuus, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01-10-1993; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Acetylglucosaminidase - urine; Adult; Aged; Albuminuria - chemically induced; Antibodies; Basement membrane; Chemical hazards; Chemical Industry; Glomerulonephritis; Humans; Immunology; Kidney - physiopathology; Kidney Diseases - chemically induced; Kidney Diseases - enzymology; Kidney Diseases - physiopathology; Male; Mercury - adverse effects; Mercury - urine; Mercury vapor; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases - chemically induced; Occupational Diseases - enzymology; Occupational Diseases - physiopathology; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational medicine; Referents; Storage time; Urine
• ISSN: 0007-1072; 1351-0711; 1470-7926
• DOI: 10.1136/oem.50.10.881

Urinary albumin concentration (U-alb) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (U-NAG) and glomerular basement membrane antibodies (a-GBMs) in serum samples were measured in 77 chloralkali workers previously exposed to mercury (Hg) vapour and 53 age matched referents. The exposure ceased on average 12.3 (range 1-35) years before the study. The mean exposure time was 7.9 (range 1.1-36.2) years. The mean yearly urinary Hg concentration (U-Hg) was 531 nmol/l. The concentrations of the urinary isoenzymes NAG A (U-NAG A) and NAG B (U-NAG B) were determined in 30 highly exposed subjects and 30 referents. No differences in U-alb or U-NAG, U-NAG A, or U-NAG B were found between the groups. Higher concentrations of a-GBMs were found among subjects who stopped exposure a short time before the study, but there was no association between a-GBMs and U-alb. The U-NAG and U-NAG A were negatively correlated with storage time. The results may suggest that microalbuminuria and enzymuria reported in subjects with ongoing exposure to Hg vapour are reversible in most instances.