Effect of occupational lead-exposure on blood pressure, serum aldosterone level and plasma renin activity

The present study aimed to investigate the association between occupational lead-exposure and elevated blood pressure as well as serum aldosterone level and plasma renin activity as parameters affecting blood pressure. Fifty occupationally lead-exposed [16 males and 34 females] and 50 non-exposed [15 males and 34 females] workers were selected after the application of certain exclusion criteria. All workers were admitted to complete clinical examination including standard blood pressure measurement. Also, blood lead level, serum aldosterone concentration and plasma reran activity were estimated. The results of both occupationally lead-exposed males and females demonstrated no significant differences regarding age, work duration, systolic and diastolic blood pressures when compared with occupationally non- exposed males and females, respectively. In addition, occupationally lead-exposed males and females revealed a significant increase in blood lead level and serum aldosterone concentration compared with controls. Moreover, plasma renin activity is significantly decreased among the lead-exposed male workers; while it is significantly increased among the lead-exposed female workers in comparison with the controls

Occupational lead exposure and kidney functions

Cases included 90 workers occupationally exposed to lead for a period of 15 +/- 3.2 years. An equal number of controls were selected from workers who had never reported occupational expoure to lead. Levels of current as well as remote exposure to lead were higher among exposed compared to the controls. Total urinary protein levels were nearly the same in both groups but urinary alpha 1 microglobulin was significantly higher in the exposed group. The high levels of the alpha 1 microglobulin were positively correlated with blood lead levels, urinary sigma amino levulinc acid, hair lead concentrations and duration of exposure to lead. All lead exposure parameters as well as urinary alpha microglobulin returned back to levels comparable to those of the controls after cessation of exposure for 120 days

Early detection of nephrotoxic effects due to low-dose exposure of cadmium among cigarette smokers

The effects of low-level exposure to cadmium due to cigarette smoking on renal function were judged by the estimation of urinary levels of total proteins, cadmium, alpha-1-microglobulin [alpha1 M] and glutathione S-transferase [GST] activity among 50 males [38 smokers and 12 control. non-smokers]. Elevated urinary cadmium levels [2.408-28.160; 9.31 +/- 7.1 micro g cd/gm urine creatinine] were observed among the majority of smokers [24 cases, 63.16%] and these levels showed a positive correlation with age and smoking index. Furthermore, urine total proteins [115.18-652.14, 242.89 +/- 121.88 mg Protein/gm urine creatinine] were increased suggesting glomerular involvement among 20 cases [52.63%] of smokers. In addition, urinary alpha1 M levels [14.645-86.053; 34.05 +/- 16.83 mg alpha1 M /gm urine creatinine] and urinary GST activity [0.0-0.008; 0.00015 +/- 0.0002 micro mol/min/100 micro1/gm urine creatinine] were elevated among 18 [47.37%] and 20 [52.63%] cages of smokers respectively. Since urinary alpha1 M and GST originate from renal proximal tubules, the data of the present investigation could reflect early low-level cadmium exposure nephrotoxic effect on both the glomeruli and tubules