Summary
A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine whether exposure to hydrocarbons in a shoe factory may produce renal effects that can be detected by determination of the urinary excretion of proteins and enzymes. The study population included 59 women who had been exposed to petroleum naphtha and toluene and 24 age-matched control women. The time-weighted average exposure to petroleum naphtha, toluene and ethyl-acetate was 1,619, 81 and 160 mg/m3, respectively. The integrity of the renal structures or functions was assessed by measuring the urinary excretion of total protein, beta2-microglobulin, retinol-binding protein, albumin, transferrin, lysozyme, lactate dehydrogenase and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG). The only parameter that was significantly influenced by hydrocarbon exposure was the urinary activity of beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase. Although the health significance of this renal change, which was not accompanied by changes in the urinary excretion of low- or high-molecular-weight proteins, is unclear, the results of the present study are in agreement with our previous observations suggesting that long-term moderate exposure to solvents does not entail a significant risk for the development of nephrotoxicity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Askergen A, Allgren LG, Karlsson C, Lundberg I, Nyberg E (1981) Studies on kidney functions in subjects exposed to organic solvents: I. Excretion of albumin and beta2-microglobulin in the urine. Acta Med Scand 209:479–483
Bernard A, Lauwerys R (1983) Continuous flow system for the automation of latex immunoassay. Clin Chem 29:1007–1011
Bernard A, Lauwerys R (1989) Cadmium, NAG activity, and beta2-microglobulin in the urine of cadmium pigment workers. Br J Ind Med 46:679–680
Churchil DN, Fine A, Gault MH (1983) Association between hydrocarbon exposure and glomerulonephritis. An appraisal of the evidence. Nephron 83:167–172
Franchini I, Cavatorta A, Falzoi M, Lucertini S, Mutti A (1983) Early indicators of renal damage in workers exposed to organic solvents. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 52:1–9
Henry RJ, Cannon DC, Winhelman JW (1974) Clinical chemistry: principles and techniques, 2nd edn. Harper and Row, New York, pp 552–554
Hotz P, Pilliod J, Bernard A, Berode M, Rey F, Mazzocato C, Guillemin M, Boillat MA (1990) Hydrocarbon exposure hypertension and kidney function tests. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 62:501–508
Lauwerys R, Herbrand J, Buchet JP, Bernard A, Gaussin J (1983) Health surveillance of workers exposed to tetrachlorethylene in dry cleaning shops. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 52:69–77
Lauwerys R, Bernard A, Viau C, Buchet JP (1985) Kidney disorders and hematotoxicity from organic solvent exposure. Scand J Work Environ Health 11 [Suppl 1]:83–90
Litwack G (1955) Photometric determination of lysozyme activity. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 39:401–403
Mehlman MA, Hemstreet CP, Thorpe JJ, Weaver NK (1984) Renal effects of petroleum hydrocarbons. Advances in modern environmental toxicology, vol 7. Princeton Scientific, Princeton, New Jersey
Mutti A, Lucertini S, Falzoi M, Cavatorta A, Franchini I (1981) Organic solvents and chronic glomerulonephritis: a cross-sectional study with negative findings for aliphatic and alicyclic C5–C7 hydrocarbons. J Appl Toxicol 1:224–226
Ng TP, Ong SG, Lam WK, Jones MG, Cheung CK, Ong CN (1990) Urinary levels of proteins and metabolites in workers exposed to toluene. A cross-sectional study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 62:43–46
Normand JC, Bernard A, Buchet JP, Roels H, Michaux J, De Wandeler V, Lauwerys R (1990) Recherche d'anomalies rénales infracliniques chez les travailleurs des deux entreprises productrices de peintures. Arch Mal Prof 51:261–266
Tucker SM, Boyd PJR, Thompson AE, Price RG (1975) Automated assay of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase in normal and pathological urine. Clin Chim Acta 62:333–339
Viau C, Bernard A, Lauwerys R, Quaeghebeur L, Cornu ME, Phillips SC, Mutti A, Lucertini S, Franchini I (1987) A cross-sectional survey of kidney function in refinery employees. Am J Ind Med 11:177–187
Viau C, Bernard A, De Russis R, Ouled A, Maldague P, Lauwerys R (1987) Evaluation of the nephrotoxic potential of styrene in man and in the rat. J Appl Toxicol 7:313–316
Vyskocil A, Emminger S, Malir F, Fiala Z, Ettlerova E, Bernard A (1989) Lack of nephrotoxicity of styrene at current TLV level (50ppm). Int Arch Occup Environ Health 61:409–411
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vyskocil, A., Popler, A., Skutilova, I. et al. Urinary excretion of proteins and enzymes in workers exposed to hydrocarbons in a shoe factory. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 63, 359–362 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381588
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381588