Cadmium, mercury, and lead in kidney cortex of living kidney donors: Impact of different exposure sources.
Journal article, 2010

BACKGROUND: Most current knowledge on kidney concentrations of nephrotoxic metals like cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), or lead (Pb) comes from autopsy studies. Assessment of metal concentrations in kidney biopsies from living subjects can be combined with information about exposure sources like smoking, diet, and occupation supplied by the biopsied subjects themselves. OBJECTIVES: To determine kidney concentrations of Cd, Hg, and Pb in living kidney donors, and assess associations with common exposure sources and background factors. METHODS: Metal concentrations were determined in 109 living kidney donors aged 24-70 years (median 51), using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (Cd and Pb) and cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (Hg). Smoking habits, occupation, dental amalgam, fish consumption, and iron stores were evaluated. RESULTS: The median kidney concentrations were 12.9microg/g (wet weight) for cadmium, 0.21microg/g for mercury, and 0.08microg/g for lead. Kidney Cd increased by 3.9microg/g for a 10 year increase in age, and by 3.7microg/g for an extra 10 pack-years of smoking. Levels in non-smokers were similar to those found in the 1970s. Low iron stores (low serum ferritin) in women increased kidney Cd by 4.5microg/g. Kidney Hg increased by 6% for every additional amalgam surface, but was not associated with fish consumption. Lead was unaffected by the background factors surveyed. CONCLUSIONS: In Sweden, kidney Cd levels have decreased due to less smoking, while the impact of diet seems unchanged. Dental amalgam is the main determinant of kidney Hg. Kidney Pb levels are very low due to decreased exposure.

Middle Aged

Kidney Transplantation

Lead

Body Burden

drug effects

Cadmium

pharmacokinetics

Aged

pathology

Biopsy

Humans

Spectrophotometry

Kidney Cortex

analysis

Male

pharmacokinetics

Living Donors

standards

Smoking

toxicity

analysis

Adult

toxicity

Atomic

Female

pharmacokinetics

Environmental Exposure

Young Adult

Mercury

toxicity

analysis

Age Factors

Diet

metabolism

analysis

Author

Lars Barregård

University of Gothenburg

Elisabeth Fabricius-Lagging

University of Gothenburg

Thomas Lundh

Johan Mölne

University of Gothenburg

Maria Wallin

University of Gothenburg

Michael Olausson

University of Gothenburg

Cecilia Modigh

University of Gothenburg

Gerd Sallsten

University of Gothenburg

Environmental Research

0013-9351 (ISSN) 1096-0953 (eISSN)

Vol. 110 1 47-54

Subject Categories

Clinical Medicine

Cell and Molecular Biology

Environmental Health and Occupational Health

DOI

10.1016/j.envres.2009.10.010

PubMed

19931045

More information

Created

10/10/2017