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 47-54Subject Categories
Clinical Medicine
Cell and Molecular Biology
Environmental Health and Occupational Health
DOI
10.1016/j.envres.2009.10.010
PubMed
19931045