Environmental metal exposures and kidney function of Guatemalan sugarcane workers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Exposure to environmental metals can cause nephrotoxicity. There is an international epidemic of chronic kidney disease of unknown cause (CKDu). Whether metal exposures contribute to kidney dysfunction in populations at risk for CKDu remains unresolved.

Objective

Urinary metals (arsenic, cadmium, nickel, and uranium) were examined in 222 sugarcane cutters in Guatemala at three time points over 1 year.

Methods

We explored the relationships between metal concentrations and markers of kidney function using multivariable linear mixed-effect models.

Results

Arsenic, cadmium, and nickel were detected in the majority of the 340 urine samples and were generally within limits previously considered to be nonnephrotoxic. Nevertheless, higher urine cadmium was i

SUBMITTER: Butler-Dawson J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8371072 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature