BIOLOGICAL MONITORING AND NEPHROTOXIC SUBSTANCES

Abstract

A long latent period elapses between the exposure to toxic substances, injuring the kidney and the development of advanced stages of kidney failure. As regards the biological monitoring of people exposed to nephrotoxic substances, we need precocious indicators of renal damages, able to avoid the onset of nephropathies. The aim of this study has been underlining these biological markers. We have considered two groups of workers: the first one made up of people exposed to aromatic poly cyclic hydrocarbons (APH). The second one was made up of people exposed to welding smokes. We have examined 240 male subjects. The entire sample has been subjected to the dosing of the following biological indicators: urinary NAG-AAP, creatininaemia, azotaemia, and proteinuria. The average of all the values obtained was compared to that one of other subgroups. We can state that NAG is a very sensitive and specific indicator of renal damage. Moreover, the determination of the β2 microglobin and the binding retinal protein can be useful for underlining renal alterations in subjects at risk, given that they are selective indicators of the tubular functions.