Renal and oxidative stress markers are affected by low cadmium levels in workers performing silver soldering

Hambach, Ramona

Wednesday, March 21, 2012: 16:00

Cozumel 1 (Cancun Center)

Ramona Hambach, University of Antwerp, Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Of Antwerp And Occupational Health Service Mensura, Antwerp-wilrijk, Belgium

Jos Droste, Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium

Guido Francois, Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

Patrick Dhaese, Laboratory of Pathophysiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

Dominique Lison, Unit of Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain, Belgium

Begona Manuel-y-keenoy, Laboratory of Nutrition and Functional Food Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium

Antoon De Schryver, Research & Development/Epidemiology and Social Medicine, IDEWE/University of Antwerp, Heverlee/Antwerpen, Belgium

Marc Van Sprundel, Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium

Introduction
Silver brazing activities expose workers to cadmium. Recent studies suggest adverse health effects at Cd concentrations in urine below 2.0 µg/g creatinine. The aim of this study was to assess cadmium, renal markers, and oxidative stress markers in such workers.

Methods
Concentrations of cadmium in blood (Cd-B) and urine (Cd-U) were determined in 36 refrigeration industry workers frequently brazing with silver alloys and in 29 non-exposed control subjects. Concentrations of renal markers (NAG, IAP, µAlb, β2MG, RBP in urine) and oxidative stress markers (d-ROM, AOPP, GPX, SOD in blood and 8-OHdG, isoprostanes in urine) were measured as well.

Results
Exposed workers had significantly higher concentrations of Cd-B and Cd-U as compared with non-exposed subjects: 1.45 µg/l (95% CI: 1.11-1.90) and 0.51 µg/g creatinine (95% CI: 0.32-0.80), respectively, versus 0.19 µg/l (95% CI: 0.14-0.26) and 0.14 µg/g creatinine (95% CI: 0.10-0.19), respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed a statistically significant positive correlation between IAP and Cd-B / Cd-U. In addition, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between concentrations of Cd-U and β2MG / dROM / SOD / 8OHdG. In contrast, an inverse, significant correlation was observed between Cd-U and GPX concentrations. Multiple regression analysis with adjustment for age, pack-years of smoking, hypertension, and urine creatinine concentrations indicated that IAP and 8-OHdG concentrations were both significantly associated with Cd-B and Cd-U concentrations. In addition, isoprostane levels were inversely and significantly associated with Cd-B and Cd-U levels. GPX concentrations were inversely and significant associated with only Cd-U concentrations.

Discussion
Relatively low Cd-B and Cd-U levels were found, besides significant associations between cadmium concentrations (in blood and urine) on the one side and markers of oxidative stress and renal dysfunction on the other side. This suggests early effects and offers opportunities to develop biomarkers of oxidative stress and renal dysfunction as tools for health effect surveillance.

A1450 Renal and oxidative stress markers are affected by low cadmium levels in workers performing silver soldering