Modulation of renal function indices of the occupationally lead exposed Bangladeshi automobile workers

This study aims to compare serum uric acid (SUr) and renal function indices such as serum urea (SU), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (SCr), urinary creatinine (UCr) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of the lead exposed automobile workers with healthy controls and evaluates association of serum lead (Pb-S) with renal function.

Of the total 70 male individuals included in this study, 45 were automobile workers and 25 were age and BMI matched healthy controls. For all the participants, levels of serum lead and their renal function indices were measured using standard assay methods.

Automobile workers (n=45) had significantly higher (p=0.001) level of Pb-S (40.5±11.2 μg/dL) compared to age and BMI matched healthy controls (n=25, 29.7±10.1 μg/dL). Workers had lower levels of SU, SCr, BUN and UCr (p<0.01) but higher GFR (p=0.117) than controls. Both groups had similar levels of SUr (6.6±1.9 vs 6.9±1.1 mg/dL, respectively). Pb-S in workers demonstrated no relationship with any of the individual renal function indices. Linear regression analysis showed a positive relation of Pb-S of the workers with SCr and GFR, while BMI was negatively correlated. SUr showed a positive correlation with SCr and GFR in the workers while control subjects did not.

These data indicated modulation of renal function indices among the occupationally lead exposed Bangladeshi automobile workers.