Urinary N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase as an indicator of renal dysfunction in electroplating workers

• Published in: International archives of occupational and environmental health Vol. 71; no. 5; pp. 348 - 352
• Main Authors: LIU, C.-S, KUO, H.-W, LAI, J.-S, LIN, T.-I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.07.1998
• Subjects: Acetylglucosaminidase - urine; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - urine; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Chromium - adverse effects; Electroplating; Humans; Kidney Diseases - chemically induced; Kidney Diseases - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Occupational Exposure; Reference Values; Toxicology; Human; Urine; Biological fluid; Urinary system disease; Enzyme; Toxicity; β-N-Acetylhexosaminidase; Biological marker; Occupational exposure; Kidney; Biological monitoring; Heavy metal; Glycosidases; Chromium; Hydrolases; Electrodeposition; O-Glycosidases; Occupational medicine
• ISSN: 0340-0131; 1432-1246
• DOI: 10.1007/s004200050291

To investigate chromium-induced renal dysfunction in electroplating workers. A cross-sectional study was used to evaluate four biochemical markers of renal function. A total of 178 workers were divided into 3 comparable groups consisting of 34 hard-chrome plating workers, 98 nickel-chrome electroplating workers. and 46 aluminum anode-oxidation workers, who represented the reference group. Ambient and biological monitoring of urinary chromium were performed to measure exposure concentrations. Overall, urinary chromium concentrations were highest among hard-chrome plating workers (geometric mean 2.44 microg/g creatinine), followed by nickel-chrome electroplating workers (0.31 microg/g creatinine) and aluminum workers (0.09 microg/g creatinine). Airborne chromium concentrations were also highest in the hard-chrome plating area (geometric mean 4.20 microg/m3), followed by the nickel-chrome electroplating area (0.58 microg/m3) and the aluminum area (0.43 microg/m3). A positive correlation was found between urinary chromium and airborne concentrations (r=0.54, P < 0.01). Urinary concentrations of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were also highest among hard-chrome plating workers (geometric mean 4.9 IU/g creatinine), followed by nickel-chrome workers (3.4 IU/g creatinine) and aluminum workers (2.9 IU/g creatinine). The prevalence of "elevated" NAG (>7 IU/g creatinine) was significantly highest among hard-chrome plating workers (23.5%), then among nickel-chrome workers (7.1%) and aluminum workers (8.7%). Differences in beta2-microglobulin, total protein, and microalbumin were not significant. The author's evidence indicates that NAG is an early indicator of renal dysfunction in hard-chrome plating workers.