Renal function in dry cleaning workers exposed to perchloroethylene

Perchloroethylene (PCE) is a widely used dry cleaning and degreasing solvent. Although there is evidence in animals and humans for renal effects at extremely high doses, there are few studies of its potential renal toxicity at typical occupational concentrations. This study reports on the relationsh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAmerican journal of industrial medicine Vol. 20; no. 5; p. 601
Main Authors Solet, D, Robins, T G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 1991
Subjects
Acetylglucosaminidase - urine
Adult
Albuminuria - chemically induced
Blood Pressure - drug effects
Breath Tests
Humans
Kidney - drug effects
Kidney Diseases - chemically induced
Kidney Diseases - urine
Laundering
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Exposure - adverse effects
Occupational Exposure - analysis
Proteinuria - chemically induced
Regression Analysis
Tetrachloroethylene - adverse effects
Tetrachloroethylene - analysis
Tetrachloroethylene - pharmacology
Time Factors
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Summary:Perchloroethylene (PCE) is a widely used dry cleaning and degreasing solvent. Although there is evidence in animals and humans for renal effects at extremely high doses, there are few studies of its potential renal toxicity at typical occupational concentrations. This study reports on the relationship of PCE in breath and estimates of chronic exposure with the urinary ratios of total urinary protein, albumin, and n-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) to creatinine in dry cleaning workers exposed to PCE. Regression models including one or more exposure variables, demographic variables, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and the presence of diseases affecting kidney function were examined. Urine samples, breath samples, exposure histories, and medical histories were obtained from 192 dry cleaning workers. The results failed to demonstrate any consistent relationship between exposure and renal outcome variables. However, protein/creatinine and albumin/creatinine were significantly, although weakly and positively, associated with MAP; NAG/creatinine was weakly but significantly positively associated with age; mean NAG/creatinine was also higher in non-whites. The reasons why an association between exposure and renal outcome was not found are discussed.
ISSN:0271-3586
DOI:10.1002/ajim.4700200504