Determination of Environmental Exposure to Microcystin and Aflatoxin as a Risk for Renal Function Based on 5493 Rural People in Southwest China

Abstract

Although the nephrotoxicity of microcystin and aflatoxin has been observed in animal and clinical cases, few population data are available. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Southwest China to investigate the association of renal function indicators (RFIs, including BUN, SCr, and eGFR) with exposure to microcystin and aflatoxin in 5493 members of the general population. Microcystin-LR levels in water and aquatic products and aflatoxin B1 levels in daily foods were measured by ELISA, and individual estimated daily intake (EDI) was assessed on the basis of the measurement and questionnaire. We found that participants with abnormal RFIs had a much higher mean level of microcystin-LR EDI than those with normal RFIs and that there was a significant increasing trend for abnormal rates and odds ratios of RFIs with increasing microcystin-LR EDI quartiles (p for trend = 0.000). Compared with the lowest quartile of microcystin-LR exposure, those in the highest quartile had significantly higher risks of abnormal BUN (OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.34-2.42), SCr (OR = 4.58, 95% CI = 2.92-7.21), and eGFR (OR = 4.41, 95% CI = 2.55-7.63), respectively, but no higher risk was found in subjects with higher AFB1 exposure. After adjustment for confounding factors, risk associations with microcystin-LR persisted. Consequently, our results suggest that microcystin, rather than aflatoxin, might be one important risk of renal-function impairment.

Survey of health literacy level and related influencing factors in military college students in Chongqing, China: A cross-sectional analysis

“…For these indicators, years in college was divided into junior (years 1–2) or senior (years 3–4), a smoker was defined as someone who had smoked at least one cigarette per day for more than six months or quitting less than six months prior to recruitment [25]; a drinker was defined as someone who drinks alcohol at least once a week for more than six months [25]. …”

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adults with liver function injury in rural area of Southwest China: A cross-sectional study

“…Briefly, from June to July in 2013, 6467 people aged from 30 to 85 years old and having lived in Lidu and Yihe for at least 10 years were recruited in the study. Among them, 5493 individuals (2067 men and 3426 woman) who completed the questionnaires and clinical examinations were included in the study 20 .…”

“…The assessment of microcystin and aflatoxin exposure was performed according to the methods previously described 20, 44 . Briefly, 5 L of eight types of source water and drinking water, and five types of carp were collected once a month for microcystin-LR analysis.…”

“…We used the data from a cross-sectional study on hepatocellular carcinoma in the Three Gorge Reservoir of China in 2013 to estimate the prevalence of MetS in the adult population in the rural area of Southwest China, where there is a higher prevalence of HBV infection and a wide contamination of AFB1 and MC-LR as we previously reported 20 , to describe the association between the risk factor for ALF and MetS, and to analyze the modification effects of liver function injury.…”

Chronic Microcystin-LR Exposure Induces Hepatocarcinogenesis via Increased Gankyrin in Vitro and in Vivo

“…MC-LR influences the structure and function of the liver, kidney, brain, testicle, and thyroid gland in animals [2][3][4][5][6]. In addition, we have previously reported that MC-LR impaired liver and kidney function in humans [7,8].…”