Effect of mercury vapour exposure on urinary excretion of calcium, zinc and copper: relationship to alterations in functional and structural integrity of the kidney

Abstract

Hg vapour exposure leads to renal alterations which may parallel the change in proteinuria and enzymuria as well as the increased loss in urine of each of Ca, Zn and Cu. The urinary assessment of these metals may be used as a good indicator for renal dysfunction.

Reference values for cobalt, copper, manganese, and nickel in urine among women of the general population in Japan

“…The levels were reported in terms of AM and ASD in some cases (Minoia et al 1990;Kristiansen et al 1997;El-Safty et al 2002;Forte et al 2004), and GM and GSD values were estimated by use of the moment method (Sugita and Tsuchiya 1995) so that all levels were expressed in terms of GMs and GSDs as far as possible; medians were cited as a surrogate of GMs in two publications (Smith-Sivertsen et al 1998;Myers et al 2003). The size of the population was large, i.e., 300 or more, when urine samples were collected for epidemiology purpose (e.g., Minoia et al 1990;Paschal et al 1998;CDCP 2005), whereas the number was limited when collection was made as the non-exposed group to be compared with the group of occupationally exposed subjects (e.g., El-Safty et al 2002;Forte et al 2004).…”

“…The size of the population was large, i.e., 300 or more, when urine samples were collected for epidemiology purpose (e.g., Minoia et al 1990;Paschal et al 1998;CDCP 2005), whereas the number was limited when collection was made as the non-exposed group to be compared with the group of occupationally exposed subjects (e.g., El-Safty et al 2002;Forte et al 2004). The values were arranged in an increasing order in the tables without separating the two types of collection.…”

Household Air Pollution, Levels of Micronutrients and Heavy Metals in Cord and Maternal Blood, and Pregnancy Outcomes

“…Zinc, folic acid, and vitamins are essential micronutrients that play important roles in DNA transcription and methylation. One-carbon metabolism, an essential metabolic process that ultimately provides the methyl group for DNA methylation reactions, requires adequate intake of methyl-donor nutrients such as folate and methylation cofactors including vitamin B12 and zinc [27], but some of these micronutrients, for instance, zinc are antagonized by heavy metals such as lead and mercury [28]. Folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies cause DNA hypo methylation, a defect that leads to chromosome loss [29,30].…”

Impact of occupational exposure to elemental mercury on some antioxidative enzymes among dental staff

“…The role of the kidneys in the excretion of toxic substances from the body means that the kidneys are a target organ for many toxic substances and renal effects have been used as an early indicator of environmental exposure to many heavy metals and solvents (De Burbure et al, 2003;El-Safty et al, 2002;Ritchie et al, 2004) but the long-term effects on this organ have not yet been determined with certainty.…”