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4670273 
Journal Article 
Abstract 
Effects of combined occupational cadmium and lead exposure on renal biomarkers 
Hambach, R; Droste, Jos; D'Haese, P; Lison, D; François, G; De Schryver, A; van Sprundel, M 
2012 
1 
Toxicology Letters
ISSN: 0378-4274
EISSN: 1879-3169 
211 
Suppl. 
S37 
English 
WOS:000305173900119 
Purpose: Recent research suggests adverse effects on the kidney at low cadmium concentrations in urine.

Methods: Concentrations of Cd in blood (Cd-B), Cd in urine (Cd-U), Pb in blood (Pb-B) and Pb in urine (Pb-U) as measure of exposure were determined in 132 workers by ICP-MS. Levels of the renal markers micro-albumin (μ-Alb), retinol binding protein (RBP), N-acetyl-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) and urinary intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) were measured as well.

Results and conclusions of the study: The geometric mean levels for Cd-B and Cd-U were 0.81 μg/l (95% CI: 0.71–0.92) and 0.51 μg/g creatinine (95% CI: 0.44–0.59), and for Pb-B and Pb-U 154.39 μg/l (95% CI: 141.77–168.14) and 5.73 μg/g creatinine (95% CI: 5.06–6.48), respectively. Multiple regression analysis with adjustment for age, smoking (pack-years) and hypertension, showed no significant associations between Cd-B, Cd-U or Pb-B and renal markers. However, adding interaction into the regression models showed a positive association between the interaction term Cd-B + Pb-B and NAG (p = 0.02) and IAP (p = 0.08). The results of the present study suggest that, while at low exposure levels no separate effects of Pb and Cd may exist, the combined exposure to Cd and Pb may result in synergistic adverse effects on renal markers of dysfunction. 
48th Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology (EUROTOX) 
Stockholm, Sweden 
June 17-20, 2012