Chromium-induced kidney disease

Journal Article · Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3431139· OSTI ID:5074483

Wedeen, R P ^[1]; Qian, Lifen ^[2]

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1. VA Medical Center, East Orange, NJ (United States)
2. New Jersey Medical School, Newark (United States)

Kidney disease is often cited as one of the adverse effects of chromium, yet chronic renal disease due to occupational or environmental exposure to chromium has not been reported. Occasional cases of acute tubular necrosis (ATN) following massive absorption of chromate have been described. Chromate-induced ATN has been extensively studied in experimental animals following parenteral administration of large doses of potassium chromate (hexavalent). The chromate is selectively accumulated in the convoluted proximal tubule where necrosis occurs. An adverse long-term effect of low-dose chromium exposure on the kidneys is suggested by reports of low molecular weight (LMW) proteinuria in chromium workers. Excessive urinary excretion of {beta}{sub 2}-microglobulin, a specific proximal tubule brush border protein, and retinol-binding protein has been reported among chrome palters and welders. However, LMW proteinuria occurs after a variety of physiologic stresses, is usually reversible, and cannot by itself be considered evidence of chromic renal disease. Chromate-induced ATN and LMW proteinuria in chromium workers, nevertheless, raise the possibility that low-level, long-term exposure may produce persistent renal injury. The absence of evidence of chromate-induced chromic renal disease cannot be interpreted as evidence of the absence of such injury.

• OSTI ID: 5074483
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States) Vol. 92; ISSN 0091-6765; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
CHROMATES
CHROMIUM 51
CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS
CHROMIUM ISOTOPES
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISEASES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
KIDNEYS
METABOLIC DISEASES
NECROSIS
NUCLEI
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TUBULES