Measurements of Chemical Elements in Occupationally Exposed Hair and Their Correlation with Nephrotoxicity Markers in Urine

The possibility of early detection of subclinical changes in the organism of individuals occupationally exposed to chronic action of chemical toxins is a continual Subject of study. The analysis of metals in hair is a permanent record of length of exposure and metal circulation. However, such analysis alone cannot be used for the diagnosis of disease. In the presented work we determined the concentrations of Pb, As, Ni, and V in the hair and neutrophil lipocalin (NGAL) in urine, and conducted the correlation between these chemical elements and specific nephrotoxicity indicators in urine: NGAL, N-acetyl- beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG, its isoform NAG-B), beta-galactosidase (beta-GAL), beta-glucuronidase (beta-Gr), alanylaminopeptidase (AAP), glutathione transferases (alpha and pi GST), beta(2)-microglobulin (beta M-2), retinol binding protein (RBP), sialic acids (SIA), albumins and total protein. The studies were conducted on 29 employees of the Polish Fuel Company and on 19 healthy individuals without occupational exposure to chemicals.