ABSENCE OF TUBULAR PROTEINURIA FOLLOWING ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE TO CHROMIUM

Certain chromium compounds are known to be nephrotoxic, but renal dama ge from long-term environmental or occupational exposure to chromium h as not been documented. To detect possible preclinical renal damage, w e tested the urine of 55 lifelong residents of an area contaminated wi th chromium landfill. The levels of four proteins were determined in u rine samples: (1) human intestinal alkaline phosphatase, (2) tissue no nspecific alkaline phosphatase, (3) N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, a nd (4) microalbumin. No elevated levels of proteins were found, and th ere were no significant correlations between urine protein and urine c hromium concentrations. We concluded that long-term environmental expo sure to chromium dust did not lead to tubular proteinuria.