DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF NEW SCREENING-TESTS FOR NEPHROTOXIC EFFECTS

Within the framework of an European Commission-funded project, groups of industrial workers exposed to heavy metals (cadmium, mercury and le ad) or solvents were studied together with corresponding control group s. Eighty-one measurements were carried out on urine and serum samples and the scientific results together with individual questionnaire inf ormation were entered into a central database, Data obtained was asses sed centrally and individually in subsidiary studies. The measurable c ontributions were assessed either singly or in combination, of smoking , gender, metal exposure and site, to nephrotoxicity. The potential va lue of each test as an indicator of nephrotoxicity was then assessed o n the basis of sensitivity and specificity. A number of new tests incl uding prostaglandins and for extracellular matrix components were inve stigated as well as established tests for renal damage and dysfunction . The data obtained from this comprehensive study emphasises the value of noninvasive biomarkers for the early detection of nephrotoxicity d ue to environmental toxins. The urinary profile varied with the type o f environmental/occupational toxin. By careful selection of a small pa nel of markers they can be used to indicate the presence of renal dama ge, the principal region affected, and to monitor the progress of dise ase and damage. Biomarkers were also used to confirm and tentatively e stablish safe exposure levels to nephrotoxins.