DETECTION OF OCCUPATIONAL LEAD NEPHROPATHY USING EARLY RENAL MARKERS

Automotive use of leaded gasoline continues to be an important source of occupational exposure to lead in India and other countries. The pre sent study assessed the renal function and markers of early renal dama ge of 22 mechanics at three automobile garages. Urinary N-acetyl-3-D-g lucosaminidase activity and beta-2-microglobulin levels were significa ntly increased in auto garage mechanics with blood leads of 30-69 mu g /dL. A significant correlation was observed between blood lead levels and urinary N-acetyl-3-D-glucosaminidase activity bur not with urine b eta-2-microglobulin levels. A marginal impairment in creatinine cleara nce was nor statistically significant. Urinary N-acetyl-3-D-glucosamin idase activity offers a sensitive monitor of blood lead and renal tubu lar injury.