Renal and Neurologic Effects of Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, and Arsenic in Children: Evidence of Early Effects and Multiple Interactions at Environmental Exposure Levels

• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.8202
• Publication Date: 2005-10-20T13:37:06Z
• Authors: Claire de Burbure; Jean-Pierre Buchet; Ariane Leroyer; Catherine Nisse; Jean-Marie Haguenoer; Antonio Mutti; Zdenek Smerhovský; Miroslav Cikrt; Malgorzata Trzcin...; Grazyna Razniewska; Marek Jakubowski; Alfred Bernard
• Keywords: Mercury; Methylmercury

Lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic are common environmental pollutants in industrialized countries, but their combined impact on children's health is little known. We studied effects two main targets, the renal dopaminergic systems, > 800 children during a cross-sectional European survey. Control exposed were recruited from those living around historical nonferrous smelters France, Czech Republic, Poland. Children provided blood urine samples for determination of metals sensitive or neurologic biomarkers. Serum concentrations creatinine, cystatin C, β2-microglobulin negatively correlated with lead levels (PbB), suggesting an early hyperfiltration that averaged 7% upper quartile PbB (> 55 μg/L; mean, 78.4 μg/L). The urinary excretion retinol-binding protein, Clara cell N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase was associated mainly cadmium mercury. All four influenced markers serum prolactin homovanillic acid, complex interactions brought to light. Heavy polluting environment can cause subtle systems without clear evidence threshold, which reinforces need control regulate potential sources contamination by heavy metals.