Urinary Effects of Metallic Air Pollutants on School Children

Abstract

Several urinary parameters were measured to determine the possible effects of cadmium and lead, as air pollutants, on the kidney function of exposed chil dren. Children from two nursery schools were investigated: the first group was located in the northern part of the city of Marseilles (NM), close to a wire factory and to an urban street; the second was in the village of La Tour d'Ai gues (TA), an unpolluted area. The metals were measured in the air both out side and inside the classrooms. Outdoor and indoor air levels of lead and cad mium were significantly higher in NM than in TA. All biological parameters remained within 'normal' values for the two groups of children. Urinary con centrations of δ-aminolevulinic acid, cadmium (UCd) and γ-glutamyltransfer ase (GGT) were significantly higher among the NM children than those of the TA group. The lack of correlation between GGT and UCd in the more highly exposed group suggests that GGT cannot be used as a marker of cadmium body burden in the case of low exposure. Beside metallic air pollution, other environmental factors (e.g. water, socio-economic conditions, food diet, envi ronmental tobacco smoke) and individual variability can explain the differ ence between the two groups. The results indicated no renal damage, but an extensive epidemiological survey is recommended among the exposed chil dren.