| Abstract: | Occupational hydrocarbon exposure is believed by some investigatorsto play an important role in the development of several non-neoplasticrenal diseases. In view of the continuing debate in this areaof nephrology we adopted a cross-sectional approach by investigatingthe prevalence of clinical or sub-clinical renal dysfunctionin subjects chronically exposed to hydrocarbons at their worksite. Three groups of healthy men working in different and separateareas of a major car manufacturing plant in the North-west ofEngland participated in the study. Group 1 comprised 112 paintsprayers with exposure to paint-based hydrocarbons, group 2comprised 101 volunteers working in the transmission area ofthe plant with exposure to petroleum-based mineral oils, andgroup 3 comprised 92 automated press operators with minimalbackground exposure to lubricants who acted as internal controls.Early markers of renal dysfunction such as serum creatinine,urinary total protein, albumin, transferrin, retinol bindingprotein, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, |
