Circadian rhythms in the urinary excretion of heavy metals and organic substances in metal workers in relation to renal excretory mechanism: profile analysis

Summary Circadian rhythms in the urinary excretion of eleven heavy metals and organic substances were examined under free, water-restrictive and water-loading conditions for 6 d (2 d for each of the three conditions) in twenty metal workers exposed to lead, zinc and copper. Circadian rhythms were found for all heavy metals and organic substances as well as for urinary flow (UF) rate, creatinine (Cn) and total urinary solutes (TUS). The Cn rhythm was significantly unparallel to the OF rhythm under the water-loading condition, indicating that the two rhythms were essentially different from each other. Circadian rhythms of the eleven urinary substances were then related to the Cn and OF rhythms, using profile analysis. The results indicated that the rhythms in the manganese, chromium, copper and beta-2-microglobulin excretion depend on the Cn rhythm, i.e. the rhythm of glomerular filtration; the rhythms in the hippuric acid, delta-aminolevulinic acid and TUS excretion are on the OF rhythm, i.e. the rhythm of reabsorption by the distal tubule and collecting duct. On the other hand, the rhythms in the lead, inorganic mercury, cadmium, zinc and coproporphyrin excretion were considered as reflecting complex renal excretory mechanisms.