Association between multiple metal(loid)s exposure and renal function: a cross-sectional study from southeastern...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Toxicology
• Nephrology

Background:

• Human populations are exposed to mixtures of essential and toxic metals.
• Previous studies show no consensus on the association between metal mixtures and renal function impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the association between exposure to multiple metals and renal function indicators in a general population.
• To investigate the joint and individual effects of metals within a mixture and their interactions on renal function.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed 11 metals (6 essential, 5 toxic) in 720 subjects from southeastern China.
• Measured serum uric acid (SUA), serum creatinine (SCR), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
• Employed generalized linear models, elastic net regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression.

Main Results:

• Metal mixture exposure was associated with increased SCR and decreased eGFR.
• Lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and nickel (Ni) were identified as primary contributors to declined renal function.
• Synergistic effects between Pb and molybdenum (Mo) on SUA, and antagonistic effects between Ni and cadmium (Cd) on SCR and eGFR were observed.

Conclusions:

• Combined exposure to multiple metals significantly impairs renal function.
• Reducing exposure to toxic metals (Pb, As, Cd) and essential metal Ni is recommended to protect kidney health.