Effect of Cadmium Exposure on the Potential for Impaired Kidney Function on the Manual Car Painting Industry

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the risk of cadmium (Cd) exposure from the car painting process against urinary cadmium levels (UCd) and urinary albumin (UAlb) in workers, which is one of the biomarkers of decreased kidney function. The research was conducted in the informal car painting industry in Bandung, with a cross-sectional method. This study used 60 respondents, 30 respondents as workers’ exposure, and 30 respondents as a control. Measurements of Cd exposure conducted using a personal sampling pump were equipped with PVC filter, which was placed on workers’ collar then analysed using AAS method. The measurements of UCd and UAlb carried out using urine sample 20 - 50 mL after day work. UCd analysis using UV-Visible Spectrophotometer and UAlb using the immunoturbidimetry method. This study’s results were 15 of 30 workers above the TLV-TWA from ACGIH, with a mean value of TWA was 2.043 µg/m3 for the exposed group and 0.135 µg/m3 for the control group. For UCd in the exposed group, the mean UCd was 0.028 µg/g creatinine and 0.003 µg/g creatinine in controls. The UAlb mean was 19.1 µg/mg creatinine for the painter group and 4.26 µg/mg creatinine on controls. The results of the analysis show that there are significant differences between the control group and the workers. It can be concluded that there has been a biomarker in the kidney so that it has a great potential in decreasing kidney function.
 HIGHLIGHTS
 
 Cadmium exposure of workers in the car painting industry has been assessed
 Urinary cadmium (UCd) and urinary albumin (UAlb) levels in workers have been discussed
 The occurrence of Biomarkers of Cadmium exposure has been discussed
 
 GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT