Relationship between renal function and metal exposure of residents living near the No. 6 Naphtha Cracking Complex: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Heavy metals impair renal function, causing chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the petrochemical industry is one of the major environmental metal emission sources. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between renal function and metal exposure among the Taiwanese residents living near a petrochemical industry site. We recruited residents near the No. 6 Naphtha Cracking Complex, and they were categorized into a high-exposure (HE) group (N=190) in Taisi Village and a low-exposure (LE) group (N=1184) in other villages of Dacheng Township in Changhua County of Taiwan. The urinary nickel, chromium, and vanadium levels of the study subjects were measured and the levels were standardized by urine creatinine, and the estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) were calculated to estimate renal function by one-time health data. Linear regression models were applied to illustrate the correlations between the distance to the complex and urinary metal levels and renal function; linear and logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the associations between urinary metal levels and renal function indicators. The study subjects living closer to the petrochemical complex had significantly higher urinary nickel, chromium, and vanadium levels and worse renal function than study subjects living farther away. The urinary nickel and chromium levels of the study subjects were associated with their renal function indicators. When the subject's urinary nickel level increased 1-fold, the eGFR level significantly decreased by 0.820ml/min/1.73m2. Residents living closer to the petrochemical industry were exposed to higher metal levels and had worse renal function, and the nickel exposure of residents was potentially related to their decline in renal function.