[Environmental exposure of the Wroclaw inhabitants to nickel and assessment of its nephrotoxic effects].

The aim of the research was to evaluate the environmental exposure of Wroclaw inhabitants on nickel compounds and an assessment of their nephrotoxic effects. The study was realized in a group of 74 inhabitants of the Wroclaw's district Krzyki and compared with a group of 24 inhabitants of the countryfield Kobierzyce community located in the 20 km distance from Wroclaw. A nickel concentration was measured in morning urine of all the Wroclaw inhabitants, whereas nephrotoxicity indices were determined in the 26 inhabitants characterised by the increased nickel concentration (2.8 micrograms/l); in urine of 19 inhabitants this concentration was found to be normal. The average nickel concentration in the urine of the 74 Wroclaw inhabitants was equal to 2.85 +/- 0.22 micrograms/l. 40.5% of this group were characterised by the concentration higher than the physiological one, 4.05% of this group had that concentration higher than 7.9 micrograms/l which gives an evidence of the environmental exposure. In the Kobierzyce group the average nickel concentration in urine was 3.34 +/- 0.23 micrograms/l which is significantly higher (at p < or = 0.001) than that for the Wroclaw group. Moreover, in the Kobierzyce group, 62.5% inhabitants was higher the nickel concentration than the physiological one but still lower than the environmental exposure. Our results indicate that the Wroclaw inhabitants are not more exposed to nickel compounds in comparison with the countryside inhabitants. A nephrotoxic action of nickel was detected through the increased excretion of the sialic acid in urine which is an evidence of the reduced glomelural filtration. A positive correlation between the urine nickel concentration and the urine free sialic acid was found (r = 0.61). No increase in the urine N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), isoenzyme NAG-B, beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2 M) and retinal binding protein (RBP) concentrations were found which could indicate a damage in kidney tubules.