Effects of cadmium and lead exposure on urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, beta 2-microglobulin and metallothionein of workers.

Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), beta 2-microglobulin (BMG), metallothionein (MT) and creatinine (cre) in urine were measured in 36 male workers. Urinary Cd and Pb ranged from 0.2 to 9.7 and 0.1 to 4.8 micrograms/g cre with geometric means of 1.17 and 1.27 micrograms/g cre, respectively. Partial correlation coefficients between the logarithm of urinary Cd and that of NAG, BMG or MT controlling for pH and age were 0.460 (p < 0.01), 0.095 and 0.677 (p < 0.01), respectively. Partial correlation coefficients between the logarithm of Pb and that of NAG, BMG or MT controlling for pH and age were 0.040, 0.403 (p < 0.05) and -0.183, respectively. Multiple regression analysis was conducted on urinary NAG, BMG and MT using age, pH, log U-Cd and U-Pb. Log U-Cd was the only significant predictor variable of NAG (beta = 0.572; p < 0.01). Log U-Pb was the only predictor variable of BMG (beta = 0.386, p < 0.01). pH (beta = 0.286, p < 0.05) and Log U-Cd (beta = 0.839, p < 0.05) were significant predictor variables of MT.