TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of rhodium on the renal function of female Wistar rats
AU - Iavicoli, Ivo
AU - Leso, Veruscka
AU - Fontana, Luca
AU - Marinaccio, Alessandro
AU - Bergamaschi, Antonio
AU - Calabrese, Edward J.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - In recent years, the increased use of rhodium (Rh) as an active catalyst material in modern three-way automobile catalytic converters has led to a parallel rise in environmental levels of this metal. In spite of this, the literature contains few studies of the effects of Rh on human health. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of Rh on the renal function of female Wistar rats. Our findings show that sub-acute exposure to six increasing concentrations, ranging from 0.001 to 1mgL(-1), of Rh (III) chloride hydrate in drinking water does not induce alterations in urinary albumin levels, while, at concentrations from 0.1 to 1mgL(-1), a significant rise in urinary levels of Retinol Binding Protein is evident and an increasing trend in urinary β2-microglobulin, which becomes significant at 1mgL(-1), is observed. These results therefore demonstrate a nephrotoxic action of Rh at tubular level in a wide range of doses. Interestingly, because of the recent increase in environmental Rh levels, these findings may have relevant implications both for occupationally exposed subjects and for the general population, especially children.
AB - In recent years, the increased use of rhodium (Rh) as an active catalyst material in modern three-way automobile catalytic converters has led to a parallel rise in environmental levels of this metal. In spite of this, the literature contains few studies of the effects of Rh on human health. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of Rh on the renal function of female Wistar rats. Our findings show that sub-acute exposure to six increasing concentrations, ranging from 0.001 to 1mgL(-1), of Rh (III) chloride hydrate in drinking water does not induce alterations in urinary albumin levels, while, at concentrations from 0.1 to 1mgL(-1), a significant rise in urinary levels of Retinol Binding Protein is evident and an increasing trend in urinary β2-microglobulin, which becomes significant at 1mgL(-1), is observed. These results therefore demonstrate a nephrotoxic action of Rh at tubular level in a wide range of doses. Interestingly, because of the recent increase in environmental Rh levels, these findings may have relevant implications both for occupationally exposed subjects and for the general population, especially children.
KW - RHODIUM
KW - RHODIUM
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/56286
U2 - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.10.077
DO - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.10.077
M3 - Article
SN - 0045-6535
VL - 2014
SP - 120
EP - 125
JO - Chemosphere
JF - Chemosphere
ER -