Relationship between urinary biomarkers of early kidney damage and exposure to inorganic toxins in a pediatric population of Apizaco, Tlaxcala, Mexico

Background: In recent years, chronic kidney disease has increased in the pediatric population and has been related to environmental factors. In the diagnosis of kidney damage, in addition to the traditional parameters, early kidney damage biomarkers, such as kidney injury molecule 1, cystatin C, and osteopontin, among others, have been implemented as predictors of early pathological processes. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between exposure to environmental pollutants and early kidney damage biomarkers. Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted in February 2016 and involved 115 apparently healthy children aged 6–15 residing in Apizaco, Tlaxcala. Participant selection was carried out randomly from among 16,472 children from the municipality of Apizaco. A socio-demographic questionnaire included age, sex, education, duration of residence in the area, occupation, water consumption and dietary habits, pathological history, and some non-specific symptoms. Physical examination included blood pressure, weight, and height. The urine concentrations of urinary aluminum, total arsenic, boron, calcium, chromium, copper, mercury, potassium, sodium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, lead, selenium, silicon, thallium, vanadium, uranium, and zinc, were measured. Four of the 115 participants selected for the study were excluded due to an incomplete questionnaire or lack of a medical examination, leaving a final sample population of 111 participants. Results: The results showed a mean estimated glomerular filtration rate of 89.1 ± 9.98 mL/min/1.73m² and a mean albumin/creatinine ratio of 12.9 ± 16.7 mg/g urinary creatinine. We observed a positive and significant correlation between estimated glomerular filtration rate with fluoride, total arsenic and lead, and a correlation of albumin/creatinine ratio with fluoride, vanadium, and total arsenic. There was also a significant correlation between the early kidney damage biomarkers and fluoride, vanadium, and total arsenic, except for cystatin C. Conclusion: In conclusion, our results show that four urinary biomarkers: α1-microglobulin, cystatin C, kidney injury molecule 1, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin are related to environmental exposure to urinary fluoride, vanadium, and total arsenic in our pediatric population. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]