TOXIC METALS STATUS IN KIDNEYS AND GALLSTONES OF WORKERS IN A STEEL PLANT ENVIRONMENT

Samples of kidney stones and gallstones obtained from patients who were workers at a steel plant, or residents of the steel plant township area and those unrelated to the steel plant and steel plant township area were analysed for the presence of toxic metals (Zn, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Pb, Hg, Cd and Mn) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Other constituents (moisture, organic matter, oxalate, phosphate, fluoride and calcium) were also determined in each sample. In most of the samples the highest occurrence of toxic metals was found in the samples obtained from workers of the steel plant who were also residents of the steel plant township area. In samples obtained from patients who were non-workers of the plant but residents of the steel plant township area, the concentrations of the toxic metals were smaller, but higher than in those cases who were unrelated to the steel plant environment.