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Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2020 | Volume: 20 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 80-87
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Authors

Bello H. Tilako

Sylvester O. Ogbodo

Sylvester O. Ogbodo

Innocent N. Okonkwo

Irene L. Shuneba

Ogbonna Enyinna

Saidi Odoma

Elvis N. Shu

Keywords

Background and Objectives: The problems posed by mining activities, especially those of heavy metals, to the inhabitants of host communities cannot be overemphasized. This cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess nephrotoxicity of some heavy metals in inhabitants of a lead-zinc mining community in Ebonyi State of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Subjects, aged 10-60 years, included 89 artisanal miners (occupationally-exposed), 61 non-miners living in the same community (environmentally-exposed) and 65 non-miners from a distant community (controls). The heavy metals were estimated using atomic absorption spectrophotometric methods, electrolytes were estimated using ion selective electrodes while urea and creatinine concentrations were determined using enzyme methods. Results: Results showed that the mean level of these heavy metals from occupationally-exposed group were significantly higher than their levels in both environmentally-exposed and control groups, irrespective of their gender. Also, the mean levels of the metals from environmentally-exposed group were significantly higher than those from the control group. Furthermore, there were significant differences in the kidney function parameters between the occupationally-exposed group and the environmentally-exposed and control groups on one hand and between environmentally-exposed group and control group on the other hand. Conclusion: The results indicate that these metals have nephrotoxic effects on both occupationally-exposed and environmentally-exposed subjects in the community. Therefore, this study advocates for routine monitor of exposed inhabitants of all mining communities to detect early kidney toxicity in order to institute adequate actions to ameliorate it.
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How to cite this article

Bello H. Tilako, Sylvester O. Ogbodo, Innocent N. Okonkwo, Irene L. Shuneba, Ogbonna Enyinna, Saidi Odoma and Elvis N. Shu, 2020. Nephrotoxicity Effect in Inhabitants of a Lead-zinc Mining Community, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Journal of Biological Sciences, 20: 80-87.

DOI: 10.3923/jbs.2020.80.87

URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jbs.2020.80.87

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