Journal of Biological Sciences1727-30481812-5719Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/jbs.2020.80.87H. TilakoBello O. OgbodoSylvester OkonkwoInnocent N. ShunebaIrene L. EnyinnaOgbonna OdomaSaidi N. ShuElvis 22020202Background 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.]]>Sabath, E. and M.L. Robles-Osorio,201232279286Tsai, T.L., C.C. Kuo, W.H. Pan, Y.T. Chung, C.Y. Chen, T.N. Wu and S.L. Wang,201792710720Orr, S.E. and C.C. Bridges,20052005Garrick, M.D., K.G. Dolan, C. Horbinsky, A.J. Ghio and D. Higgins et al.,2003164154Edwards, J.R. and W.C. Prozialeck,2009238289293Jacquillet, G., O. Barbier, I. Rubera, M. Tauc and A. Borderie et al.,2007293F1450F1460De Mattos, G.F., C. Costa, F. Savio, M. Alonso and G.L. Nicolson,20179807825Meyer, P.A., M.J. Brown and H. Falk,2008659166175Gidlow, D.A.,201565348356Weaver, V.M. and B.G. Jaar,20182018Rahman, M.M., J.C. Ng and R. Naidu,20091189200Huang, M., S.J. Choi, D.W. Kim, N.Y. Kim and C.H. Park et al.,20097214931498Garcon, G., B. Leleu, T. Marez, F. Zerimech, J.M. Haguenoer, D. Furon and P. Shirali,2007377165172Dewanjee, S., R. Sahu, S. Karmakar and M. Gangopadhyay,2013Corchorus olitorius) leaves.]]>557891Zhang, Z., X. Gao, M. Guo, H. Jiang, Y. Cao and N. Zhang,2017175129135Ekong, E.B., B.G. Jaar and V.M. Weaver,20067020742084Zhang, J., H. Cao, Y. Zhang, Y. Zhang and J. Ma et al.,2013218273280Wang, H., Z.K. Wang, P. Jiao, X.P. Zhou, D.B. Yang, Z.Y. Wang and L. Wang,2015333137146Wedeen, R.P. and L.F. Qian,1991927174Diaz, M.L., B.A. Watkins, Y. Li, R.A. Anderson and W.W. Campbell,2008196168Sheetz, M.J. and G.L. King,200228825792588Brownlee, M.,20055416151625Shu, E.N., F.C. Otuu, I. Maduka, B.H. Tilako, A.O. Nwadinigwe, O. Ogbodo and N. Obi-Ezeani,2019136268Wilberforce, J.O.O. and F.I. Nwabue,2013Dioscorea rotundata (white yam) and Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato) from enyigba lead-zinc derelict.]]>27984APHA.,19981998Spierto, F.W., M.L. McNeil and C.A. Burtis, 1979121821Weatherburn, M.W.,196739971974Koram, K.A., M.M. Addae, J.C. Ocran, S. Adu-Amankwah, W.O. Rogers and F.K. Nkrumah,200741160166Okonkwo, I.N., I.I. Ogbu, U.N. Ijoma, I.I. Ulasi and C.K. Ijoma,201518173177Lin, J.L., D.T. Tan, K.H. Hsu and C.C. Yu,2001161264271Muntner, P., J. He, S. Vupputuri, J. Coresh and V. Batuman,20036310441050Odigie, I.P., C.O. Ladipo, R.R. Ettarh and M.C. Izegbu,2004192732Yu, C.C., J.L. Lin and D.T. Lin-Tan,20041510161022Papanikolaou, N.C., E.G. Hatzidaki, S. Belivanis, G.N. Tzanakakis and A.M. Tsatsakis,200511RA329RA336Rastogi, S.K.,200812103106Pollock, C.A. and L.S. Ibels,1986145635639Loghman-Adham, M.,1997105928939Barbier, O., G. Jacquillet, M. Tauc, M. Cougnon and P. Poujeol,200599105110Ogbodo, S.O., M.E. Oti, A.C. Okeke and C.S. Okafor,2013314371445Rosin, A.,200911689694Delaney, M.P., C.P. Price, D.J. Newman and E. Lamb,20122012pp: 1523-1607pp: 1523-1607Lin-Tan, D.T., J.L. Lin, T.H. Yen, K.H. Chen and Y.L. Huang,20072229242931Grubb, A.,2010706570