Associations between renal functions and exposure of arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in adults living near a petrochemical complex

The understanding for the impact of petrochemical pollutants exposure on renal functions is limited. Our study examined the associations between renal functions and pollutants exposure in adult residents living in the vicinity of a petrochemical industry. We recruited 2069 adult residents near a big petrochemical complex in Taiwan in 2009–2012, and they were categorized into high exposure (HE) and low exposure (LE) groups based on their address to source by 10 km radius. Study subjects were measured the urinary levels of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, thallium, and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Taiwanese Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation, and the chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence and risks were defined according to KDIGO 2012 guidelines. Adjusted generalized linear and logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the associations between petrochemical exposure and renal functions. Subjects in the HE areas had significantly lower eGFR, higher CKD prevalence, and higher levels of urinary arsenic, cadmium, mercury, thallium and 1-OHP. The closer to complex and high exposure group of study subjects were significantly associated with the decrease in eGFR, higher ORs for CKD and high-intermediate risk of CKD. In addition, the study subjects who had two-fold urinary arsenic and 1-OHP levels were significantly with decreased 0.68 and 0.49 ml/min/1.73 m2 of eGFR, respectively. Residing closer and higher arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure were associated with the renal impairment and risks of CKD among the residential population near the petrochemical industry.