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Necrosis

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Neurotoxin

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Nephrotoxin

Definition

• A nephrotoxin is a toxic agent or substance that inhibits, damages or destroys the cells and/or tissues of the kidneys. This is an example of a cytotoxin.

  Inflammation of the kidneys is called nephritis. Study of the kidneys is called nephrology. Something that pertains to the kidneys is called nephritic or renal.

Additional Info

Your kidneys are vital organs responsible for regulating the water content of your body, maintaining proper pH and for the excretion of bodily wastes as urine.

Besides causing direct damage to your kidneys, nephrotoxins can worsen or aggravate other conditions such as diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and cardiovascular (heart) disease. They can also interfere with vitamin D metabolism and hormone synthesis.

Signs or symptoms of exposure to nephrotoxins may include proteinuria (protein in the urine), edema, kidney stones, and uremia (excess an excess of urea in the blood, characterized by headache, nausea and/or coma).

MSDS Relevance

Both acute and chronic (long and short-term) exposure to certain organic chemicals can cause inflammation, injury or severe damage to the kidneys. Treat nephrotoxins with great respect, particularly "heavy metals" such as lead, cadmium and mercury as well as chlorocarbons such as carbon tetrachloride and chloroform. If you must use such materials, use proper controls to minimize the number of exposed workers (such as fume hoods) as well as respirators, gloves etc. Make sure that all containers are properly labeled as well. Finally note that exposure to multiple nephrotoxins at moderate levels may have a greater than expected nephrotoxicity. For example, see Liu, J, et al. "Chronic combined exposure to cadmium and arsenic exacerbates nephrotoxicity, particularly in metallothionein-I/II null mice" Toxicology 2000, 147, 157-166.

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Further Reading

• OSHA's preamble to the Cadmium Standard discusses the nephrotoxic effects of cadmium in great detail.
• OSHA Safety Sheet on Cadmium, including details on health effects with good discussion of the renal effects.

See also: cytotoxin, hypertension, poison, systemic, toxic.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is believed to be true and accurate, however ILPI makes no guarantees concerning the veracity of any statement. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. ILPI strongly encourages the reader to consult the appropriate local, state and federal agencies concerning the matters discussed herein.