Risk of Nephrotoxicity among Dry Cleaning Workers Exposed to Perchloroethylene in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2025-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Perchloroethylene, a solvent commonly used in dry cleaning, have an impact on kidney’s health. As the dry-cleaning industry grows in Addis Ababa, it presents an occupational hazard. Limited global research and a lack of African studies on this issue highlight this study to inform policymakers and promote worker health and safety.
Objective: The objective of this study is to measure selected urinary and blood nephrotoxic biomarkers among dry cleaners in Addis Ababa and compare them with hotel laundry workers to see the impact of perchloroethylene on kidney health.
Method: A multi-center comparative cross-sectional study was carried out in 17 dry-cleaning shops and 21 hotel laundries in Addis Ababa, involving 70 participants from each group. The study assessed nephrotoxic biomarkers such as urinary protein, creatinine, calcium, sodium, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine. Data collection involved both biological samples and structured questionnaires administered via Open Data Kit (ODK), with data analysis conducted using SPSS. Statistical methods included t-tests, chi-square tests, correlation and multivariable regression with significance determined at p < 0.05.
Result: The result showed that majority of the employees were females in both groups and the risk of nephrotoxicity was higher in dry cleaners as compared to hotel laundry workers, where 88.2% of the abnormal proteinuria, 76.9% of the abnormal creatinine and 38.5% and 62.5% of the abnormal urinary calcium and sodium values were found in dry cleaners respectively. We found a significant mean difference in three biomarkers namely, Total Protein (TPU) with a Median & IQR value of (102 mg/dl &70.75 mg/dl) and (54.5 mg/dl &27.25 mg/dl), Urinary creatinine with a Median & IQR value of (193 mg/dl & 111.06 mg/dl) and (142.93 mg/dl & 78.17 mg/dl) and Urinary Calcium with a Median & IQR value of (2.60 mmol/l & 2.94 mmol/l) and (0.835mmol/l & 0.79 mmol/l) for the exposed and the control groups respectively. However, a significant difference was not found in urinary sodium, Blood urea nitrogen and S. creatinine between the two groups, but higher value of sodium above range and higher BUN within range was observed in dry
cleaners. The Log10 transformed TPU and raw BUN showed a significant association with experience of PCE spillage, r (140) = 0.201, p = 0.017 and r (24) = 0.536, p = 0.007, respectively.
Conclusion: The study concluded that dry cleaners faced the highest risk and abnormalities in kidney biomarkers, with factors such as duration of employment, PCE spillage, sex, frequency of handling PCE, and poor ventilation positively correlating with immediate symptoms. Although the absence of precise exposure measurements limited definitive conclusions, the findings indicated that dry cleaners are the most vulnerable group. Therefore, strong safety protocols and regular medical checkups are recommended for workers frequently exposed to Perchloroethylene
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Keywords
Perchloroethylene, PCE, Nephrotoxicity, Dry cleaners, Hotel laundry workers, Urinary biomarkers, Serum biomarkers