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Kidney danger melamine link
By Tan Ee Lyn |
00:18 UTC+8 January 14, 2009
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SCIENTISTS on Chinese mainland and Hong Kong have established that consuming the plastic-making chemical melamine can cause kidney stones in people.
At least six children died and more than 290,000 others fell ill in China last year after consuming milk formula tainted with melamine, which was added to cheat protein tests. But the causal link between melamine and the kidney problems the children suffered was never scientifically established until now.
The experts studied urine samples of 15 mainland toddlers with kidney stones and compared those taken from 20 children in Hong Kong who also consumed tainted milk but did not develop kidney stones.
"We proved that melamine alone can cause stones," said Lawrence Lan, associate consultant at the pediatrics surgery department in Hong Kong's Queen Mary Hospital. "Our conclusions are that the higher the concentration of melamine in the urine, the bigger the stones."
The experts also found what they considered to be a "safe level" of melamine in urine, above which the person may be prone to develop kidney stones.
"Everyone with stones had melamine levels above that level, and those without stones had melamine concentrations below that level," Lan said.
The study was published in the International Journal of Clinical Chemistry and Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine.
Melamine is used to make fertilizers, plastics and other industrial goods.
At least six children died and more than 290,000 others fell ill in China last year after consuming milk formula tainted with melamine, which was added to cheat protein tests. But the causal link between melamine and the kidney problems the children suffered was never scientifically established until now.
The experts studied urine samples of 15 mainland toddlers with kidney stones and compared those taken from 20 children in Hong Kong who also consumed tainted milk but did not develop kidney stones.
"We proved that melamine alone can cause stones," said Lawrence Lan, associate consultant at the pediatrics surgery department in Hong Kong's Queen Mary Hospital. "Our conclusions are that the higher the concentration of melamine in the urine, the bigger the stones."
The experts also found what they considered to be a "safe level" of melamine in urine, above which the person may be prone to develop kidney stones.
"Everyone with stones had melamine levels above that level, and those without stones had melamine concentrations below that level," Lan said.
The study was published in the International Journal of Clinical Chemistry and Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine.
Melamine is used to make fertilizers, plastics and other industrial goods.
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