Objectives Our study is to assess association between the oxidative stress and renal function with exposure to TCE in underground water.

Method 579 questionnaires and 180 urine specimens were voluntarily taken from 1165 residents. Information of exposure to TCE in underground water was interviewed questionnaire and urinary trichloroacetic acid (TCA) levels by gas chromatography (GC)-FID. Urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) and N-Acetyl-β-D-Glucosaminidase (NAG) were taken as indicators of oxidative stress and renal function to show health effects with exposure to TCE in underground water.

Results Consumption of underground water was positively correlated with urinary TCA levels (r = 0.554). Urinary TCA levels was positively associated with NAG levels (r = 0.180), but it negatively associated with MDA levels (r = -0.193). Urinary TCA levels classified into three groups was dose-dependent positively with NAG levels, indicating exposure to TCE in underground water is results in the abnormal renal function. However, TCA levels were dose-dependent negatively with MDA levels which explained by that many factors of life-style may affect to urinary MDA levels.

Conclusions Using TCA in urine is suitably used as a biological indicator of exposure to TCE in underground water, we found a dose-dependent positively with NAG levels.