Question

How does contaminated water affect the kidney?  discuss the following, if applicable:

• how structures may change (think organ layers, protein shape, fluid losses, etc)
• how the altered structures affect the physiology
• how cells and tissues may be affected
• new exposure to toxins or carcinogens
• what else you find that doesn't fall into the four previous bullet points

Answer 1

Kidneys are bean shaped muscular organs of renal system that helps in filtration of the blood and formation urine. Kidney helps filter out unwanted substances from the filtrate passing through it such as urea, acids, ions, drugs, metabolites and toxins.
If the drinking water gets contaminated it may expose the kidneys to the toxins such as heavy metals, lead, mercury or radioactive substances such as uranium contained in it. When the blood enters the glomerulus, the kidney gets exposed to these toxins. The toxins of contaminated water results in high acidic filtrate which damages the endothelial cells and basement membrane of the glomerulus and the Bowman's capsule. This can cause glomeular lesion and destruction of podocytes. The result is impaired filtrate formation for the nephron. When these toxins enter the renal tubules it damages the walls of the tubules. The various transport channels present in the renal tubules also gets damaged resulting in disturbed balance of secretion and reabsorption of substances such as water and ions. Damage to tubular walls also cause neutrophil infiltration of the tubular walls and free radical formation. This further damages the renal tubules.
The result of exposure of kidney to contaminated water is disturbance in acid base balance, altered urine composition and altered urine output. The damage to kidney slowly progresses to chronic renal disease. It also causes renal hypertension.