Pulmonary effects of chronic exposure to airborne cadmium.
Workers chronically exposed to high concentrations of airborne cadmium showed a significantly decreased forced vital capacity relative to a low-exposure group and had Po2 values in the normal range, but at the extreme low end. They had no significant decrease in 1-sec forced expiratory volume or maximal mid-expiratory flow. Chest roentgenograms showed mild or moderate interstitial fibrosis in 29 per cent of the group exposed to cadmium. Collectively, these results suggest a mild fibrotic reaction associated with exposure to cadmium. A dose-response association was observed between forced vital capacity, expressed as per cent predicted, and both average urinary cadmium concentration (P less than 0.003; r=-0.53) and maximal urinary cadmium concentration (P less than 0.005; r=-0.51). Further, a dose-response relationship was found between the forced vital capacity and months of work in cadmium fume areas, but not for months of exposure to cadmium sulfate aerosol.
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D003120:Colorado; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects*; D012907:Smoking; D014797:Vital Capacity
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D002104:Cadmium