Cadmium concentrations in autopsy material from differently polluted areas of West Germany (FRG).
Analyses of Cadmium (Cd) in human specimens demand special interest since the Federal Environmental Agency of West-Germany (UBA, FRG) has published calculations and high figures of renal disturbances due to Cd. We analyzed autopsy material from the Cd-polluted area of Goslar/Harz Mountains (N = 28) and from the less contaminated region Erlangen/Nürnberg (Franconia) (N = 50). As determinants of Cd-concentration special regard was given to age, smoking habits, residence (urban/rural), and medical findings (nephropathy, hypertension). A balanced distribution of age is found in all subdivisions, the mean age of death is 66 and 68 yrs., respectively, in both regions. Median values of Cd-concentrations in the target organs from Franconia were found to be half the amount of those from Goslar (renal cortex: 12/19, medulla: 8/16, liver: 1/3 micrograms Cd/g wet weight). Significant local differences are found for renal medulla and liver (p less than 0.05). In both regions the Cd-content is independent from sex and residence (urban/rural). The influence of tobacco smoking on the Cd-burden is evident (greater than 50%). Cases of hypertension show maximum values, although this trend can't be confirmed by the median values. Regional Cd-pollution seems to have more effect than pathological findings: normotensive persons from Goslar have higher median renal Cd-concentrations than hypertensive patients from Franconia. Analyses of renal diseases reveal the same result. All Cd-concentrations are far below the critical value (200 micrograms Cd/g renal cortex, w.w.). The evaluation of such limit values and the results of similar studies are briefly discussed.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis*; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D005260:Female; D005860:Germany, West; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D007679:Kidney Medulla / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D012907:Smoking; D014505:Urban Population; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D002104:Cadmium; D015032:Zinc