Recent progress and perspectives in cadmium health effects studies.
Cadmium is a heavy metal, which is recently known to be hazardous to man. Cadmium workers have been observed to suffer from renal dysfunction and lung emphysema after long-term exposure to cadmium. However, since Itai-Itai disease, osteomalacia provoked in Toyama prefecture of Japan, was designated as a disease caused by cadmium in 1968, much attention has been paid to the health effects of residents in cadmium-polluted areas. The author described here recent progress and perspectives on cadmium health effect studies, cadmium analysis in biological samples; absorption, distribution and excretion of cadmium; health effects of residents in cadmium-polluted area; survey on the health status of Itai-Itai disease patients; beta 2-microglobulinuria; intestinal tract impairment and bone metabolism; effects on bone; effects on the liver; early diagnosis of cadmium effects; effects on future generations; carcinogenicity; critical concentration of cadmium; metallothionein; recommendations for future studies. One-hundred and sixty references are cited in this review.
D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002105:Cadmium Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000652:urine
D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein