title: Cadmium and selenium in blood and urine related to smoking habits and previous exposure to mercury vapour.
abstract: The object of this work was to investigate possible interactions of mercury, cadmium and selenium in humans. Selenium and cadmium in blood and urine were determined in this cross-sectional study of 130 males, of whom 77 had been previously exposed to mercury vapour at a chloralkali plant. Of the participants, 61.5% were smokers and 16.2% were never-smokers. The concentration of selenium in blood (B-Se) was significantly lower in subjects currently smoking more than 50 g of tobacco per week compared to never-smokers, whereas the concentration of cadmium in blood (B-Cd) was significantly higher in all categories of current smokers. In the multiple linear regression analysis, B-Se as a dependent variable was negatively associated with B-Cd, whereas current smoking habits were not included in the model as a predictor variable. In contrast, B-Cd as a dependent variable was positively associated with current as well as previous smoking habits, and negatively with both B-Se and the 'cumulative dose' of previous mercury vapour exposure. The concentration of selenium in blood was also negatively associated with B-Cd in the group of never-smokers (Spearman's r = -0.80; P < 0.001). In conclusion, these results suggest a depressive effect of cadmium on the concentration of selenium in blood, while smoking alone did not operate as a true predictor for this effect. Furthermore, previous exposure to mercury apparently modifies the concentration of cadmium in blood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Telemark Central Hospital, Skien, Norway.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Ellingsen
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Thomassen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aaseth
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium