Kidney cadmium as compared to other markers of cadmium exposure in workers at a secondary metal smelter.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to evaluate whether cadmium concentrations in kidney (K-Cd), blood (B-Cd) or urine (U-Cd) could reveal previous occupational cadmium exposure at a metal smelter.


METHODS
The study included 90 smelters and 35 controls (B-Cd and U-Cd determination). In a subgroup (N = 33), K-Cd was also determined.


RESULTS
B-Cd (median 4.6; range 0.5-53 nmol/L), U-Cd (0. 29; 0.04-1.9 micromol/mol creatinine) and K-Cd (14; 3-61 microg/g wet weight) were similar to reported concentrations in the general Swedish population. In the subgroup, significant associations (P<0. 001) were obtained between B-Cd and K-Cd (r = 0.70), U-Cd and K-Cd (r = 0.60) and between U-Cd and B-Cd (r = 0.62). Multiple regression analyses revealed smoking as the major predictor of K-Cd, B-Cd, and U-Cd. B-Cd and U-Cd were both associated with the duration of employment at the smelter.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no statistically significant evidence of previous occupational exposure at the smelter from measurement of K-Cd.
Börjesson
J
J
Department of Radiation Physics, Malmö University Hospital, Sweden. jimmy.borjesson@rfa.mas.lu.se
Gerhardsson
L
L
Schütz
A
A
Perfekt
R
R
Mattsson
S
S
Skerfving
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004651:Employment; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012907:Smoking; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors
D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D003404:Creatinine