A global perspective on cadmium pollution and toxicity in non-occupationally exposed population.
Cadmium is a non-essential element that has high rates of soil to plant transference compared with other non-essential elements, and certain plant species accumulate large amounts of cadmium from low cadmium content soils. In this paper, levels of cadmium found in major food groups are highlighted together with cadmium levels found in liver and kidney samples from non-occupationally exposed populations. Data on human kidney cadmium levels identified recently, including the study in our own laboratory, are compared with older studies. Human-tissue cadmium contents showed large variations among individuals, but sources of the variation remain unknown. Exposure levels of 30-50 microg per day have been estimated for adults and these levels have been linked to increased risk of bone fracture, cancer, kidney dysfunction and hypertension. Increased mortality was found among individuals showing signs of cadmium renal toxicity compared with those without such signs, suggesting that renal toxicity may be an early warning of complications, sub-clinical or clinical morbidity.
Satarug
Soisungwan
S
National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, University of Queensland, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Brisbane, Australia.
Baker
Jason R
JR
Urbenjapol
Supanee
S
Haswell-Elkins
Melissa
M
Reilly
Paul E B
PE
Williams
David J
DJ
Moore
Michael R
MR
D002104:Cadmium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002105:Cadmium Poisoning / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005506:Food Contamination; D005523:Food Supply; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium