Health risks related to residential exposure to cadmium in Zhenhe County, China.
In this study, the authors examined the health risks to 1234 residents (15-80 yr of age) who lived near a lead-zinc mine and to 801 controls (15-80 yr of age) who lived 40 km from the mine. Subjects had higher levels of urinary cadmium, urinary beta2-microglobulin, and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG) than controls (p < 0.0001), but subjects' urinary beta2-microglobulin and NAG were within normal ranges. Standardized death rates for cancer in the contaminated and control areas were 116.7/100,000 and 90.28/100,000, respectively, and for neonatal disease the respective rates were 89.83/100,000 and 16.74/100,000. Young girls residing in the contaminated areas had higher menstrual abnormalities than did controls (p = 0.002). The prevalence of difficulties in becoming pregnant and the proportion of premature births and stillbirths were higher among those in the contaminated areas (p < 0.0001). Individuals who lived around the lead-zinc mine had different health problems than those who lived far from the mine in Zhenhe County, Republic of China.
Wang
Xiaodong
X
Department of Computer Science, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China.
Tian
Jun
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002104:Cadmium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012737:Sex Factors
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium