title: Cadmium exposure pathways in a population living near a battery plant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of the present study were to assess the relative impact of different pathways of environmental cadmium (Cd) exposure and to evaluate the contribution from locally produced vegetables and root crops to the total dietary intake of Cd.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cadmium in urine was determined for 492 individuals living near a closed down battery factory in Sweden. For each individual we created an environmental exposure-index based on Cd emissions to ambient air and number of years living at various distances from the plant. This information as well as dietary data were collected via questionnaires. Samples of soil, carrots and/or potatoes were collected from 37 gardens and analysed for Cd concentration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eating home grown vegetables/potatoes, environmental Cd-exposure-index, female gender, age above 30 years and smoking more than one pack of cigarettes daily for at least 10 years were found to be significantly associated with increased urine concentrations of Cd (UCd>1.0 nmol/mmol creatinine). We found a statistically significant relation between Cd in urine and environmental Cd-exposure-index in persons eating home grown vegetables/potatoes regularly. Cd concentrations in home grown carrots, potatoes and in garden soil were highest in the area closest to the factory. Daily consumption of potatoes and vegetables cultivated in the vicinity of the closed battery factory was estimated to increase Cd intake by 18-38%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows that consumption of locally grown vegetables and root crops was an important exposure pathway, in subjects living near a nickel-cadmium battery plant, whereas direct exposure via ambient air was less important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, County Council of Kalmar, Oskarshamn, Sweden. lennarth@ltkalmar.se
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hellström
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brudin
authors.forename: Kierstin Petersson
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Grawé
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Oborn
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Järup
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D018552:Daucus carota; D004032:Diet; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011198:Solanum tuberosum; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium