title: High cadmium accumulation among humans and primates: comparison across various mammalian species--a study from Japan.
abstract: The majority of existing literature reports that cadmium (Cd) is toxic to humans and most living organisms. This paper reports the results of our study that measured Cd levels in the livers and kidneys of humans and other 50 mammalian species under normal conditions in Japan. The study tests the differences in the Cd concentrations across different mammalian species and sexes. Our results revealed that (1) there is a strong correlation between the Cd levels in the livers and kidneys across all examined species, (2) humans exhibit the highest Cd accumulation level in both organs, (3) primates also show a high Cd concentration at a level close to humans, (4) mice and rats show low Cd levels in both organs, indicating that humans accumulate about a few thousand times more Cd than mice and rats, and (5) the Cd concentration of female mammals is more than double of males for both organs. Our results indicate that these cross-sex as well as cross-species discrepancies cannot be explained by the difference in daily Cd intake. While further research is necessary to determine any potential role of Cd accumulation, we speculate that Cd plays some physiological function in the renal cortex of humans and primates.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Policy, George Mason University, 3401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22201, USA. nkoizumi@gmu.edu
authors.forename: Naoru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koizumi
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Chiyo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Hisahide
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011323:Primates / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium