title: An investigation and pathological analysis of two fatal cases of cadmium poisoning.
abstract: Pollution associated with population growth, and with industrial and urban development has led to a serious decline in the water quality of Chinese rivers. Cadmium (Cd) is recognized as one of the most toxic metals and is strongly accumulated by organisms. Humans are exposed to cadmium originating from the environment and from industrial pollution. In spite of thousands of published studies on Cd, there is little information on its pathological features seen in human autopsy. The gross and pathological findings of forensic autopsies of two case of cadmium poisoning are presented and related to an epidemiological investigation. In both cases, multiple organ damage was observed, involving brain, lung, liver, kidney, red blood cells, and platelets, which is consistent with reports in the literature. In particular, in both cases, transmission electron microscopy revealed a large number of dense lysosomal and phagocytic particles in the cytoplasm near the nucleus, indicating the need for a genotoxic study of cadmium. Our observations provide new clues for the future recognition and prevention of Cd poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, No. 172 Tongzipo Road of Yuelu District, Changsha City, PR China. changyunfeng880@163.com
authors.forename: Yun-feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ji-fang
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Ji-feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Wu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiao-Ying
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ya-dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002105:Cadmium Poisoning / Q000473:pathology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D002681:China; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium