title: Application of BMD approach to identify thresholds of cadmium-induced renal effect among 35 to 55 year-old women in two cadmium polluted counties in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that can cause renal tubular dysfunction in humans. Women are among the high-risk group for Cd health effects. Determining the thresholds of Cd-induced renal effects is important. Thus, in this article, we aimed to identify the benchmark dose (BMD) and its low limit (BMDL) levels as the Cd thresholds for Chinese women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epidemiologic investigation was performed in county A and county B to obtain data on Cd exposure and its renal effect on respondents. Levels of Cd (UCd), β2-microglobulin (UB2M), and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (UNAG) were measured in morning urine samples. The BMD approach was mainly performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results of the BMD approach were similar whether the method was conducted for the two sets of data (collected in CA and CB, respectively) separately or cooperatively. The BMD/BMDL values of UCd for all subjects were 1.07/0.44 and 2.12/0.53 µg/g cr based on UB2M and UNAG, respectively, given a predetermined BMR of 0.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presented thresholds of Cd-induced renal effects (i.e., the BMDLs of UCd) are close to the counterpart values reported in Japan, Sweden and Belgium.
authors: Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors: Qi
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: MOE Key Lab of Environment and Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors: Jia
authors: J
authors: Hu
authors: Qiangyang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China.
authors: Tian-xu
authors: TX
authors: Han
authors: MOE Key Lab of Environment and Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors: Mei
authors: M
authors: Li
authors: Chinese Minority Traditional Medical Center, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China.
authors: Huan-hu
authors: HH
authors: Zhao
authors: MOE Key Lab of Environment and Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors: Jian-wei
authors: JW
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors: Lin-Xiang
authors: LX
authors: Ye
authors: MOE Key Lab of Environment and Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors: Yi-Kai
authors: YK
authors: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000652:urine; D000328:Adult; D002104:Cadmium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D002681:China; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D062486:Public Health Surveillance; D012016:Reference Values; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D002104:Cadmium; D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase