title: The association between blood cadmium level and airflow obstruction in Korean men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most humans are exposed to environmental contaminants via inhalation. Various toxic inhalants cause lung damage with pathologic changes to the airway system. Lung function decline is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To consider the potential burden of cadmium on pulmonary disease, this study examined the relationship between blood cadmium levels and airflow obstruction in a Korean general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 2008-2011 were used. Male participants were selected who were older than 40 years, who had completed a reliable pulmonary function test and for who measurements of blood cadmium levels were available (n = 1974). The pulmonary function tests were undertaken and airflow obstruction was defined when forced vital capacity/forced expiratory volume in 1 second ratio < 0.7.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In an age-adjusted logistic regression model, blood cadmium levels correlated with the risk of obstructive airflow pattern in total participants as well as in smokers or never smokers. Further adjustment for BMI, current occupation and educational level did not attenuate these associations among total participants, smokers and never smokers (OR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.83-3.50 in total; OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.55-3.02 in smokers; OR = 3.71, 95% CI = 1.48-9.33 in never smokers).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, blood cadmium level was associated with airflow obstruction independently of smoking history and that association was still significant in never smokers. Careful attention is needed for the general population who are potentially exposed to cadmium.
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea .|b Department of Preventive Medicine , Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea .|c Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea .|d Incheon Workers' Health Center , Incheon , Korea .
authors.forename: Jin-Ha
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea .|c Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea .|d Incheon Workers' Health Center , Incheon , Korea .
authors.forename: Inah
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: b Department of Preventive Medicine , Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea .
authors.forename: Hyoung-Ryoul
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea .|c Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea .|e Department of Preventive Medicine , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea , and.
authors.forename: Jong-Uk
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Won
authors.affiliation: f Korea Armed Forces Medical Command , Sungnam , Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu-Jung
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea .|c Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea .|e Department of Preventive Medicine , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea , and.
authors.forename: Pil-Kyun
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea .|c Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea .|d Incheon Workers' Health Center , Incheon , Korea .|e Department of Preventive Medicine , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea , and.
authors.forename: Jaehoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium
keywords: Cadmium; environmental exposure; obstructive airflow pattern