Additional Burden of Diseases Associated with Cadmium Exposure: A Case Study of Cadmium Contaminated Rice Fields in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand.
The cadmium (Cd) contaminated rice fields in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand has been one of the major environmental problems in Thailand for the last 10 years. We used disability adjusted life years (DALYs) to estimate the burden of disease attributable to Cd in terms of additional DALYs of Mae Sot residents. Cd exposure data included Cd and β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) in urine (as an internal exposure dose) and estimated cadmium daily intake (as an external exposure dose). Compared to the general Thai population, Mae Sot residents gained 10%-86% DALYs from nephrosis/nephritis, heart diseases, osteoporosis and cancer depending on their Cd exposure type and exposure level. The results for urinary Cd and dietary Cd intake varied according to the studies used for risk estimation. The ceiling effect was observed in results using dietary Cd intake because of the high Cd content in rice grown in the Mae Sot area. The results from β2-MG were more robust with additional DALYs ranging from 36%-86% for heart failure, cerebral infraction, and nephrosis/nephritis. Additional DALYs is a useful approach for assessing the magnitude of environmental Cd exposure. The Mae Sot population lost more healthy life compared to populations living in a non- or less Cd polluted area. This method should be applicable to various types of environmental contamination problems if exposure assessment information is available.
International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand. nisarat@ihpp.thaigov.net.
Nisarat
N
Songprasert
International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand. thitiporn@ihpp.thaigov.net.
Thitiporn
T
Sukaew
International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand. khanitta@ihpp.thaigv.net.
Khanitta
K
Kusreesakul
Department of Community and Social Medicine, Mae Sot General Hospital, Tak 63110, Thailand. swaddi@hotmail.com.
Witaya
W
Swaddiwudhipong
Bureau of Occupational and Environmental Disease, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand. cpadungt@gmail.com.
Chantana
C
Padungtod
International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand. kanitta@ihpp.thaigov.net.
Kanitta
K
Bundhamcharoen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000383:Agriculture; D002104:Cadmium / Q000652:urine*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012275:Oryza / Q000254:growth & development; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D013785:Thailand; D055815:Young Adult
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium
DALYs; Mae Sot; cadmium; disability adjusted life years