Effects of exposure to cadmium on calcium metabolism: a population study.

Abstract

The objective was to investigate the hypothesis that environmental exposure to cadmium may affect calcium metabolism in the population at large. The 1987 participants (965 men and 1022 women), from 20 to 80 years old, constituted a random sample of the population of four Belgian districts. The urinary excretion of cadmium, a measure of lifetime exposure, averaged 9-3 nmol/24 h in men (range 0 4-324 nmol/24 h) and 7-1 nmol/24 h (range 0-1-71 nmol/24 h) in women. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity and the urinary excretion of calcium correlated significantly and positively with urinary cadmium excretion in both men and women, and serum total calcium concentration negatively with urinary cadmium excretion in men only. The regression coefficients obtained after adjustment for significant covariates indicated that when urinary cadmium excretion increased twofold, serum alkaline phosphatase activity and urinary calcium excretion rose by 3-4% and 0 25 mmoll24 h respectively, whereas in men serum total calcium concentration fell by 6 umolIl.After adjustment for significant covariates the relation between serum total calcium concentration and urinary cadmium excretion was Cadmium interferes with the metabolism of vitamin D, calcium, and collagen, and its accumulation may lead to osteomalacia and osteoporosis.'2 These effects are usually considered to be late manifestations of severe cadmium poisoning, and have been seen in exposed workers and in malnourished subjects.'" The quantitative dose-response relation for the effects of cadmium on calcium and bone metabolism, however, remains presently unknown. The present report, part of a cross sectional study on the effects of cadmium on public health,"7 investigated whether environmental exposure to cadmium influences calcium metabolism in the population at large. Methods SUBJECTSAs described elsewhere,"7 the 2327 subjects (age range from 20 to 79) constituted a random sample of the population of four Belgian districts selected to provide a wide range of environmental exposure to cadmium. Subjects were excluded from the present analysis when not all relevant measurements were available (n = 248), when 24 hour urine samples were judged under or over collected by previously published criteria (n = 44),8 or when either occupational exposure to heavy metals (n = 41) or smoking habits (n = 7) could not be ascertained from a self administered questionnaire.

Decreased total and ionized calcium levels and haematological indices in occupational lead exposure as evidence of the endocrine disruptive effect of lead

“…[13] High BPb level in this country derives mainly from the hitherto high Pb content of Nigeria's gasoline. [54] It is worthy of note that high environmental heavy metal concentration including Pb and Cd leads to high PBb in the general population and gradual impairment of calcium metabolism [55] and induces anaemia. [16][17][18]42] These processes may insidiously develop in unexposed populations.…”

Environmental exposure to cadmium and risk of cancer: a prospective population-based study

“…1,2 Exposure to cadmium occurs through intake of contaminated food or water, or by inhalation of tobacco smoke or polluted air. 1,2 We have shown that environmental exposure to cadmium in north-east Belgium in the neighbourhood of zinc smelters was associated with about 30% increased urinary cadmium excretion, 3 renal dysfunction, 4,5 increased calciuria, 6 osteoporosis, 7 and a 35% population-attributable risk of fractures. 7 In 1993, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified cadmium as a human carcinogen.…”

“…We started recruitment of Flemish participants of the Cadmium in Belgium Study (CadmiBel) 19 on Sept 1, 1985. [3][4][5][6][7] We aimed to assess prospectively the incidence of fatal cancer and non-fatal cancer until June 30, 2004, to investigate whether environmental exposure to cadmium is associated with increased risk of cancer, particularly that of the lung.…”

Cadmium exposure and nephropathy in a 28-year-old female metals worker.

“…It has been well documented among the general population that the urinary excretion of cadmium is positively associated with the urinary excretion of calcium (Baecklund et al 1999). In the CadmiBel study, Staessen and colleagues (Staessen et al 1991a(Staessen et al , 1991b(Staessen et al , 1993(Staessen et al , 1999 showed that after adjustment for confounders, doubling of the urinary cadmium excretion was associated with a 0.25-mmol rise per day in urinary calcium excretion. Similarly, in their cohort of Swedish women, Järup et al (1998b) recently documented a 90% increase in urinary calcium excretion among those whose urinary cadmium concentration was > 1 nmol/mmol creatinine (Staessen and Lauwerys 1993).…”