• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 2008

Objectives : To estimate the normal range of blood and urine cadmium levels using data from occupationally non-exposed office workers to cadmium in selected Korean women. Methods : A total of 437 women from healthy office workers were analyzed. To analyze blood and urine cadmium levels, blood and urine samples of study subjects were collected carefully and analyzed. Using a structured questionnaire, characteristics of the study subjects were investigated by well trained interviewers. Results : Mean blood cadmium concentration (CdB) was $0.46\;{\mu}g/{\ell}$ (GM; 0.16), whereas mean urine cadmium concentration (CdU) was $0.94\;{\mu}g/g$ creatinine (GM; 0.37). A significant increase of cadmium levels in blood and urine was observed by the rise of age (p=0.007; p=0.002, respectively). In the analysis of smoking state, blood and urine cadmium levels were higher in current smokers than in nonsmokers. In the multiple regression analysis, the rise of age and currently smoking were observed as a significant factor associated with cadmium level. Conclusion : These findings suggest that mean cadmium level in blood and urine indicated a relatively low level, although the rise of age and currently smoking were observed as a significant factor related to cadmium level. It can be used for the basic data to prevent harmful effects of cadmium exposure among female workers occupationally exposed to cadmium.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 2003

The possibility that liver and kidney function is adversely affected by current levels of environmental exposure to cadmium (Cd) as investigated in adult men and women in the general population in Seoul. From February to August in 2001, blood and morning spot urine samples were collected from 136 not occupationally exposed group (age range 20∼75 years) at 4 survey sites throughout seoul. Liver and kidney function parameters in serum and urine were examined by conventional methods. The questionnaire included factors, i.e. sex, age, smoking, alcohol, diet habit etc. The geometric mean values for Cd in blood (Cd-B) were 1.43 $\mu\textrm{g}$/1, It seemed prudent to conclude that liver and kidney function as not disturbed by the current environmental exposure to Cd in study.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.64-72
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• 1994

Tolerance to toxic effects of cadmium (Cd), including lethality has been shown following pretreatment with cadmium and zinc. This study was designed to determine if tolerance also develops to Cd-induced hepatotoxicity and renal toxicity. Three groups of rats (A, B, C), each consisting of 108 rats, were studied and each group was divided into three subgroups (1, 2, 3), 12 rats for each subgroup. Rats were subcutaneously pretreated with saline (A), CdCl$_2$ (0.5 mg/kg, B), and ZnCl$_2$ (13.0 mg/kg, C) during time periods of 5 days. At the end of the period, rats were challenged with CdCIa (3.0 and 6.0 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection. As for the cadmium levels in rat tissues after pretreatments, it was highest in the liver. Then kidney, heart, blood and muscle followed it in that order. After 24, 48 and 96 hours of intraperitoneal injection by challenge doses the concentration of cadmium in liver and kidney increased proportionally to the increase of challenge dosage. However metallothioneins in liver and kidney were increased by the pretreatment of cadmium and zinc. These data indicate the liver is a major target organ of acute Cd poisoning, and suggest that cadmium induced hepatic injury, via release of Cd-MT, may play and important role in the nephrotoxicity observed in response to short-term exposure to cadmium. This result suggests that increasing cadmium concentrations, gradually accumulating in liver and kidney as the result of the pretteatmerit, served to induced the synthesis of metallothionein, thus making them resistant to the challenge from cadmium.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.1-15
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• 1995

Tolerance to toxic effects of cadmium(Cd), including lethality has been shown following pretreatment with cadmium and zinc. This study was designed to determine if tolerance also develops to Cd-induced hepatotoxicity and renal toxicity. Three groups of rats(A, B, C), each consisting of 52 rats, were studied and each group was divided into three subgroups(1,2,3), 28 rats for each subgroup. Rats were subcutaneously pretreated with saline(A), $CdCl_2$(0.5 mg/kg, B), and $ZnCl_2$(13.0 mg/kg, C) during time periods of 5 days. At the end of the period, rats were challenged with $CdCl_2$(3.0 and 6.0 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection. As for the cadmium levels in rat tissues after 1,3,5,6 days of pretreatments, it was highest in the liver. Then kidney, heart, blood and muscle followed it in that order. After 24, 48 and 96 hours of intraperitoneal injection by challenge doses the concentration of cadmium in liver and kidney increased proportionally to the increase of challenge dosage. However metallothioneins in liver and kidney were increased by the pretreatment of cadmium and zinc. These data indicate the liver is a major target-organ of acute Cd poisoning, and suggest that cadmium induced hepatic injury, via release of Cd-MT, may play an important role in the nephrotoxicity observed in response to short-term exposure to cadmium. This result suggest that increasing cadmium concentrations, gradually accumulating in liver and kidney as the result of the pretreatment, served to induce the synthesis of metallothionein, thus making them resistant to the challenge from cadmium.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 1999

To investigate the preventive effects of melatonin (MLT) on the immunotoxicity of cadmium acetate[Cd(AC)2] in ICR mice, Mlt(10,50mg/kg as cadmium) were orally administered to mice once a day (5:00, PM) for 28 consecutive days. Cadmium(Cd) test solution was also administered at 25mg/kg of cadmium through the same route 2hr after administration of MLT daily, Mice were immunized and challenged with sheep red blood cells (SRBC). Immune functions evaluated were delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response, mitogenic response, and flow cytometry analysis. The results of these studies were summarized as follows ; DTH response was abnormally increased in mice treated with Cd alone. DTH response was normally depressed in mice treated with Cd plus MLT along with the increase of MLT doses. The mitogenic response of splenic T cell to Con A and that of B cells to LPS was remarkably increased by MLT treatment as compared with treatment of Cd alone In case of CD 8+ cells, the slight increase was observed in MLT treatment. Splenic T cells and B cells were significantly increased by MLT treatment as compared with treatment with Cd alone. These results suggest that MLT has significant preventive effects on the immunotoxic status induced by Cd exposure.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.579-582
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• 1989

Previous experiments have shown that aqueous sodium silicate ingested in drinking water may modify the gastrointestinal uptake and(or) tissue retention of certain trace elements, including heavy metals. The present experiment tested, with a mineral balance trial using sheep, the hypothesis that dietary silicic acid could modify uptake, retention and(or) biological effects of dietary Cd. Twenty-four wethers were fed a fibrous diet of ground alfalfa hay and cottonseed hulls to which either 0 or 150 ppm Cd was added as $CdCl_2$ and 0, .5 or 1% silicic acid (as dry matter of the diet). Body weight, feed intake, excretion of urine (volume) and feces (weight), digestibility of dry and organic matter, retention of nitrogen, and packed cell volumes of blood were not affected by either Cd or silicic acid (P<.10). Cadmium decreased (P<.05) Ca retention and increased (P<.01) Mg retention. Silicic acid decreased (P<.05) K retention. Silicic acid failed (P<.01) to modify the retention of added dietary Cd. Body retention of K, Mn and Ni in response to silicic acid varied with Cd levels. If Cd is interfering with mineral retention, silicic acid may be effective in preventing this interference.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.450-459
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• 2011

Objectives: Biomarkers in urine are important in assessing exposures to environmental or occupational chemicals and for evaluateing renal function by exposure from these chemicals. Spot urine samples are needed to adjust the concentration of these biomarkers for variations in urine dilution. This study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of adjusting the urinary concentration of cadmium (uCd) and arsenic (uAs) by specific gravity (SG) and urine creatinine (uCr). Methods: We measured the concentrations of blood cadmium (bCd), uCd, uAs, uCr, SG and N-acetyl-${\beta}$-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity, which is a sensitive marker of tubular damage by low dose Cd exposure, in spot urine samples collected from 536 individuals. The value of uCd, uAs and NAG were adjusted by SG and uCr. Results: The uCr levels were affected by gender (p < 0.01) and muscle mass (p < 0.01), while SG levels were affected by gender (p < 0.05). Unadjusted uCd and uAs were correlated with SG (uCd: r = 0.365, p < 0.01; uAs: r = 0.488, p < 0.01), uCr (uCd: r = 0.399, p < 0.01; uAs: r = 0.484, p < 0.01). uCd and uAs adjusted by SG were still correlated with SG (uCd: r = 0.360, p < 0.01, uAs: r = 0.483, p < 0.01). uCd and uAs adjusted by uCr and modified uCr ($M_{Cr}$) led to a significant negative correlation with uCr (uCd: r = -0.367, p < 0.01; uAs: r = -0.319, p < 0.01) and $M_{Cr}$ (uCd: r = -0.292, p < 0.01; uAs: r = -0.206, p < 0.01). However, uCd and uAs adjusted by conventional SG ($C_{SG}$) were disappeared from these urinary dilution effects (uCd: r = -0.081; uAs: r = 0.077). Conclusions: $C_{SG}$ adjustment appears to be more appropriate for variations in cadmium and arsenic in spot urine.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.1422-1426
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to test characteristics between normal and autistic children via comparison of nutrient intakes, hair mineral, blood free radical, and serotonin contents. A total of 50 children aged 3-9 were divided into two main groups of normal control children (n=22) and autistic children (n=28) tested by child psychiatrist. The nutrient intakes by 24-hour recall method were no significantly different between the two groups. The concentrations of toxic mineral, such as cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in hair of autistic children were significantly higher, while concentration of antioxidant mineral (Cu, Zn, Fe) was lower than that of normal children. The autistic children had significantly higher concentrations of blood free radical than that of normal children. No significant difference was observed in serotonin concentration between the two groups. Our results suggest a possible role of increased toxic mineral and free radical, both of which may be relevant to the pathophysiology of autism in children with developmental delay.