Adverse health effects in workers exposed to cadmium

Ernesto Kahan*, Estela Derazne, Joseph Rosenboim, Ruth Ashkenazi, Joseph Ribak

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

One hundred fifty‐two workers who had been exposed to different levels of cadmium (Cd) absorption (blood Cd mean 16.34 μg/L, median 11.0 μg/L) in a factory making nickel‐cadmium batteries were studied. A physical evaluation, as well as blood and urine cadmium and N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase (NAG), and other routine laboratory tests were performed in order to assess the relationship between different levels of exposure to occupational cadmium and potential cadmium‐induced renal damage and other adverse health effects. We found significant correlation between levels of cadmium exposure and a selected group of symptoms and signs. The best predictor of this group of symptoms and signs was an indicator called internal dose index (Cd × exposure time). This indicator appears as the strongest, even after control by confounding factors, such as age and smoking. It is concluded that this index can be used for biological monitoring.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)527-537
Number of pages11
JournalAmerican Journal of Industrial Medicine
Volume21
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1992

Keywords

  • NAG
  • biological monitoring
  • cadmium exposures
  • heavy metals
  • occupational health

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