Premium
Adverse health effects in workers exposed to cadmium
Author(s) -
Kahan Ernesto,
Derazne Estela,
Rosenboim Joseph,
Ashkenazi Ruth,
Ribak Joseph
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700210408
Subject(s) - cadmium , medicine , cadmium exposure , confounding , urine , adverse effect , toxicology , environmental health , physiology , toxicity , occupational exposure , materials science , metallurgy , biology
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.