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Journal ArticleDOI

Increased dietary cadmium absorption in mice and human subjects with iron deficiency

01 May 1978-Gastroenterology (Elsevier)-Vol. 74, Iss: 5, pp 841-846
TL;DR: The intestinal adaptive response to iron deficiency in both experimental animals and human subjects leads to the increased absorption of cadmium, a potentially toxic element.
About: This article is published in Gastroenterology.The article was published on 1978-05-01. It has received 381 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Dietary Cadmium & Cadmium chloride.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Recent data indicate that adverse health effects of cadmium exposure may occur at lower exposure levels than previously anticipated, primarily in the form of kidney damage but possibly also bone effects and fractures, and measures should be taken to reduce cadmiam exposure in the general population in order to minimize the risk of adverse health results.
Abstract: The main threats to human health from heavy metals are associated with exposure to lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic. These metals have been extensively studied and their effects on human health regularly reviewed by international bodies such as the WHO. Heavy metals have been used by humans for thousands of years. Although several adverse health effects of heavy metals have been known for a long time, exposure to heavy metals continues, and is even increasing in some parts of the world, in particular in less developed countries, though emissions have declined in most developed countries over the last 100 years. Cadmium compounds are currently mainly used in re-chargeable nickel-cadmium batteries. Cadmium emissions have increased dramatically during the 20th century, one reason being that cadmium-containing products are rarely re-cycled, but often dumped together with household waste. Cigarette smoking is a major source of cadmium exposure. In non-smokers, food is the most important source of cadmium exposure. Recent data indicate that adverse health effects of cadmium exposure may occur at lower exposure levels than previously anticipated, primarily in the form of kidney damage but possibly also bone effects and fractures. Many individuals in Europe already exceed these exposure levels and the margin is very narrow for large groups. Therefore, measures should be taken to reduce cadmium exposure in the general population in order to minimize the risk of adverse health effects. The general population is primarily exposed to mercury via food, fish being a major source of methyl mercury exposure, and dental amalgam. The general population does not face a significant health risk from methyl mercury, although certain groups with high fish consumption may attain blood levels associated with a low risk of neurological damage to adults. Since there is a risk to the fetus in particular, pregnant women should avoid a high intake of certain fish, such as shark, swordfish and tuna; fish (such as pike, walleye and bass) taken from polluted fresh waters should especially be avoided. There has been a debate on the safety of dental amalgams and claims have been made that mercury from amalgam may cause a variety of diseases. However, there are no studies so far that have been able to show any associations between amalgam fillings and ill health. The general population is exposed to lead from air and food in roughly equal proportions. During the last century, lead emissions to ambient air have caused considerable pollution, mainly due to lead emissions from petrol. Children are particularly susceptible to lead exposure due to high gastrointestinal uptake and the permeable blood-brain barrier. Blood levels in children should be reduced below the levels so far considered acceptable, recent data indicating that there may be neurotoxic effects of lead at lower levels of exposure than previously anticipated. Although lead in petrol has dramatically decreased over the last decades, thereby reducing environmental exposure, phasing out any remaining uses of lead additives in motor fuels should be encouraged. The use of lead-based paints should be abandoned, and lead should not be used in food containers. In particular, the public should be aware of glazed food containers, which may leach lead into food. Exposure to arsenic is mainly via intake of food and drinking water, food being the most important source in most populations. Long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking-water is mainly related to increased risks of skin cancer, but also some other cancers, as well as other skin lesions such as hyperkeratosis and pigmentation changes. Occupational exposure to arsenic, primarily by inhalation, is causally associated with lung cancer. Clear exposure-response relationships and high risks have been observed.

5,015 citations

27 Oct 1991
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of lead poisoning on the developing developing developing nervous system were investigated, including neurological, neurobehavioral, and developmental effects in children, and toxicity.
Abstract: Essentiality Toxicity Carcinogenicity Lead(Pb) Exposure Toxicokinetics Toxicity Neurologic, Neurobehavioral, and Developmental Effects in Children Mechanisms of Effects on the Developing Nervous System Peripheral Neuropathy Hematologic Effects Renal Toxicity Lead and Gout Effects on Cardiovascular System Immunotoxicity Bone Effects Reproductive Effects Birth Outcomes Carcinogenicity Other Effects Dose Response Treatment Organic Lead Compounds Mercury (Hg) Exposure Disposition and Toxicokinetics Metabolic Transformation Cellular Metabolism Toxicology Biological Indicators Treatment Nickel (Ni) Exposure Toxicokinetics Essentiality Toxicity Nickel Carbonyl Poisoning Dermatitis Indicators of Nickel Toxicity

1,727 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review article is published on environmental risk factors in breast cancer by Esther A Welp and her co-workers and concludes with several proposals for future studies.
Abstract: This report provides a review of the cadmium exposure situation in Sweden and updates the information on health risk assessment according to recent studies on the health effects of cadmium. The report focuses on the health effects of low cadmium doses and the identification of high-risk groups. The diet is the main source of cadmium exposure in the Swedish nonsmoking general population. The average daily dietary intake is about 15 micrograms/day, but there are great individual variations due to differences in energy intake and dietary habits. It has been shown that a high fiber diet and a diet rich in shellfish increase the dietary cadmium intake substantially. Cadmium concentrations in agricultural soil and wheat have increased continuously during the last century. At present, soil cadmium concentrations increase by about 0.2% per year. Cadmium accumulates in the kidneys. Human kidney concentrations of cadmium have increased several fold during the last century. Cadmium in pig kidney has been shown to have increased by about 2% per year from 1984-1992. There is no tendency towards decreasing cadmium exposure among the general nonsmoking population. The absorption of cadmium in the lungs is 10-50%, while the absorption in the gastrointestinal tract is only a few percent. Smokers have about 4-5 times higher blood cadmium concentrations (about 1.5 micrograms/l), and twice as high kidney cortex cadmium concentrations (about 20-30 micrograms/g wet weight) as nonsmokers. Similarly, the blood cadmium concentrations are substantially elevated in persons with low body iron stores, indicating increased gastrointestinal absorption. About 10-40% of Swedish women of child-bearing age are reported to have empty iron stores (S-ferritin < 12 micrograms/l). In general, women have higher concentrations of cadmium in blood, urine, and kidney than men. The population groups at highest risk are probably smokers, women with low body iron stores, and people habitually eating a diet rich in cadmium. According to current knowledge, renal tubular damage is probably the critical health effect of cadmium exposure, both in the general population and in occupationally exposed workers. Tubular damage may develop at much lower levels than previously estimated, as shown in this report. Data from several recent reports from different countries indicate that an average urinary cadmium excretion of 2.5 micrograms/g creatinine is related to an excess prevalence of renal tubular damage of 4%. An average urinary excretion of 2.5 micrograms/g creatinine corresponds to an average concentration of cadmium in renal cortex of 50 micrograms/g, which would be the result of long-term (decades) intake of 50 micrograms per day. When the critical concentrations for adverse effects due to cadmium accumulation are being evaluated, it is crucial to consider both the individual variation in kidney cadmium concentrations and the variations in sensitivity within the general population. Even if the population average kidney concentration is relatively low for the general population, a certain proportion will have values exceeding the concentration where renal tubular damage can occur. It can be estimated that, at the present average daily intake of cadmium in Sweden, about 1% of women with low body iron stores and smokers may experience adverse renal effects related to cadmium. If the average daily intake of cadmium would increase to 30 micrograms/day, about 1% of the entire population would have cadmium-induced tubular damage. In risk groups, for example, women with low iron stores, the percentage would be higher, up to 5%. Both human and animal studies indicate that skeletal damage (osteoporosis) may be a critical effect of cadmium exposure. We conclude, however, that the present evidence is not sufficient to permit such a conclusion for humans. We would like to stress, however, that osteoporosis is a very important public health problem worldwide, but especially in the Scandinav

1,231 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Historic and recent developments of toxicological and epidemiological questions, including exposition sources, resorption pathways and organ damage processes are discussed.
Abstract: Cadmium (Cd) has been in industrial use for a long period of time. Its serious toxicity moved into scientific focus during the middle of the last century. In this review, we discuss historic and recent developments of toxicological and epidemiological questions, including exposition sources, resorption pathways and organ damage processes.

1,082 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, levels of cadmium found in major food groups are highlighted together with levels found in liver and kidney samples from non-occupationally exposed populations, suggesting that renal toxicity may be an early warning of complications, sub-clinical or clinical morbidity.

961 citations

References
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01 Jan 1971
TL;DR: In this paper, a review on cadmium in the environment has been performed under a contract between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Environmental Hygiene of the Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
Abstract: The focus of this report is upon information essential to the understanding of the toxic action of cadmium and the relationship between dose (exposure) and effects on human beings and animals. The therapy of cadmium poisoning has not been discussed.This review on cadmium in the environment has been performed under a contract between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Environmental Hygiene of the Karolinska Institute, Sweden. The report is intended to serve as a background paper for a future Air Quality Criteria document on cadmium. Therefore, particular attention has been given to information relevant for the evaluation of risks due to long-term exposure to low concentrations of cadmium. Acute effects from short-term exposure to high concentrations are dealt with briefly. In vitro studies without bearing on the main problem have not been dealt with.The report is not limited to effects from exposure via inhalation. Newly accessible information, showing that large populations may be exposed considerably via the oral route, can elucidate chronic effects of cadmium in general. Man and animals can be victims of secondary exposure through vehicles such as food and water which have been contaminated by cadmium in air.

1,641 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Measurements of serum ferritin were correlated with other hematologic laboratory indexes in 250 hospitalized subjects with anemia or disorders in iron metabolism.
Abstract: Measurements of serum ferritin were correlated with other hematologic laboratory indexes in 250 hospitalized subjects with anemia or disorders in iron metabolism. A geometric mean value of 4 ng per milliliter was found in 32 patients with uncomplicated iron-deficiency anemia, and one of 2930 ng per milliliter in 23 with iron overload. Among subjects with anemia from causes otherthan iron deficiency, the mean serum ferritin level was increased to 180 ng per milliliter (geometric mean in normal controls, 59 ng per milliliter, with a 95 per cent confidence range of 12 to 300 ng per milliliter), presumably reflecting the transport of red-cell iron to stores. The wide range of values found was shown to be related primarily to the magnitude of body iron stores in each case as evaluated by bone-marrow hemosiderin. In addition, however, inflammation, liver disease and increased red-cell turnover were shown to elevate the serum ferritin concentration to a degree disproportionate to that of iron stores. (N...

921 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
28 Oct 1972-BMJ
TL;DR: The concentration of ferritin in serum gives a quantitative measure of the amount of storage iron in normal subjects and those with iron deficiency or overload and a concentration below 10 ng/ml is associated with a low transferrin saturation and iron-deficient erythropoiesis.
Abstract: The concentration of ferritin in serum gives a quantitative measure of the amount of storage iron in normal subjects and those with iron deficiency or overload. The mean level in normal men is 69 ng/ml, compared with 35 ng/ml in normal women. A concentration below 10 ng/ml is associated with a low transferrin saturation and iron-deficient erythropoiesis.

470 citations