Reference Values of Cadmium in Kidney and Liver in Korean / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Cadmium (Cd), a toxic and non-essential metal, is recognized as a human carcinogen, which has a tendency to accumulate in the human body. The levels of Cd in renal cortex and liver are good indicators as an index of Cd exposure in the general population. In this study, we present an estimation of reference Cd levels in tissue (renal cortex and liver) and total body burden in the general population of Korea. MEDTHODS: Cd and zinc (Zn) were analyzed in renal cortex and liver from 254 autopsies (male : 188 cases, female : 66 cases) aged 0 to 87 years. RESULTS: Geometric mean concentration of Cd was 27.4 and 3.1 ua/g wet weight in renal cortex and liver, respectively. The level of Zn in renal cortex and liver was 35.4 and 42. 6 v/g wet weight, respectively. The result suggests that kidney is the target organ for Cd accumulation. The accumulation of Cd in renal cortex was age-dependent with a biphasic pattern. The level of Cd in renal cortex increased with age up to the fifties, and then leveled off thereafter. Based on the data, the regression model for Cd accumulation in renal cortex by age is predicted by : Log KCd = 0. 2325 + 0. 0553 Age 0. 0005 Age. The highest Cd accumulation in renal cortex of Koreans was estimated at 43. 3 ua/g wet weight at 50. 8 years old. In addition, the total Cd body burden by age was estimated by the following equation: Total Cd Body Burden = -4. 5948 + l. 2278 Age - 0. 0121 Age. The highest body burden of Cd was estimated at 26. 5 mg at age 50. 7 years in the Korean general population. The positive correlation between Zn and Cd was observed in renal cortex and liver. CONCLUSIONS: The level of Cd exposure in Korean was found to be lower than in Japanese, but same as or higher than in American and Europeans.

Reference Value of Cadmium in Myocardium in Korean / 대한산업의학회지

Cadmium(Cd) is an ubiquitous, toxic and non-essential metal which is controversial about the association with a cardiovascular disease. In this study, we investigated the reference level of Cd in myocardium in Korean general population. The level of Cd and zinc(Zn) concentration in myocardium of 252 cases of "sudden and unexpected death" autopsies(male 172, female 60) aged 0 to 87 years was analyzed. The concentration of Cd and Zn was determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometer(Perkin-Elmer Model 5100) by flameless and flame method, respectively. The content of Cd and Zn in myocardium showed the log-normal distribution rather than normal distribution. Geometric mean concentration of Cd was 0.19 microgram/g wet weight in myocardium. The level of Cd in myocardium was not significantly different between male(0. 18 microgram/g wet weight) and female(0.22 microgram/g wet weight). Geometric mean concentration of Zn in myocardium was 25.25 microgram/g wet weight. The level of Zn between male(25.13 microgram/g wet weight) and female(25.57 microgram/g wet weight) was not different. The deposit of Cd in myocardium was age-dependent of biphasic pattern, but the Zn level by age was not significantly different. The level of Cd in myocardium was increased to the fifties of age, thereafter a leveling-off was shown. The regression model of Cd deposit in myocardium by age was predicted as the following equation Log Heart-Cd = -1.2726 + 0.0234 Age - 0.0002 Age2. The maximum Cd deposit in myocardium was estimated to be 0.26 microgram/g wet weight at the age of 58.5 in Korean general population. In addition, the total Cd burden in heart by age was predicted as a following equation Total Cd burden in Heart = -10.165 + 2.891 Age - 0.0258 Age2. The maximum heart burden of Cd was estimated to be 70.7 microgram at age of 55.4. The positive correlation between Cd and Zn was observed in myocardium. The linear regression equation was Log Heart-Zn = 1.4195 +/- 0.0262- Log Heart-Cd.