Elevated serum cadmium among workers of Assiut Cement Factory: source, assessment and toxicological studty

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted on 72 male workers of Assiut Cement Factory complaining of some renal troubles together with 30 healthy controls. Significant increase in the level of serum and urinary cadmium was observed among those workers. Other renal variables including B2-microglabulin [B2-MG] and N-acetyl Beta-glucosaminidase [NAG] were also significantly increased denoting renal impairment. An interesting finding in this study was the elevation of serum calcium and serum alkaline phosphatase among the workers compared with controls. The levels of these bioindices were correlated with the level of serum and urinary cadmium. Dose response relations were observed between B2-MG and NAG and urinary cadmium. The source of cadmium was searched for including the waste products of the factory and its surroundings and the drinking water. Water of the well supplying the factory proved to be the main source of pollution among the workers