• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the cadmium level in blood by age, gender, and smoking status among 162 elderly subjects in Gyeongnam Province from September 2006 to February 2007. The cadmium level in blood was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Subjects were classified according to smoking status and divided into smokers and non-smokers, smoking duration, daily smoking habits, age, and gender. Mean blood cadmium levels in male and female were $0.70{\pm}0.41{\mu}g/dL$ and $0.57{\pm}0.32{\mu}g/dL$ respectively, with no significant differences between the two groups. Cadmium levels in the blood of smokers and non-smokers were $0.57{\pm}0.32{\mu}g/dL$, $0.90{\pm}0.44{\mu}g/dL$ respectively, with the cadmium level of smokers being significantly higher than that of non-smokers. In comparison by age, cadmium levels in the blood of subjects over the age 70 years and over the age 80 years were $0.91{\pm}0.44{\mu}g/dL$, $1.02{\pm}0.39{\mu}g/dL$ respectively, showing a significantly higher blood cadmium level than that of non-smokers. when compared by the amount of daily cigarette consumption, there were no significant differences in the blood cadmium level between groups. However when compared by smoking duration, the blood cadmium level for the group of smoking duration of over 10 years was $1.15{\pm}0.38{\mu}g/dL$, significantly higher than $0.67{\pm}0.31{\mu}g/dL$ for the group of smoking duration of less than 10 years. In conclusion, longer smoking duration and older aged group showed higher cadmium level in blood. For more reliable results, further study of the elements that elevate the cadmium level in blood with more subjects and study variables will be needed.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.44
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• pp.278.1-278.12
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• 2018

Background: We evaluated the association of blood pressure (BP) with blood levels of cadmium, lead, and cadmium and lead together (cadmium + lead) in a representative sample of adolescents from Korea. Methods: We used 2010-2016 data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This cross-sectional study enrolled adolescents aged at 10-18 years-old who completed a health examination survey and had blood measurements of lead and cadmium. The association of adjusted mean differences in diastolic and systolic BP with doubling of blood lead and cadmium were estimated by regression of BP against ${\log}_2$-transformed blood metals and their quartiles after covariate adjustment. Adjusted odds ratio for prehypertension were calculated for ${\log}_2$-transformed blood levels of lead and cadmium and their quartiles. Results: Our analysis of adolescents in Korea indicated that blood levels of lead and cadmium were not significantly associated with increased BP or risk of prehypertension. However, the cadmium + lead level was associated with prehypertension. Previous studies showed that blood levels of lead and cadmium were associated with increased BP and risk of hypertension in adult populations. We found no such association in Korean adolescents. Conclusion: We found that the cadmium + lead level was associated with prehypertension. The differences between adults and adolescents are because adolescents generally have lower levels of these blood metals or because adolescents only rarely have hypertension.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.371-374
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship of the cadmium and lead levels in blood by age, gender and smoking status among 181 students in Gyeongnam province from June 2005 to July 2006. The cadmium and lead levels in blood was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Subjects were classified for the investigation according to smoking status as smokers and nonsmokers, age and gender. Mean blood cadmium level in male and female was $1.65{\mu}g/dl,\;1.10{\mu}g/dl$ respectively. Male was significantly higher than that of female. Blood cadmium levels in heavy smokers ($11{\sim}20\;ea/day$) and light smokers ($1{\sim}10\;ea/day$) were $2.34{\mu}g/dl,\;1.10{\mu}g/dl$ respectively. Heavy smokers were significantly higher than those of light smokers. In the comparison of age, gender and smoking status in blood Lead levels were no significant differences. In conclusion, heavy smoking was the most significant risk factor to increase blood cadmium levels. The further study will need analysis of the other factors related to the elevation of the cadmium and lead levels.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.193-202
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• 2009

In this study, we analyzed the blood cadmium concentration in general population of Korea, and followed the analyses the relations with epidemiologic factors, life-style and body iron store. The geometric mean concentration of blood cadmium was 1.20 ${\mu}g/L$ in study subject, the level of blood cadmium was higher in female (1.27 ${\mu}g/L$) than in male (1.11 ${\mu}g/L$). The mean concentration of blood cadmium was the highest in coastal area (1.80 ${\mu}g/L$) and followed in urban (1.01 ${\mu}g/L$) and rural area (0.90 ${\mu}g/L$). The cadmium concentration in whole blood was increased with age-dependent pattern, such as 0.64 ${\mu}g/L$ in the below 30 years, 0.95 ${\mu}g/L$ in the 30~44 years, 1.28 ${\mu}g/L$ in the 45~59 years and 1.31 ${\mu}g/L$ in the over 60 years. The level of blood cadmium was higher in smokers than in non-smokers, but was not significant by alcoholic habit. The blood cadmium level was different from occupations, which was the highest in the fishers as 1.87 ${\mu}g/L$. The inversed relation was observed between blood cadmium and serum Fe, while was correlated positively with the ferritin level. In summary, the environmental exposure to cadmium in Korean is not so much compared to other countries, and the blood cadmium is influenced by genetic factors (age and sex), life-styles (dietary habit, occupation and smoking habit) and nutrition such as serum iron.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 2008

Objectives : To estimate the normal range of blood and urine cadmium levels using data from occupationally non-exposed office workers to cadmium in selected Korean women. Methods : A total of 437 women from healthy office workers were analyzed. To analyze blood and urine cadmium levels, blood and urine samples of study subjects were collected carefully and analyzed. Using a structured questionnaire, characteristics of the study subjects were investigated by well trained interviewers. Results : Mean blood cadmium concentration (CdB) was $0.46\;{\mu}g/{\ell}$ (GM; 0.16), whereas mean urine cadmium concentration (CdU) was $0.94\;{\mu}g/g$ creatinine (GM; 0.37). A significant increase of cadmium levels in blood and urine was observed by the rise of age (p=0.007; p=0.002, respectively). In the analysis of smoking state, blood and urine cadmium levels were higher in current smokers than in nonsmokers. In the multiple regression analysis, the rise of age and currently smoking were observed as a significant factor associated with cadmium level. Conclusion : These findings suggest that mean cadmium level in blood and urine indicated a relatively low level, although the rise of age and currently smoking were observed as a significant factor related to cadmium level. It can be used for the basic data to prevent harmful effects of cadmium exposure among female workers occupationally exposed to cadmium.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.351-360
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• 2008

These experiments were conducted to determine the effects of Gamdutang on the accumulation of cadmium in the body of groups of rats that received an 8-week administration of 1.7, 3.4 and $6.8{\mu}g$/g/day of cadmium, respectively, while the other groups of rats received an 8-week administration of a mixture of cadmium by concentration and Gamdutang. A comparative analysis of these groups was conducted in respect of weight, accumulated cadmium in blood and diverse organs and pathological findings from the kidneys. As for the cadmium accumulation in blood, livers, kidneys, and testis, with the lengthening of the experiment period, the cadmium and Gamdutang mixture-administered groups tended to have reduced accumulation levels compared with the groups exclusively administered cadmium. Histopathological observation of the kidneys, observed in the cadmium exclusively administered groups showed hemorrhagic necrosis in glomeruli, swelling of tubules, epithelial shedding and necrosis of tubules; however, only mild tissue lesions were observed in the cadmium and Gamdutang mixture-administered groups. Given the above results, Gamdutang is deemed to have the effects of reducing the accumulation of cadmium in blood, liver, and testis when low-concentration cadmium is administered to rats.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.453-457
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• 2004

The welders and car painters are frequently exposed to heavy metals such as lead, zinc, cadmium and chromium, and those are a major source of heavy metal poisoning. This study was carried out to investigate the relationship of the heavy metal level in blood by age, working duration, and smoking status among 105 industrial workers and 88 general people in Gyeongnam province from October 2003 to October 2004. The heavy metal level in blood was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Mean blood lead level in exposed group and control group was 8.40±4.67μl/dl, 1.82±1.35μl/dl, respectively. Mean blood zinc level in exposed group and control group was 9.43±5.38 ㎍/ml, 2.89±1.79㎍/ml, respectively. Mean blood cadmium level in Exposed group and control group was 1.53±1.05μl/dl, 0.60±0.49 μl/dl, respectively. Mean blood chromium level in exposed group and control group was 0.89±0.76μl/dl, 0.68±0.63μl/dl, respectively. Lead, zinc, cadmium and chromium level in blood of exposed group was significantly higher than that of control group. In the comparison of smoking status, lead, zinc and cadmium level of smoker's was significantly higher than that of non-smoker's. Comparison of heavy metal level by age, lead, zinc, cadmium level in 40's, 50's (exposed group) in blood significantly higher than that of 20's, 30's. In exposed group, working duration has no significant difference. In conclusion, smoking was the most hazardous factor to elevate in blood heavy metal levels.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.225-231
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• 2004

Objectives : This study was performed to examine the influence of smoking on the blood cadmium concentration in university students. Methods : The study included 300 university students. A questionnaire interview was used to collect data. The urine cotinine and blood cadmium levels were measured as biological exposure indices. The data were analyzed using t-tests ANOVA and ANCOVA. Results : The median value of blood cadmium concentration was equal in both males and females ($0.8{\mu}g/l$). This level was relatively low in comparison with the reference value suggested by WHO (2001). ANCOVA showed that smoking related variables, urine cotinine and smoking amount, were significantly associated with the blood cadmium level (P=0.004, 0.015). However, the values with regard to traffic related air pollution were not significantly associated with the blood cadmium level. Conclusions : Smoking is an important source of nonoccupational cadmium exposure in young people. The Blood cadmium level is at least 10% higher in active smokers than in passive or nonsmokers. The level of urine cotinine can be used as an indicator of non-occupational exposure of respirable cadmium due to smoking, as there is a good correlation bestween smoking amount and the urine cotinine level.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.380-390
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• 2018

Objective: A significant association between blood lead levels and hypertension has been reported in many studies. The relationship between cadmium and hypertension has been debated as well. We aimed to study the association of lead, cadmium, and both with hypertension in the Korean general population. Methods: We examined 5,967 adult men and 6,074 women who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III-VI (2005, 2008-2013 years). Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between blood lead concentration and blood cadmium concentration and hypertension using logtransformed blood lead and cadmium concentrations as independent variables after covariate adjustment. Results: Adjusted for general characteristics, the odds ratio of log-lead to hypertension was 2.71 (1.82-4.03), and log-cadmium to hypertension was 2.52 (1.83-3.47). Estimates were found to be statistically significant (p<0.001). When a multiple logistic model was applied, the odds ratio of log-lead and log-cadmium for hypertension were 2.24 (1.50-3.36) and 2.24 (1.62-3.10), respectively. The standardized estimate coefficients of log-lead and logcadmium for hypertension were 4.77 and 6.65, respectively. Conclusion: We observed the association of blood lead concentration, blood cadmium concentration, and both with hypertension. This study suggests that exposure to lead and exposure to cadmium are both risk factors for hypertension.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.133-137
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of chlorella diet supplementation. Blood accumulation and urine excretion levels were measured after the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed on a chlorella diet supplementation mixed with 40 ppm of CdCl$_2$. Four groups tested for blood accumulation and urine excretion levels. All four groups fed on a basic diet with a cadmium mixture. The diet for the first group contained only basic diet and the cadmium added to the drinking water. The diet for the three other groups contained cadmium to the drinking water, and 1%, 5% and 10% of chlorella added to the basic diet. A concentration of cadmium for the first group showed a 3.2$\pm$0.4 $\mu\textrm{g}$/I blood accumulation level and 41.5$\pm$32.9 $\mu\textrm{g}$/l urinary excretion level, and the second group, which was fed on the basic diet with 1% of chlorella added and cadmium to the drinking water showed a $1.5\pm$0.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$/l blood level and only l4.l$\pm$1.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$/l urinary excretion level. The other two groups, which were fed on 5% and 10% of chlorella concentration and cadmium to the drinking water did not exhibit any notable effects greater than the group fed on 1% concentration of chlorella. The results suggest that the blood accumulation and urinary excretion of Cadmium are influenced by the chlorella diet supplementation from the concentration of 1% of the basic diet.