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Dose-response analysis of cadmium-induced tubular proteinuria: a study of urinary. beta. /sub 2/-microglobulin excretion among workers in a battery factory

Journal Article · · Environ. Res.; (United States)

The study covered 240 male and female workers exposed to cadmium oxide and nickel hydroxide dust in a Swedish battery factory. The control group comprised 87 unexposed males. Air samples from the plant showed the present exposure level to be about 50..mu..g Cd/m/sup 3/ air. Cadmium-induced effects were studied by measuring urinary ..beta../sub 2/-microglobulin excretion. Urinary ..beta../sub 2/-microglobulin concentration followed a log-normal distribution in the reference group with a geometric mean of 84..mu..g/liter (adjusted to a specific gravity of 1.023). In the group of 185 persons continuously exposed to cadmium dust in the work environment, the prevalence of excess urinary ..beta../sub 2/-microglobulin excretion increased with employment time. The prevalance was 19% for the workers with 6 to 12 years of exposure to about 50..mu..g Cd/m/sup 3/ as compared to 3% for those in the reference group. Smokers had about 3 times higher prevalence than non smokers.

OSTI ID:
5774391
Journal Information:
Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 13:2; ISSN ENVRA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English