Cadmium contamination of the countryside, a case study on health effects
- National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, Bilthoven (Netherlands)
The border region between Belgium and The Netherlands, the Kempen, was found to be polluted with cadmium. The main route of pollution had been by air but some cadmium came by way of surface-water and solid waste. This resulted in an increase in the cadmium content of locally grown vegetables. The consequential exposure to cadmium of humans living in the area has been estimated using various methods and is approximately the FAO/WHO maximum allowable daily intake, smoking disregarded. Several studies of possible effects on public health were conducted. Among these studies were two geographic studies, one on hospital admissions for various non-malignant diseases and one on cancer-incidence. Two cohort studies on possible teratogenic effects in a non-occupationally exposed, non-smoking vegetarian population with a high fertility and good registration were also conducted. A survey on cadmium content of the urine and kidney damage in a longtime but non-occupationally exposed rural population and a reference population formed the main study. Also, a survey on cadmium content of the kidney samples of autopsied patients in a population based study and a reference population was conducted. Together these studies showed that the extra exposure had lead to an additional body-burden of cadmium resulting in various signs of malfunction. In consequence of the findings the Netherlands Ministry for Housing, Physical Planning and Environment appropriated money to cleanup contaminated gardens. 13 refs.
- OSTI ID:
- 5897488
- Journal Information:
- Toxicology and Industrial Health; (USA), Vol. 6:5; ISSN 0748-2337
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Cadmium concentrations in human renal cortex tissue (necropsies)
Exposure determinants of cadmium in European mothers and their children
Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CADMIUM
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FOOD CHAINS
CONTAMINATION
NETHERLANDS
POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION
BODY BURDEN
HEALTH HAZARDS
LAND POLLUTION
METABOLISM
MONITORING
RURAL AREAS
TERATOGENESIS
WATER POLLUTION
ELEMENTS
EUROPE
HAZARDS
METALS
WESTERN EUROPE
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540220 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology