Total and metallothionein-bound cadmium in the liver and the kidney of a population in Barcelona (Spain)

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00199019· OSTI ID:6641205

Torra, M; To-Figueras, J; Brunet, M; Rodamilans, M; Corbella, J ^[1]

---

1. Universitat de Barcelona (Spain)

Since the beginning of XXth century environmental pollution by cadmium has been increasing in most European countries due to industrial and agricultural emissions. Among the heavy metals of environmental concern, cadmium is one of the most widespread with variable but significant concentrations normally found in tobacco smoke, food, drinking water, and soils. Cadmium has a broad spectrum of toxic effects in man. After ingestion and absorption a significant fraction of the metal accumulates in tissues with an estimated half-life of about 10 years in humans. Kidney is the main target organ of both accumulation and toxicity with nephrotoxic effects being better understood. In recent years the possible nephrotoxic effects of cadmium at low concentrations on the general population have been a major concern. Toxic effects of cadmium on renal function cause increased proteinuria, aminoaciuria, glucosuria and decreased phosphate tubular reabsorption. Early signs of renal toxicity include an increase in the urinary excretion of low-molecular-weight (LMWP) proteins which are normally reabsorbed by tubular cells. Since nephrotoxicity is in most cases an irreversible process, great efforts are actually being made to develop biological markers for the early detection of structural or functional changes at various sites of the renal parenchyma. This study evaluates the concentration of cadmium in the kidney and the liver in the urban general population of Barcelona. Cadmium bound to metallothionein (MT) was also assessed in both tissues since it is well known that this protein plays a crucial role in cadmium kinetics and toxicity. The metallothionein is a low molecular weight protein with high cysteine and metal content. It serves a homeostatic function for the essential metals, and also a detoxification function for metals such as cadmium and mercury. 20 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6641205
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States), Vol. 53:4; ISSN 0007-4861
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CADMIUM
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
MAN
KIDNEYS
LIVER
SPAIN
URBAN AREAS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
METALLOTHIONEIN
ANIMALS
BODY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
EUROPE
GLANDS
MAMMALS
METALLOPROTEINS
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PRIMATES
PROTEINS
VERTEBRATES
WESTERN EUROPE
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology