Metallothionein levels in liver and kidney of Canadians--a potential indicator of environmental exposure to cadmium

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1986.9936704· OSTI ID:6840228

Chung, J; Nartey, N O; Cherian, M G

Liver and kidney cortex samples were obtained from 89 human autopsies for the determination of metallothionein (MT), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu). An age-dependent increase of Cd, Zn, and Cd/Zn was observed in the kidney; increases peaked at mid-age and were followed by a decline. Cadmium was present at a low constant level in the liver at all ages. The mean concentrations of Cd and Zn were 18.0 and 40.1 micrograms/g wet weight, respectively, in the kidney, and for the liver the values for Cd and Zn were 2.0 and 79.0 micrograms/g wet weight, respectively. A positive linear relationship was observed between Cd or Zn and MT in the kidney and between Zn and MT in the liver. No other correlation was found between Cu and MT in either organs. Similar values were obtained for MT when estimated by Ag-hem and Cd-hem methods.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Western Ontario, London
• OSTI ID: 6840228
• Journal Information: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 5; ISSN AEHLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE DEPENDENCE
ANIMALS
AUTOPSY
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BODY
CADMIUM
CANADA
COPPER
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
GLANDS
LIVER
MAMMALS
MAN
METABOLISM
METALLOPROTEINS
METALLOTHIONEIN
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PRIMATES
PROTEINS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
ZINC