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Occup Environ Med 57:19-27 doi:10.1136/oem.57.1.19
  • Paper

Neurobehavioural effects of occupational exposure to cadmium: a cross sectional epidemiological study

Table 4

Literature review of Cd neurotoxicity in humans

Authors Study design E/C (n) Exposure to Cd Other exposures and observations Neurotoxic effects Dose-effect relation
Adults:
 Prodan, 193226 Review of case reports 9 2 Chronic, 7 acute Zn 2/2: Weakness; 5/7: headache
 Baader, 195227 Case report 1 ExpY: 16 ? Anosmia; intramural plexus lesions (bronchial-abdominal)
 Cotter, 195828 Case report 3 2–6 months, >1 y ? 2/3: Mental irritability
 Dunphy, 196730 Case reports 50 4–36 h ? Headache (34%), weakness (12%), dizziness (34%)
 Blum et al, 19894 Case report 1 CdH: 17.1 μg/g CdU: 5 μg/l Pb, pipefitter. Axonal sensorimotor PNP
 Kilburn and McKinley, 19965 Case report 2 30 min (fumes); CdU: 25 and 485 μg/day Ni, CO, PVC fumes Severe (485 μg); moderate (25 μg) psycho-organic syndrome
 Struempleret al, 198535 Case-control (behavioural difficulties) 40 CdH: 0.2–2 μg/g Proteinuria ↗ Demerits (behavioural difficulty) r=0.55
 Adams and Crabtree, 196129 Cross sectional 106E/84C Airdust: 350 μg Cd/m3 (range: 340–27600) Ni dust, proteinuria Anosmia: 15% in E vs 5% in C +
 Musiol et al, 198132 Cross sectional 49E ExpY: 13 (1–33) CdU:<10ó>10μg/l ? Polyneuropathy: <10 μg Cd/l: 17% >10 μg Cd/l: 55% +
 Hart et al, 19893 Cross sectional 31E CdU: 25.9 μg/l (1–110) PbB: 9.3 μg/dl renal function: normal ↓ Attention, memory, and psychomotor speed +
 Bar-Selaet al, 199231 Cross sectional 38E ExpY 8.4 (range: 1–14) CdU: 67μg/l (8–306) Ni, Mn, Mg, Zn 90% Headache; 42% dizzy spells 21% weakness; 16% brain atrophy (+)
 Rose et al, 199225 Cross sectional 55E/16C ExpY: 9.2 airdust: 300 μg Cd/m3 Proteinuria Hyposmia: E: 13 %; C: 0 % +
 Viaene et al, 19986 Cross sectional 13E/19C ExpY: 23; mean CdUmax : 22 μg/g creatinine PbB: 9 μg /dl proteinuria 7E/2C: Polyneuropathy OR: 9.92 (95%CI 1.60–61.6) +
 Viaene et al, (present study) Cross sectional 42E/47C ExpY: 13; mean CdUmax 12.6 μg/g creatinine PbB: 9.7 μg/dl retired: proteinuria active: no proteinuria ↓ Motor speed, attention, memory ↑ equilibrium, PNP, and concentration complaints +
Children:
 Stellern et al, 19838 Case-control (learning difficulties) 25 CdH: 0.94 μg/g Hair: 8.96 μg Pb/g ↓ Visuomotor skills Pb: r=−0.43 Cd: r=−0.51 +
 Thatcher et al, 19827 Cross sectional 149 CdH: 1.65 ppm (0–8.9) Hair: 7.5 ppm Pb Cd: ↓ verbal IQ +
(range: 0–178) Pb: ↓ performance IQ +
 Marlowe et al, 19859 Cross sectional 69 CdH:0.7μg/g (0.2–2.0) Pb, As, Hg, Al Combined exposure index Pb-Cd ↓ visuomotor skills +
 Bonithon et al, 198633 Cross sectional 26 Babies CdH: 0.6μg/g (0.2–1.9) Hair: 19.3 μg Pb/g (range: 4.6–104.7) Cd: ↓ perceptual, cognitive, motor Pb: ↓ perceptual, motor +
 Lewiset al, 199234 Cross sectional 92 Amniotic fluid: 1.0 μg Cd/dl Cr, Pb, Co, Ag, Ni, Hg ↓ Verbal, perceptual, cognitive, and motor abilities +
  • E=exposed subjects, C=control subjects; CdU=urinary cadmium concentration; CdH=concentration of cadmium in hair; ExpY=exposure-years; PbB=blood lead concentration; PNP= polyneuropathy.

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