Elsevier

Toxicology Letters

Volume 129, Issues 1–2, 24 March 2002, Pages 85-91
Toxicology Letters

Association between total cadmium intake calculated from the cadmium concentration in household rice and mortality among inhabitants of the cadmium-polluted Jinzu River basin of Japan

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4274(01)00520-3Get rights and content

Abstract

A follow-up survey was conducted to investigate the relationship between total Cd intake and mortality in the Jinzu River basin for 6128 days among 757 inhabitants who ingested household rice. When the subjects were divided into two groups, standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were 0.94 in men and 1.36 in women for the ≥2.0 g group and 0.68 in men and 0.29 in women for the <2.0 g group (significant in the women). Cox's hazard ratios for men, women, and men+women for the ≥2.0 g group relative to those in the <2.0 g group were 1.406, 3.955 and 1.950 (significant in the men+women). Using total Cd intake as a continuous variable, the hazard ratios were 1.045, 1.146 and 1.049 in men, women, and men+women (significant in the women), respectively. In the Jinzu River basin, increased total Cd intake appears to exert an adverse influence on life prognosis.

Introduction

Previously, we conducted a follow-up survey on 2101 inhabitants (1566 men, 535 women) to determine the influence of environmental Cd exposure on the mortality of the general population in the Jinzu River basin (Ishihara et al., 2001). The rural communities were divided into two groups, one with a Cd concentration in rice of <0.30 ppm and the other ≥0.30 ppm. The influence of Cd concentration in rice on mortality was analyzed using standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and a Cox's proportional hazard model. In both sexes SMRs tended to be greater in the ≥0.3 ppm group than in the <0.3 ppm group. The Cox hazard ratios for men and women in the >0.30 ppm group to those in the ≥0.30 ppm group, were 1.42 and 1.10, respectively (significant in the men). The high Cd concentration in rice in these rural communities is believed to be the factor underlying the increase in mortality.

Because total Cd intake is considered to be the most relevant external dose in investigations of a dose-response relationship, we investigated the influence of total Cd intake on mortality in the present study. Total Cd intake is calculated from the Cd dose ingested from rice and other foods produced in the polluted region and the Cd dose ingested during the period of residence in a non-polluted region.

Section snippets

Study population and sampling of rice

In 1967 and 1968, the most systematic and large-scale health examinations were conducted among the entire population aged ≥30 years of the Jinzu River basin, non-Jinzu River basin, and a region receiving a mixed water supply. In 1967 the examination was conducted mainly in the heavily polluted region with 6667 participants (3181 men, 3486 women, participation rate 93.4%). We performed a follow-up study targeting the subjects participating in the 1967 health survey. Moreover, since we selected

Results

The number of subjects at the start and end of the observation period, number of deaths during this period, mean number of person-days observed, mean age, mean residence time in the polluted area, mean total Cd intake and mean Cd concentration in rice are shown in Table 1. Complete followed-up rates were approximately 99.5%. In both sexes the mean age, residence time in the polluted area, total Cd intake and Cd concentration in rice were significantly higher in the ≥2.0 g group compared to the

Discussion

In this study, we collected household rice samples which were produced and consumed by each family for two continuous years and calculated the total Cd intake in each individual, based on the detailed history of residence. In general it is not easy to estimate accurately the total Cd intake in each person. The characteristic point of this study is that we estimated the total Cd intake of each person based on the rice Cd concentration ingested and history of residence for each person. Therefore,

References (14)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (50)

  • Increase of lifetime cadmium intake dose-dependently increased all cause of mortality in female inhabitants of the cadmium-polluted Jinzu River basin, Toyama, Japan

    2018, Environmental Research
    Citation Excerpt :

    Rice samples were also different. Kobayashi et al. used the R-Cd in 799 samples of unpolished non-glutinous rice harvested in 1972 and stored in farmhouses in 49 hamlets in the Cd-polluted district (Kobayashi et al., 2002a). The study by Matsuda et al. and the present study used the R-Cd concentrations determined by the Toyama Prefectural Department of Health from 1971 to 1976 (Matsuda et al., 2003).

  • Endemic Nephropathy Around the World

    2017, Kidney International Reports
    Citation Excerpt :

    Histology from the few reported kidney biopsies revealed interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, and ischemic glomerular lesions.10 High concentrations of Cd were found in soil, rice, and in pathology specimens of individuals with Itai-Itai.11 A large 16-year follow-up study identified a dose-related increase in overall age-adjusted mortality, and mortality related to cardiovascular and kidney disease.12

  • Root application of selenite can simultaneously reduce arsenic and cadmium accumulation and maintain grain yields, but show negative effects on the grain quality of paddy rice

    2016, Journal of Environmental Management
    Citation Excerpt :

    However, both elements can accumulate extensively in plants, reduce crop yield and even cause plant death (Feng et al., 2013b; Garg and Singla, 2011; Kozhevnikova et al., 2007; Zeng et al., 2008). Long-term Cd intake can cause functional changes in the urinary system and affect bone development, and long-term As intake may cause various cancers such as those of the bladder, lungs, and liver (Farnese et al., 2014; Kobayashi et al., 2002). Selenium (Se) is an essential nutrient for humans and low levels of Se are reported to be beneficial to plants (Ding et al., 2014).

  • Rapid Detection of Food Adulterants and Contaminants: Theory and Practice

    2016, Rapid Detection of Food Adulterants and Contaminants: Theory and Practice
View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text