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.