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Published on: September 4, 2017
Application of benchmark dose (BMD) in estimating biological exposure limit (BEL) to cadmium
Bo Shao1, Tai-Yi Jin, Xun-Wei Wu
1Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Objective:
To estimate the biological exposure limit (BEL) using benchmark dose (BMD) based on two sets of data from occupational epidemiology.
Methods:
Cadmium-exposed workers were selected from a cadmium smelting factory and a zinc product factory. Doctors, nurses or shop assistants living in the same area served as a control group. Urinary cadmium (UCd) was used as an exposure biomarker and urinary beta2-microgloburin (B2M), N-acetyl-13-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and albumin (ALB) as effect biomarkers. All urine parameters were adjusted by urinary creatinine. Software of BMDS (Version 1.3.2, EPA.U.S.A) was used to calculate BMD.
Results:
The cut-off point (abnormal values) was determined based on the upper limit of 95% of effect biomarkers in control group. There was a significant dose response relationship between the effect biomarkers (urinary B2M, NAG; and ALB) and exposure biomarker (UCd). BEL value was 5 microg/g creatinine for UB2M as an effect biomarker, consistent with the recommendation of WHO. BEL could be estimated by using the method of BMD. BEL value was 3 microg/g creatinine for UNAG as an effect biomarker. The more sensitive the used biomarker is, the more occupational population will be protected.
Conclusion:
BMD can be used in estimating the biological exposure limit (BEL). UNAG is a sensitive biomarker for estimating BEL after cadmium exposure.
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