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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
09:33
An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
Published on: December 17, 2018
[Acute and chronic cadmium poisoning]
P Andujar1, L Bensefa-Colas, A Descatha
1Inserm, unité 955, 94000 Créteil, France. pascal.andujar@chicreteil.fr <pascal.andujar@chicreteil.fr>
La Revue De Medecine Interne
|August 28, 2009
Summary
Cadmium, a toxic metal found in food and tobacco, accumulates in the body, primarily the liver and kidneys. Chronic exposure can lead to kidney damage, bone disease, and cancer, with urinary cadmium as a key exposure indicator.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Occupational Health
Context:
- Cadmium is a metallic impurity prevalent in various minerals.
- Industrial applications, particularly in batteries and pigments, have increased cadmium use since the early 20th century.
- The general population encounters cadmium primarily through dietary intake and tobacco smoking.
Purpose:
- To outline the sources, industrial uses, and toxicological profile of cadmium.
- To highlight the long-term health consequences of cadmium exposure, including renal tubulopathy, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis.
- To emphasize cadmium's classification as a human carcinogen and discuss exposure monitoring and management challenges.
Summary:
- Cadmium is a cumulative toxicant with a long elimination half-time (20-40 years), primarily stored in the liver and kidneys.
- Exposure routes include inhalation of fumes (causing respiratory issues) and chronic ingestion.
- Chronic cadmium poisoning manifests as renal tubulopathy, potentially leading to bone demineralization (osteomalacia, osteoporosis), and it is recognized as a Group 1 carcinogen by IARC.
Impact:
- Urinary cadmium levels serve as the most significant biomarker for assessing exposure.
- Current therapeutic options, such as chelating agents, are ineffective for treating human cadmium poisoning.
- Occupational exposure to cadmium may be compensable in some regions, such as France, for related diseases.
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