Cadmium concentrations in autopsy material from differently polluted areas of West Germany (FRG)

Analyses of Cadmium (Cd) in human specimens demand special interest since the Federal Environmental Agency of West-Germany (UBA, FRG) has published calculations and high figures of renal disturbances due to Cd. We analyzed autopsy material from the Cd-polluted area of Goslar/Harz Mountains (N = 28) and from the less contaminated region Erlangen/Nürnberg (Franconia) (N = 50). As determinants of Cd-concentration special regard was given to age, smoking habits, residence (urban/rural), and medical findings (nephropathy, hypertension). A balanced distribution of age is found in all subdivisions, the mean age of death is 66 and 68 yrs., respectively, in both regions. Median values of Cd-concentrations in the target organs from Franconia were found to be half the amount of those from Goslar (renal cortex: 12/19, medulla: 8/16, liver: 1/3 micrograms Cd/g wet weight). Significant local differences are found for renal medulla and liver (p less than 0.05). In both regions the Cd-content is independent from sex and residence (urban/rural). The influence of tobacco smoking on the Cd-burden is evident (greater than 50%). Cases of hypertension show maximum values, although this trend can't be confirmed by the median values. Regional Cd-pollution seems to have more effect than pathological findings: normotensive persons from Goslar have higher median renal Cd-concentrations than hypertensive patients from Franconia. Analyses of renal diseases reveal the same result. All Cd-concentrations are far below the critical value (200 micrograms Cd/g renal cortex, w.w.). The evaluation of such limit values and the results of similar studies are briefly discussed.