[The cadmium content of human tissues from biopsies]

The level of cadmium (cd) concentration was determined in organs of 130 men and women. This study was conducted on living human beings who, in their occupation, haven't had extraordinary cd-exposure. Samples of tissues taken during operation were evaluated as well as urine samples (24 hours specimen), blood, an extended patient history including occupation and the postoperative diagnosis. The average cd-concentration was means = 27.3 +/- 29.7 micrograms/g wet weight in kidney cortex, 9.3 +/- 11.7 micrograms/g in kidney medulla, 1.1 +/- 0.5 micrograms/g in liver, 2.9 +/- 2.5 micrograms/l in blood and 2.6 +/- 2.9 micrograms/l in urine. Concentrations in 7 other tissues were measured. The critical cd-level for liver and kidney was not reached in any case. Cd-concentration is related to age and cigarette smoking, not to the sex of the person. It is quite impossible to make a precise estimation on the kidney load from blood or urine level of an individual patient. Differences in cd-load between patients with cancer and those without are discussed. A synopsis of international studies shows that results achieved through various methods, radiological cd-measurement, autopsies and our biopsies were comparatively the same.