Occupational cadmium exposure in jig solderers

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Toxicology
• Occupational Medicine

Background:

• Cadmium exposure is a significant occupational hazard, particularly for workers involved in soldering.
• Understanding the long-term health effects, specifically on renal function, is crucial for risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess cadmium body burden, blood and urine cadmium levels, and renal function in cadmium solderers.
• To investigate the relationship between exposure duration and renal dysfunction.
• To evaluate the impact of cessation of cadmium exposure on renal health.

Main Methods:

• Studied 53 cadmium solderers, measuring blood and urine cadmium concentrations and assessing renal function.
• Categorized workers based on exposure duration (e.g., >5 years).
• Monitored renal function markers, including indicators of tubular and glomerular dysfunction.

Main Results:

• Workers with >5 years of exposure exhibited elevated blood/urine cadmium and body burden.
• 27 workers exceeded the proposed urine cadmium threshold (10 nmol/mmol creatinine).
• Renal tubular dysfunction was observed in 17 long-term exposed subjects; one also had glomerular dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• Cadmium body burden and tubular dysfunction in end-users can be as high as in production workers.
• Tubular dysfunction may occur before significant cadmium excretion increases.
• Cessation of cadmium exposure appeared to halt the progression of renal dysfunction.