Summary
Urinary cadmium (Cd), N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), and creatinine levels were determined for 400 inhabitants living in Cd-polluted districts of Annaka City in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. The Cd pollution was mainly due to falling dust from a zinc smelter factory according to seasonal winds. The Cd-polluted areas were divided into five administrative districts around the factory. The geometric mean of the urinary Cd level of the inhabitants in the five districts, Nodono, Iwai, Ooya, Nakajyuku, and Itahana, were 2.95, 2.66, 2.45, 1.97, and 1.67 μg/g creatinine, respectively. The geometric means for Nodono and Iwai are statistically larger than that for Itahana (P < 0.01). These results were well explained by the wind direction and proximity to the factory. In addition, a two-way analysis of variance on the urinary Cd level was made using place of residence and smoking habits. The effect was mainly due to the place of residence, and no interactions were found. There were statistically significant differences in NAG excretion among the five groups, but no difference could be found between two groups using a multiple comparison. Pearson's correlation coefficient between the logarithm of urinary Cd content and that of NAG was 0.203, but statistically significant (r = 0.462 without creatinine correction; P < 0.01). The present results indicate the association of urinary Cd and NAG levels in a Cd-exposed population whose geometric mean of urinary Cd content is about 2 μg/g creatinine. We recommend a continuous survey of the minimum health effects of the Cd pollution using urinary levels of Cd and protein including NAG.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bernard AM, Lauwerys RR (1989) Cadmium, NAG activity, and β2-microglobulin in the urine of cadmium pigment workers. Br J Ind Med 46:679
Bernard AM, Roels HA, Cardenas A, Lauwerys RR (1990) Assessment of urinary protein 1 and transferrin as early markers of cadmium nephrotoxicity. Br J Ind Med 47:559–565
Bonnes RW, Taussky MH (1945) On the colorimetric determination of creatinine by the Jaffe reaction. J Biol Chem 158:581–591
Brinkman GL, Coates EO (1962) The prevalence of chronic bronchitis in an industrial population. Am Rev Respir Dis 86:47–54
Ewers U, Brockhaus A, Dolgner R, Freier I, Jermann E, Bernard A, Winkler RS, Hahn R, Manojlovic N (1985) Environmental exposure to cadmium and renal function of elderly women living in cadmium-polluted areas of the Federal Republic of Germany. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 55:217–239
Friberg L, Piscator M, Nordberg GF (1971) Cadmium in the environment. CRC Press, Ohio
Friberg L, Piscator M, Nordberg GF, Kjellström T (1974) Cadmium in the environment, 2nd edn. CRC Press, Ohio
Iwata K, Moriyama M, Ikeda T, Sakata S, Saito H (1990) Prognosis of cadmium-induced renal dysfunction after reduction of exposure (in Japanese). Jpn J Ind Health 32:274–275
Kawada T, Koyama H, Suzuki S (1989) Cadmium, NAG acitivity, and β2-microglobulin in the urine of cadmium pigment workers. Br J Ind Med 46:52–55
Kawada T, Koyama H, Suzuki S (1989) Cadmium, NAG activity, and β2-microglobulin in the urine of cadmium pigment workers. Br J Ind Med 46:679–680
Kawada T, Tohyama C, Suzuki S (1990) Significance of the excretion of urinary indicator proteins for a low level of occupational exposure to cadmium. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 62:95–100
Kido T, Honda R, Tsuritani I, Yamaya H, Ishizaki M, Yamada Y, Nogawa K (1987) An epidemiological study on renal dysfunction of inhabitants in Cd-exposed areas in the Kakehashi basin in Ishikawa prefecture. Jpn J Hyg 42:964–972
Matsuda S, Usui J, Shimada Y, Nakajima K, Kano K, Takishima T, Fukushima I (1973) Oral ingestion and urinary excretion of cadmium of inhabitants in Usui, Yanase, and Watarase River basin (in Japanese). Ann Rep Gunma Inst Pub Health 5:87–92
Morishita T, Fumoto N (1990) Natural abundance and enriched background of cadmium in rice produced on different type of farm fields in Kanto district, Japan. Environ Sci 3:187–196
Nagata M, Hayakawa Y, Miyagoshi M (1990) Environmental cadmium exposure in the past and urinary levels of hydroxylysine glycosides. Jpn J Health Hum Ecol 56:310–316
Nordgerg GF, Nordberg M (1988) Biological monitoring of cadmium. In: Clarkson TW, Friberg, Nordberg GF, Sager PR (eds) Biological monitoring of toxic metals. Plenum, New York, p 163
Noto A, Ogawa Y, Mori S, Yoshioka M, Kitakaze T, Hori T, Nakamura M, Miyake T (1983) Simple, rapid spectrophotometry of urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, with use of a new chromogenic substrate. Clin Chem 29:1713–1716
Rivai IF, Koyama H, Suzuki S (1990) Cadmium content in rice and rice field soil in China, Indonesia and Japan, with special reference to soil type and daily intake from rice. Jpn J Health Hum Ecol 56:168–177
Rivai IF, Koyama H, Suzuki S (1990) Cadmium content in rice and its daily intake in various countries. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 44:910–916
Roels HA, Lauwerys RR, Buchet JP, Bernard AM, Vos A, Oversteyns M (1989) Health significance of cadmium induced renal dysfunction: a five year follow up. Br J Ind Med 46:755–764
Roels HA, Lauwerys RR, Buchet JP, Bernard AM, Lijnen P, Houte G (1990) Urinary kallikrein activity in workers exposed to cadmium, lead, or mercury vapour. Br J Ind Med 47:331–337
Roels HA, Lauwerys RR, Bernard AM, Buchet JP, Vos A, Oversteyns M (1991) Assessment of the filtration reserve capacity of the kidney in workers exposed to cadmium. Br J Ind Med 48:365–374
Sato K, Sada K, Asakura K, Nishinomiya S (1989) Consideration of the representativeness of soil samples (in Japanese with English abstract). Environ Sci 2:101–109
Simms DL, Morgan H, Thornton I, Alloway BJ, Strehlow CD, Smart GA, Sherlock JC, Bartrop D, Quinn MJ (1988) The Shipham report: an investigation into cadmium contamination and its implications for human health. Sci Total Environ 75:1–143
Strehlow CD, Barltrop D (1988) Chapter 6. Health studies. In: Simms DL, Morgan H, Thornton I, et al (eds) The Shipham report: an investigation into cadmium contamination and its implications for human health. Sci Total Environ 75:101–133
Suzuki S, Iwao S (1982) Cadmium, copper, and zinc levels in the rice and rice field soil of Houston, Texas. Biol Trace Element Res 4:21–28
Suzuki S, Lu CC (1976) A balance study of cadmium. An estimation of daily input, output and retained amount in two subjects. Ind Health 14:53–65
Suzuki S, Koyama H, Hattori T, Kawada T, Rivai IF (1988) Daily intake of cadmium: an ecological view. In: Sumino S (ed) Environ Occup Chem Hazards no 8:205–217
Thun MJ, Osorio AM, Schober S, Hannon WH, Lewis B, Halperin W (1989) Nephropathy in cadmium workers: assessment of risk from airborne occupational exposure to cadmium. Br J Ind Med 46:689–697
WHO (1980) Recommended health-based limits in occupational exposure to heavy metals, report of a study group (Tech Rep Ser 647). WHO, Geneva
Yamagata N (1978) Cadmium in the environment and in humans. In: Tsuchiya K (ed) Cadmium study in Japan. A review. Kodansha, Tokyo, p 31
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kawada, T., Shinmyo, R.R. & Suzuki, S. Urinary cadmium and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase excretion of inhabitants living in a cadmium-polluted area. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 63, 541–546 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386343
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386343