Clinical and biochemical abnormalities in coppersmiths exposed to cadmium.

5(18.5%) of a group 27 coppersmiths exposed to cadmium fume had stone disease. When compared with a control group of assembly workers in the same factory they had evidence of renal impairment as shown by blood biochemistry and proteinuria. A greater tendency to liver damage was found in the coppersmiths. There was evidence that restrictive airways disease was more common in the coppersmiths than in the control group. Blood-cadmium concentrations were significantly higher in the coppersmiths and in the assembly workers than in a reference population.