Urinary excretion of cadmium, protein, beta-2-microglobulin and glucose in individuals living in a cadmium-polluted area.

Urine was collected from 289 inhabitants of a cadmium-polluted quarter of Stadskanaal. The excretion of cadmium, protein, beta-2-microglobulin and glucose were determined. After being divided according to sex and to smoking habits, the results of the inhabitants were compared with those of 293 controls. In inhabitants as well as controls, cadmium excretion was age-dependent. Cadmium excretion in females increased faster with age than in males. In male-smoker controls, cadmium excretion was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than in male-non-smoker controls. In male-non-smoker inhabitants, cadmium excretion (p = 0.05), protein excretion (p less than 0.01) and glucose excretion (p less than 0.01) were significantly higher than in corresponding controls. In male-smoker inhabitants, protein excretion (p less than 0.01) and glucose excretion (0.01 less than p less than 0.05) were significantly higher than in corresponding controls. In female-non-smoker inhabitants glucose excretion was significantly higher (0.01 less than p less than 0.05) than in corresponding controls. For some categories, living in the polluted area was associated with an increased cadmium excretion in urine and a slight difference in renal function, possibly related to a difference in cadmium body burden. It was concluded that, considering the actual values of each parameter, the observed differences were not relevant in terms of potential health hazards.