The direct determination of cadmium in biological samples by selective volatilization and graphite tube reservoir atomic absorption spectrometry

Nephrolithiasis in a worker with cadmium exposure in the past

OBJECTIVES

A clinical case regarding a cadmium-exposed worker is described.

CLINICAL CASE

The subject during the work as welder (male, 42-years-old at the time of the first investigation) developed a Fanconi-like syndrome due to high exposure to cadmium fumes. Ten years after exposure removal, the subject showed clinical and laboratory evidence of nephrolithiasis (calcium phosphate stones).

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical case confirms the possibility of nephrolithiasis in cadmium-exposed workers and suggests that susceptible subjects may develop kidney stones after lesion of the tubular cells.

Biological monitoring of cadmium exposure: reliability of spot urine samples

Concentration-dilution of spot urine samples is a shortcoming of the biological monitoring of industrial xenobiotics. To ascertain whether the adjustment of urinary cadmium measured in spot samples is appropriate, urine samples were taken three times, once a week for 3 successive weeks, from 25 welders employed in the manufacture of jewelry (total 75 samples). Cadmium, creatinine, specific gravity, total urinary solutes, urinary volume and urinary flow rate were measured in 12-h collections and in spot samples taken immediately afterwards. Creatinine and total urinary solutes showed high inverse correlation with urinary flow rate (r = -0.858 and r = -0.768 respectively). Urinary cadmium displayed a similar trend but the correlation was not significant (r = -0.145). Creatinine adjustment of urinary cadmium values in spot samples increased the correlation with the same index in timed samples adjusted for urinary volume (r = -0.808) or urinary flow rate (r = 0.821) compared with non-adjustment (r = 0.732 and r = 0.738, respectively). Creatinine adjustment of spot sample values is also suitable for a wide range of urinary concentrations; discarding excessively diluted or concentrated urines, correlation of urine samples improved for non-adjusted or specific gravity-adjusted values, whereas no changes were observed for creatinine-adjusted values.

Overview of analysis of carcinogenic and/or mutagenic metals in biological and environmental samples. I. Arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium and selenium

One of the most dangerous and pernicious forms of pollution arises from the potential mobilization of a spectrum of toxic trace metals and metalloids in our environment. Among the most important elements in this regard are arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium and selenium whose adverse toxic effects are now well recognized including their carcinogenicity and/or mutagenicity. These agents (and their derivatives) can be widely dispersed throughout the environment as a result of fossil fuel combustion, industrial and agricultural processes and natural processes. The trend for the immediate future appears to be of greater exposure to these metals not only as a result of generally increased usage patterns but also because of prospective enhanced use of fossil fuels for space heating and electricity generation. In order to more readily evaluate trends of human exposure as well as the toxicity, bioavailability, bioaccumulation and transport of these elements, sensitive analytical procedures are required for the determination of their various oxidation states (as well as their organic derivatives) in complex matrices such as those found in both environmental and biological samples. Hence, the principal objective of this overview is to highlight the more recent trends and state-of-the-art methodologies for the determination of arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium and selenium (in their various forms) in environmental compartments such as air, water, soil and in human tissues (primarily blood, urine, and milk). Techniques to be discussed primarily include atomic absorption spectrometry, neutron activation analysis, gas chromatography, differential pulse polarography and electrochemical analysis. The importance of quality control and differentiation according to speciation will also be stressed.

[A new method for determination of cadmium in plasma (author's transl)]

Cadmium can be isolated from plasma by formation of negative charged iodide complexes bound to an anion exchange resin. Elution from the resin gives a cadmium solution with only a few interfering substances in an uniform matrix. Thus an undisturbed determination by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry is achieved. The mean of the natural cadmium level found in plasma was 1.9 +/- 0.8 ng/ml, within the normal range between 1.1 and 3.3 ng/ml.