BLOOD CADMIUM LEVELS IN NON-OCCUPATIONALLY EXPOSED ADULT SUBJECTS IN SINGAPORE

Cadmium concentrations in whole blood were measured in subjects with n o occupational exposure to cadmium. The study covered 128 males and 15 0 females from the three main ethnic groups in Singapore (namely Chine se, Malays and Indians). The geometric means (GM) of blood cadmium (Cd B) levels of non-smoking males and females were 0.21 mug/l and 0.26 mu g/l, respectively. Smokers had higher GM CdB levels than non-smokers. Significant ethnic differences were observed in both sexes, with India n males having the highest GM CdB level of 0.48 mug/l. Among the femal es, the Chinese had the highest GM CdB level: 0.33 mug/l. Differences in dietary habits may have contributed to the observed ethnic differen ces in blood cadmium levels.