ADVERSE HEALTH-EFFECTS IN WORKERS EXPOSED TO CADMIUM

One hundred fifty-two workers who had been exposed to different levels of cadmium (Cd) absorption (blood Cd mean 16.34-mu-g/L, median 11.0-m u-g/L) in a factory making nickel-cadmium batteries were studied. A ph ysical evaluation, as well as blood and urine cadmium and N-acetyl-bet a-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), and other routine laboratory tests were per formed in order to assess the relationship between different levels of exposure to occupational cadmium and potential cadmium-induced renal damage and other adverse health effects. We found significant correlat ion between levels of cadmium exposure and a selected group of symptom s and signs. The best predictor of this group of symptoms and signs wa s an indicator called internal dose index (Cd x exposure time). This i ndicator appears as the strongest, even after control by confounding f actors, such as age and smoking. It is concluded that this index can b e used for biological monitoring.