CADMIUM EXPOSURE IN SAUDI-ARABIA AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO SMOKING

Cadmium was determined in whole blood samples obtained from 192 Saudi male volunteers. The influence of smoking on cadmium exposure was inve stigated. Blood cadmium was significantly higher in smokers than in no nsmokers (p < 0.001). The distribution of blood cadmium data in the sc reened subjects suggested the existence of two mixed populations and a cut-off of 2 ng/ml was found where the two populations separate. Abou t 17% of the screened subjects had blood cadmium above 2 ng/ml. Cadmiu m concentration in blood was significantly correlated with age (r = 0. 24, p = 0.001). Renal variables had no correlation with blood cadmium. On the other hand, a significant negative correlation was found betwe en blood cadmium above 2 ng/ml and PO4 (r = -0.47, p < 0.02). This sug gest that a low level of exposure to cadmium is not associated with a deterioration of renal function.