Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Industrial Medicine logoLink to British Journal of Industrial Medicine
. 1986 Oct;43(10):657–662. doi: 10.1136/oem.43.10.657

Lung function in workers using cadmium containing solders.

C Edling, C G Elinder, E Randma
PMCID: PMC1007733  PMID: 3778835

Abstract

The lung function of 57 male workers previously exposed to cadmium in connection with the use of cadmium containing solders was examined by spirometry (FVC, FEV1, FEV%, and MMF) and single breath nitrogen washout (CV, CV%, and phase III). A reference group (n = 31) from a nearby industry was examined at the same time. Despite the fact that the exposure in previous years had been relatively high, in the order of 0.05-0.5 mg Cd/m3, and that 24 (42%) of the workers had cadmium induced renal damage in the form of beta 2-microglobulinuria there was no evidence of pulmonary damage. There were no significant differences in lung function data from the exposed and reference group and there was no dose-response relation within the exposed group. It thus appears that signs of kidney toxicity in the form of low molecular weight proteinuria precede those that may be identified in the lung with commonly used lung function tests.

Full text

PDF
662

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Armstrong B. G., Kazantzis G. The mortality of cadmium workers. Lancet. 1983 Jun 25;1(8339):1425–1427. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(83)92368-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BAADER E. W. Die chronische Kadmiumvergiftung. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1951 Apr 6;76(14):484–487. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1116711. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BERGLUND E., BIRATH G., BJURE J., GRIMBY G., KJELLMER I., SANDQVIST L., SODERHOLM B. Spirometric studies in normal subjects. I. Forced expirograms in subjects between 7 and 70 years of age. Acta Med Scand. 1963 Feb;173:185–192. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. BONNELL J. A. Emphysema and proteinuria in men casting copper-cadmium alloys. Br J Ind Med. 1955 Jul;12(3):181–195. doi: 10.1136/oem.12.3.181. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Buist A. S., Ross B. B. Predicted values for closing volumes using a modified single breath nitrogen test. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1973 May;107(5):744–752. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1973.107.5.744. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Buist A. S., Ross B. B. Quantitative analysis of the alveolar plateau in the diagnosis of early airway obstruction. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1973 Nov;108(5):1078–1087. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1973.108.5.1078. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Elinder C. G., Edling C., Lindberg E., Kågedal B., Vesterberg O. Assessment of renal function in workers previously exposed to cadmium. Br J Ind Med. 1985 Nov;42(11):754–760. doi: 10.1136/oem.42.11.754. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Elinder C. G., Edling C., Lindberg E., Kågedal B., Vesterberg O. beta 2-Microglobulinuria among workers previously exposed to cadmium: follow-up and dose-response analyses. Am J Ind Med. 1985;8(6):553–564. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700080607. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. FRIBERG L. Health hazards in the manufacture of alkaline accumulators with special reference to chronic cadmium poisoning; a clinical and experimental study. Acta Med Scand Suppl. 1950;240:1–124. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. GOLDBLATT M. W., FARQUHARSON M. E., BENNETT G., ASKEW B. M. Epsilon-Caprolactam. Br J Ind Med. 1954 Jan;11(1):1–10. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. KAZANTZIS G., FLYNN F. V., SPOWAGE J. S., TROTT D. G. Renal tubular malfunction and pulmonary emphysema in cadmium pigment workers. Q J Med. 1963 Apr;32:165–192. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Kjellström T., Friberg L., Rahnster B. Mortality and cancer morbidity among cadmium-exposed workers. Environ Health Perspect. 1979 Feb;28:199–204. doi: 10.1289/ehp.28-1637490. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Lauwerys R. R., Buchet J. P., Roels H. A., Brouwers J., Stanescu D. Epidemiological survey of workers exposed to cadmium. Arch Environ Health. 1974 Mar;28(3):145–148. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1974.10666455. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Lauwerys R. R., Roels H. A., Buchet J. P., Bernard A., Stanescu D. Investigations on the lung and kidney function in workers exposed to cadmium. Environ Health Perspect. 1979 Feb;28:137–145. doi: 10.1289/ehp.7928137. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Love R. G., Attfield M. D., Isles K. D. Reproducibility of pulmonary function tests under laboratory and field conditions. Br J Ind Med. 1980 Feb;37(1):63–69. doi: 10.1136/oem.37.1.63. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Prigge E. Early signs of oral and inhalative cadmium uptake in rats. Arch Toxicol. 1978 Jun 16;40(3):231–247. doi: 10.1007/BF00364654. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Rasmussen F. V. Occupational dust exposure and smoking. Different effects on forced expiration and slope of the alveolar plateau. Eur J Respir Dis. 1985 Feb;66(2):119–127. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Sakurai H., Omae K., Toyama T., Higashi T., Nakadate T. Cross-sectional study of pulmonary function in cadmium alloy workers. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1982;8 (Suppl 1):122–130. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Sjögren B., Hedenstierna G. Pulmonary function and concentrations of alpha 1-antitrypsin and immunoglobulin E in workers exposed to pancreatic enzymes. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1983 Oct;9(5):385–390. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2398. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Snider G. L., Hayes J. A., Korthy A. L., Lewis G. P. Centrilobular emphysema experimentally induced by cadmium chloride aerosol. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1973 Jul;108(1):40–48. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1973.108.1.40. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Stănescu D., Veriter C., Frans A., Goncette L., Roels H., Lauwerys R., Brasseur L. Effects on lung of chronic occupational exposure to cadmium. Scand J Respir Dis. 1977 Dec;58(6):289–303. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Industrial Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES