Cadmium is a
heavy metal, which is recently known to be hazardous to man.
Cadmium workers have been observed to suffer from renal dysfunction and lung
emphysema after long-term exposure to
cadmium. However, since
Itai-Itai disease,
osteomalacia provoked in Toyama prefecture of Japan, was designated as a disease caused by
cadmium in 1968, much attention has been paid to the health effects of residents in
cadmium-polluted areas. The author described here recent progress and perspectives on
cadmium health effect studies,
cadmium analysis in
biological samples; absorption, distribution and excretion of
cadmium; health effects of residents in
cadmium-polluted area; survey on the health status of
Itai-Itai disease patients; beta 2-microglobulinuria; intestinal tract impairment and bone metabolism; effects on bone; effects on the liver; early diagnosis of
cadmium effects; effects on future generations; carcinogenicity; critical concentration of
cadmium; metallothionein; recommendations for future studies. One-hundred and sixty references are cited in this review.