A long-term surveillance of occupational health hazards faced by cadmium workers.

The decrease or damage of renal tubular functions by cadmium (Cd) exposure is designated as the critical effect on human body. When the Cd workers suffer from tubular damage, it is matter of concern whether the damage is reversible or irreversible. In this study, chronic influences of long-term exposure to Cd dust or fumes in the working environment were clarified. Besides the survey on Cd contents in work environment and production amounts of Cd pigments in the factory, the changes of Cd concentration in blood and urine, beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2MG) in serum and urine, C beta 2-MG/Ccr, the rate of tubular reabsorption of phosphorus (% TRP) and other laboratory examinations in 7 Cd pigment workers were observed for the past 15 years. In almost workers, the changes of Cd concentrations in blood and urine, beta 2MG in urine, and C beta 2MG/Ccr basically paralleled those of Cd concentrations in working environment. In some workers the fluctuations of beta 2MG in urine, C beta 2MG/Ccr and %TRP did not paralleled those of environmental Cd concentration and they were very variable. From the results obtained, it is stressed that the long-term follow-up studies on environmental Cd concentrations and analysis of biological indicators are necessary to determine the degree of the renal tubular dysfunction by Cd.