Department of Toxicology, Medical University of Bialystok, Adama Mickiewicza 2C street, 15-222, Bialystok, Poland.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2018 Feb;25(4):3211-3232. doi: 10.1007/s11356-017-0827-z. Epub 2017 Dec 12.
Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal belonging to the group of the main chemical pollutants of the natural and occupational environment in economically developed countries. The forecasts indicate that contamination of the environment with this toxic metal, and thus the exposure of the general population, will increase. Food (particularly plant products) is the main source of the general population exposure to this element. Moreover, an important, and often the main, source of intoxication with Cd is habitual tobacco smoking. Recent epidemiological studies have provided numerous evidence that even low-level environmental exposure to this toxic metal, nowadays occurring in numerous economically developed countries, creates a risk for health of the general population. The low-level lifetime exposure to this metal may lead to the damage to the kidneys, liver, skeletal system, and cardiovascular system, as well as to the deterioration of the sight and hearing. Moreover, it has been suggested that environmental exposure to this xenobiotic may contribute to the development of cancer of the lung, breast, prostate, pancreas, urinary bladder, and nasopharynx. Taking the above into account, the aim of this review article is to draw more attention to Cd as an environmental risk factor for the health of the general population and the need to undertake preventive actions allowing to reduce the risk of health damage due to a lifetime exposure to this toxic metal.
镉（Cd）是一种重金属，属于经济发达国家自然和职业环境中主要化学污染物群体。预测表明，这种有毒金属对环境的污染以及因此对普通民众的暴露将增加。食物（特别是植物产品）是普通民众接触这种元素的主要来源。此外，习惯性吸烟是导致 Cd 中毒的重要且通常是主要来源。最近的流行病学研究提供了大量证据，表明即使在当今许多经济发达国家普遍存在的低水平环境暴露于这种有毒金属，也会对普通民众的健康构成风险。这种金属的终生低水平暴露可能会导致肾脏、肝脏、骨骼系统和心血管系统受损，以及视力和听力下降。此外，有人认为，这种外源性化学物质的环境暴露可能导致肺癌、乳腺癌、前列腺癌、胰腺癌、膀胱癌和鼻咽癌的发生。有鉴于此，本文的目的是引起人们更多地关注 Cd 作为普通民众健康的环境风险因素，以及需要采取预防措施，以减少因终生接触这种有毒金属而造成健康损害的风险。
