[Study of the cadmium level of the population of the Augsburg area (Southern Germany)].

Cadmium concentrations in liver and kidney were determined in 68 deceased patients (41 male, 27 female) from the Augsburg area. The following concentrations were found: liver 2.2-77.3 (median 16.0) nmol/g dry weight; renal cortex 87.2-2120.0 (median 315.4) nmol/g dry weight; renal medulla 34.7-913.7 (median 186.4) nmol/g dry weight. On average, the values for the renal medullas were 0.56 times the values for the renal cortex. Females showed lower values in liver, renal cortex and renal medulla than males. The total bodily burden with cadmium was determined to be 13.2-303.9 (median 51.6) mumol. A moderate, but significant correlation was found between the cadmium concentrations in the liver and the kidney (rs = 0.3), a stronger correlation between the concentrations in the renal cortex and renal medulla (rs = 0.6). The problematic conversion of the results obtained with wet samples into values for dry samples is discussed, as well as the possible influence of different diseases of the liver and/or the kidney on the concentrations found.