Recent progress and perspectives in cadmium health effects studies.

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.