Cadmium concentration in the renal cortex of kidney tumor patients and controls.

In this pilot study the concentration of cadmium was determined quantitatively in samples of renal cortex of 22 kidney cancer patients and 19 controls. Data on the three main sources of exposure to cadmium-diet, cigarette smoking and occupation-were obtained through interviews. No significant difference in Cd concentration between the tumor samples and the controls could be found. The mean Cd concentration was 50.9 +/- 25 mg/kg dry weight for cancer patients and 55.2 +/- 50 mg/kg for controls. Further, it was established that the age-dependent relationship for cadmium in the cortex was not valid for smokers.