RENAL DYSFUNCTION IN CADMIUM SMELTERS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO LIVER AND KIDNEY CADMIUM CONCENTRATIONS MEASURED IN VIVO BY NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS.

Biochemical indicatora of renal dysfunction have been compared with liver and kidney cadmium levels in a group of 37 cadmium smelters. Tissue levels of cadmium were measured by neutron activation analysis. Increased concentrations of cadmium in the liver reflect past exposure and were associated with evidence of renal dysfunction in workers exposed to cadmium for more than 10 years. A small group of workers, only exposed to cadmium for a relatively short time (mean equals 4. 6 yrs), had raised hepatic cadmium concentrations but normal renal function. It is argued that longitudinal studies are required to establish the natural history of renal dysfunction following cadmium accumulation in industrial workers.