Abstract: Objective To investigate the prognosis of renal dysfunction of general population removal cadmium exposure.Methods One hundred and fourty eight residents who lived in cadmium-exposed area was followed up for three years after exposure removal.Urinary cadmium,β₂-microg lobulin and albumin were analyzed in 1995 and 1998,respectively.Results The changes of renal dysfunction of residents after removal from exposure depend on the levels of urinary cadmium before exposure stopping.The renal dysfunction of residents with initial low-level urinary cadmium would be reversible,but it would be irreversible or aggravated for residents with high-level urinary cadmium.There was significant decreased excretion of urinary β₂-microglobulin and albumin of residents,whose urinary cadmium concentration was lower than 5 μg/g creatinine in 1995 and 1998.However,there was a significant increased excretion of urinary β₂ -micro globulin and albumin of those residents with initial urinary cadmium higher than 10 μg/g creatinine.The study of dose-effect relatio nship between urinary cadmium and urinary β₂-microglobulin and albumin also showed that the r enal dysfunction induced by cadmium might be reversible if urinary cadmium concentration was low level before exposure stopped,or it might be irreversible or agg ravated.Conclusion The prognosis of renal dysfunction of general population to cadmium related to the intensity of cadmium exposure before cadmium exposure stopping.