Environmental Cadmium Pollution and the Effect on Population Health

ObjectivesTo compare the change trend on health effect of environment Cd-pollution from certain smeltery past 15 years,and also to offer evaluation basis of Cd-pollution change some years later due to the factory extension,status of certain smeltery environmental Cd-pollution and its effect on health were investigated.MethodsSelecting the same areas as last investigation,the Cd concentration of rice,vegetable,drinking water and women's urinary Cd,beta(2)-microglobulin(β₂-M),creatinine(cr),as well as N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase(NAG)activity in both polluted and control areas were detected and compared with last investigated information.ResultsThe geometric means of rice Cd(dry weight),vegetable Cd(wet weight),drinking water Cd,urinary Cd,β₂-M and NAG are 1.75mg/kg,0.27mg/kg, 0.0008mg/L,13.34μg/g·cr,185.39μg/g·cr,5.80U/g·cr in the polluted area and 0.46mg/kg,0.08mg/kg,0.001mg/L,2.27μg/g·cr,136.57μg/g·cr,4.06U/g·cr in the control area respectively.Difference of the rice Cd,vegetable Cd and urinary Cd between polluted and control areas was statistically significant(P<0.01).The abnormity rate of the urinary Cdβ, 2-M,NAG and all of them are significantly higher in the polluted area(37.63%、19.35%、18.28% and 51.6% respectively)than in the control(7.23%、3.61%、7.23% and 15.7% respectively)(P=0.000～0.013).The mean value and the abnormity rate of urinary Cd in the polluted area in present investigation(23.80μg/L and 44.09% respectively)are twice in last investigation(12.06μg/L and 22.52% respectively)(P<=0.01.or.P=0.022).Three chronic early patients were diagnosed due to Cd exposure in the polluted area.ConclusionsThe results suggest that the polluted area as well as inhabitants living in polluted area have been affected continually by certain smeltery environmental cadmium pollution,also there is unceasing accumulating and aggravating trend of the affection.But Cd-pollution from certain smeltery has not caused adverse chronic early health effects on inhabitants living in polluted area according to the information of the present investigation.