Smoking and Blood Cadmium Concentrations in Young Pre-Employees

Robert A. Breton1 and Adolf Vyskocil2

1 Direction de la santé publique de la Montérégie et CLSC Kateri, Province de Québec, Canada
2 Département de santé environnementale et santé au travail, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Province de Québec, Canada

Corresponding author: Adolf Vyskocil, Ph.D.
    Département de santé environnementale et santé au travail Université de Montréal
    C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-ville
    Montréal (Québec)
    H3C 3J7, Canada
    Telephone: (514) 343-6146
    Fax number: (514) 343-2200
    E-mail: Adolf.Vyskocil@umontreal.caXY@.HU

CEJOEM 2001, Vol.7. No.1.:22-25

Key words:
age, gender, professional exposure, biological monitoring, reassignment, cigarette

Abstract:
The goal of this study was to determine blood and urine cadmium, and urine b 2–microglobuline (b 2–m) levels of young adults in relation with number of cigarettes smoked, sex of smokers and cadmium blood levels in smokers occupationally exposed to cadmium. Data were gathered for 132 young adults (smokers and non-smokers, men and women) by means of a questionnaire and blood and urine analyses of cadmium and b 2–m. There was no statistical difference between smokers and non-smokers in urine cadmium concentrations. Blood cadmium level (geometric mean) in young adult smokers was 11 times (geometric mean) higher than in non-smokers. A weak correlation was found between number of cigarettes smoked and cadmium blood levels. No difference was found between men and women smokers for blood cadmium levels. The present data indicates that young smokers are at risk for job reassignment after twenty to forty years of smoking. Further analysis is necessary to re-evaluate reassignment level for smokers.

Received:  18 June 2001
Accepted:  16 July 2001
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