Biological monitoring of exposure to cadmium, a human carcinogen, as a result of active and passive smoking
Shaham, Judith ; Meltzer, Alex ; Ashkenazi, Ruth ; Ribak, Joseph
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
1996
38
12
1220-1228
blood monitoring ; cadmium ; exposure tests ; occupational medicine ; smoking ; urine monitoring
Risk assessment and risk management
English
Levels of blood cadmium and urine cotinine (a nicotine metabolite) were determined as biological markers of exposure to cigarette smoke in a group of workers comprising 47 active smokers, 46 passive smokers, and 65 unexposed nonsmokers. The mean blood cadmium levels in the active and passive smokers were significantly higher than in the unexposed nonsmokers. The mean cotinine level was significantly higher in active smokers than in the passive smokers or nonsmokers. Exposure to cigarette smoke is harmful in both active and passive smokers and is a confounder to be taken into account in epidemiologic studies and surveillance programmes on cadmium-exposed workers.
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