Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The relationship between lead and cadmium levels and functional dependence among elderly participants

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The adverse impacts of lead and cadmium exposure on health outcomes have been reported in the past. Few studies have been conducted on the relationship between lead and cadmium exposures and disability. We evaluated whether lead and cadmium exposures were associated with functional dependence including the total number of disabilities, activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), leisure and social activities (LSA), lower extremity mobility (LEM), and general physical activities (GPA) in an elderly population. A total of 5513 eligible subjects were enrolled in the study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2006. Serum lead and cadmium exposure assessments were performed using atomic absorption spectrometry. Functional dependence was assessed by 19 structured questions. The relationships between lead and cadmium exposures and functional dependence were investigated using by multivariable linear regression models. Q2, Q3, and Q4 of lead exposure were significantly associated with the total number of disabilities, with β coefficients of − 0.62 (95% CI − 0.99, − 0.24), − 0.64 (95% CI − 1.02, − 0.26), and − 0.81 (95% CI − 1.19, − 0.42), respectively. This relationship remained significant in males. Furthermore, we analyzed the relationships between lead and cadmium exposure quartiles and various functional dependence metrics, and we determined that lead content was significantly associated with decreased ADL, LEM, and GPA (p < 0.05) and cadmium content was inversely associated with ADL (p < 0.05). Our study demonstrated a strong relationship between exposure to lead and cadmium and functional dependence in an elderly population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agüero-Torres H, Fratiglioni L, Guo Z, Viitanen M, von Strauss E, Winblad B (1998) Dementia is the major cause of functional dependence in the elderly: 3-year follow-up data from a population-based study. Am J Public Health 88:1452–1456

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandeen-Roche K, Glass TA, Bolla KI, Todd AC, Schwartz BS (2009) The longitudinal association of cumulative lead dose with cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.) 20:831–839

    Google Scholar 

  • Brookes PS, Yoon Y, Robotham JL, Anders MW, Sheu SS (2004) Calcium, ATP, and ROS: a mitochondrial love-hate triangle. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 287:C817–C833

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burdick DJ, Rosenblatt A, Samus QM, Steele C, Baker A, Harper M, Mayer L, Brandt J, Rabins P, Lyketsos CG (2005) Predictors of functional impairment in residents of assisted-living facilities: the Maryland Assisted Living study. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences 60:258–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell JR, Auinger P (2007) The association between blood lead levels and osteoporosis among adults--results from the third national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES III). Environ Health Perspect 115:1018–1022

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang HR, Tsao DA, Yu HS, Ho CK (2005) The change of beta-adrenergic system after cessation of lead exposure. Toxicology 207:73–80

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen P, Yu ES, Zhang M, Liu WT, Hill R, Katzman R (1995) ADL dependence and medical conditions in Chinese older persons: a population-based survey in Shanghai, China. J Am Geriatr Soc 43:378–383

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chunhabundit R (2016) Cadmium exposure and potential health risk from foods in contaminated area, Thailand. Toxicol Res 32:65–72

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ciesielski T, Bellinger DC, Schwartz J, Hauser R, Wright RO (2013) Associations between cadmium exposure and neurocognitive test scores in a cross-sectional study of US adults. Environ Health 12:13–13

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Everett CJ, Frithsen IL (2008) Association of urinary cadmium and myocardial infarction. Environ Res 106:284–286

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fujiwara Y, Banno H, Shinkai Y, Yamamoto C, Kaji T, Satoh M (2011) Protective effect of pretreatment with cilostazol on cytotoxicity of cadmium and arsenite in cultured vascular endothelial cells. J Toxicol Sci 36:155–161

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Esquinas E, Navas-Acien A, Perez-Gomez B, Artalejo FR (2015) Association of lead and cadmium exposure with frailty in US older adults. Environ Res 137:424–431

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goncalves JF, Nicoloso FT, da Costa P, Farias JG, Carvalho FB, da Rosa MM, Gutierres JM, Abdalla FH, Pereira JS, Dias GR, Barbosa NB, Dressler VL, Rubin MA, Morsch VM, Schetinger MR (2012) Behavior and brain enzymatic changes after long-term intoxication with cadmium salt or contaminated potatoes. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association 50:3709–3718

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gulson BL, Mizon KJ, Korsch MJ, Howarth D, Phillips A, Hall J (1996) Impact on blood lead in children and adults following relocation from their source of exposure and contribution of skeletal tissue to blood lead. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 56:543–550

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hajek A, Brettschneider C, Eisele M, Lühmann D, Mamone S, Wiese B, Weyerer S, Werle J, Fuchs A, Pentzek M, Stein J, Luck T, Bickel H, Mösch E, Heser K, Wagner M, Maier W, Scherer M, Riedel-Heller SG, König HH (2017) Disentangling the complex relation of disability and depressive symptoms in old age - findings of a multicenter prospective cohort study in Germany. Int Psychogeriatr 29:885–895

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartley P, Gibbins N, Saunders A, Alexander K, Conroy E, Dixon R, Lang J, Luckett J, Luddington T, Romero-Ortuno R (2017) The association between cognitive impairment and functional outcome in hospitalised older patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Age Ageing 46:559–567

    Google Scholar 

  • Hellstrom L, Elinder CG, Dahlberg B, Lundberg M, Jarup L, Persson B, Axelson O (2001) Cadmium exposure and end-stage renal disease. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation 38:1001–1008

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu H, Rabinowitz M, Smith D (1998) Bone lead as a biological marker in epidemiologic studies of chronic toxicity: conceptual paradigms. Environ Health Perspect 106:1–8

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ji JS, Elbaz A, Weisskopf MG (2013) Association between blood lead and walking speed in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2002). Environ Health Perspect 121:711–716

    Google Scholar 

  • Jia JP, Jia JM, Zhou WD, Xu M, Chu CB, Yan X, Sun YX (2004) Differential acetylcholine and choline concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Chin Med J 117:1161–1164

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazantzis G (2004) Cadmium, osteoporosis and calcium metabolism. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine 17:493–498

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim J, Garcia-Esquinas E, Navas-Acien A, Choi YH (2018) Blood and urine cadmium concentrations and walking speed in middle-aged and older U.S. adults. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987) 232:97–104

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kostanjsek N, Good A, Madden RH, Ustun TB, Chatterji S, Mathers CD, Officer A (2013) Counting disability: global and national estimation. Disabil Rehabil 35:1065–1069

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanphear BP, Rauch S, Auinger P, Allen RW, Hornung RW (2018) Low-level lead exposure and mortality in US adults: a population-based cohort study. Lancet Public Health 3:e177–e184

    Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Wang Z, Fu Z, Yan M, Wu N, Wu H, Yin P (2018): Associations between blood cadmium levels and cognitive function in a cross-sectional study of US adults aged 60 years or older. BMJ Open 8

  • Liao D, Cai J, Rosamond WD, Barnes RW, Hutchinson RG, Whitsel EA, Rautaharju P, Heiss G (1997) Cardiac autonomic function and incident coronary heart disease: a population-based case-cohort study. The ARIC Study. Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. American journal of epidemiology 145:696–706

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liaw F-Y, Kao T-W, Wu L-W, Wang C-C, Yang H-F, Peng T-C, Sun Y-S, Chang Y-W, Chen W-L (2016) Components of metabolic syndrome and the risk of disability among the elderly population. Sci Rep 6:22750

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mason LH, Harp JP, Han DY (2014) Pb neurotoxicity: neuropsychological effects of lead toxicity. Biomed Res Int 2014:840547

    Google Scholar 

  • Menke A, Muntner P, Batuman V, Silbergeld EK, Guallar E (2006) Blood lead below 0.48 μmol/L (10 μg/dL) and mortality among US adults. Circulation 114:1388–1394

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Millan-Calenti JC, Tubio J, Pita-Fernandez S, Rochette S, Lorenzo T, Maseda A (2012) Cognitive impairment as predictor of functional dependence in an elderly sample. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 54:197–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller DT, Paschal DC, Gunter EW, Stroud PE, D’Angelo J (1987) Determination of lead in blood using electrothermal atomisation atomic absorption spectrometry with a L’vov platform and matrix modifier. Analyst 112:1701–1704

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moreira Mde F, Curtius AJ, de Campos RC (1995) Determination of cadmium in whole blood and urine electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using palladium-based modifiers and in situ decontamination. Analyst 120:947–950

    Google Scholar 

  • Moritz DJ, Kasl SV, Berkman LF (1995) Cognitive functioning and the incidence of limitations in activities of daily living in an elderly community sample. Am J Epidemiol 141:41–49

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Navas-Acien A, Selvin E, Sharrett AR, Calderon-Aranda E, Silbergeld E, Guallar E (2004) Lead, cadmium, smoking, and increased risk of peripheral arterial disease. Circulation 109:3196–3201

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Organization WH (2016): Disabilities

  • Sanders T, Liu Y, Buchner V, Tchounwou PB (2009) Neurotoxic effects and biomarkers of lead exposure: a review. Rev Environ Health 24:15–45

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Satarug S, Garrett SH, Sens MA, Sens DA (2010) Cadmium, environmental exposure, and health outcomes. Environ Health Perspect 118:182–190

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz J (1991) Lead, blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease in men and women. Environ Health Perspect 91:71–75

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shih RA, Hu H, Weisskopf MG, Schwartz BS (2007) Cumulative lead dose and cognitive function in adults: a review of studies that measured both blood lead and bone lead. Environ Health Perspect 115:483–492

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simons TJ (1986) Cellular interactions between lead and calcium. Br Med Bull 42:431–434

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Son Y-O, Wang L, Poyil P, Budhraja A, Hitron JA, Zhang Z, Lee J-C, Shi X (2012) Cadmium induces carcinogenesis in BEAS-2B cells through ROS-dependent activation of PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 264:153–160

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stoica A, Katzenellenbogen BS, Martin MB (2000) Activation of estrogen receptor-alpha by the heavy metal cadmium. Molecular endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.) 14:545–553

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sugita M, Izuno T, Tatemichi M, Otahara Y (2001) Cadmium absorption from smoking cigarettes: calculation using recent findings from Japan. Environ Health Prev Med 6:154–159

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tchounwou PB, Yedjou CG, Patlolla AK, Sutton DJ (2012) Heavy metals toxicity and the environment. EXS 101:133–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Toscano CD, Guilarte TR (2005) Lead neurotoxicity: from exposure to molecular effects. Brain Res Brain Res Rev 49:529–554

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Valencia A, Moran J (2004) Reactive oxygen species induce different cell death mechanisms in cultured neurons. Free Radic Biol Med 36:1112–1125

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Visa M, Duta A (2013) Methyl-orange and cadmium simultaneous removal using fly ash and photo-Fenton systems. J Hazard Mater 244-245:773–779

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang B, Du Y (2013) Cadmium and its neurotoxic effects. Oxidative Med Cell Longev 2013:12

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang B, Li Y, Shao C, Tan Y, Cai L (2012) Cadmium and its epigenetic effects. Curr Med Chem 19:2611–2620

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Welmer A-K, Angleman S, Rydwik E, Fratiglioni L, Qiu C (2013) Association of cardiovascular burden with mobility limitation among elderly people: a population-based study. PLoS One 8:e65815

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Welmer A-K, Liang Y, Angleman S, Santoni G, Yan Z, Cai C, Qiu C (2014) Vascular risk factor burden, atherosclerosis, and functional dependence in old age: a population-based study. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine 21:597–604

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital Songshan Branch, and School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Yuan-Yuei Chen

  2. Division of Family Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, and School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Yuan-Yuei Chen, Chung-Ching Wang, Tung-Wei Kao, Chen-Jung Wu, Yi-Chao Zhou & Wei-Liang Chen

  3. Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, and School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Tung-Wei Kao, Chen-Jung Wu & Wei-Liang Chen

  4. Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Tung-Wei Kao

  5. Division of Family Medicine, Department of Community Medicine, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chen-Jung Wu

  6. Department of Ophthalmology, Tri-Service General Hospital, and School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan

    Ying-Jen Chen

  7. School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Republic of China

    Ching-Huang Lai

  8. Department of General Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, and School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Yuan-Yuei Chen

Authors
  1. Yuan-Yuei Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chung-Ching Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tung-Wei Kao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chen-Jung Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ying-Jen Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ching-Huang Lai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yi-Chao Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Wei-Liang Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Yuan-Yuei Chen contributed to the design of the study, was responsible for the management and retrieval of data, contributed to initial data analysis and interpretation, and drafted the initial manuscript. Yuan-Yuei Chen, Chung-Ching Wang, Tung-Wei Kao, Chen-Jung Wu, Ying-Jen Chen, Ching-Huang Lai, Yi-Chao Zhou, and Wei-Liang Chen decided upon the data collection methods. Yuan-Yuei Chen and Wei-Liang Chen were also responsible for the data analysis decisions. Wei-Liang Chen conceptualized and designed the study, supervised all aspects of the study, critically reviewed and revised the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. All authors meet the ICMJE criteria for authorship.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei-Liang Chen.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval was granted by the NCHS Ethics Review Board. All individuals provided written informed consent prior to study participation.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, YY., Wang, CC., Kao, TW. et al. The relationship between lead and cadmium levels and functional dependence among elderly participants. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 5932–5940 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07381-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07381-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation