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High Cadmium Accumulation Among Humans and Primates: Comparison Across Various Mammalian Species—A Study from Japan

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Abstract

The majority of existing literature reports that cadmium (Cd) is toxic to humans and most living organisms. This paper reports the results of our study that measured Cd levels in the livers and kidneys of humans and other 50 mammalian species under normal conditions in Japan. The study tests the differences in the Cd concentrations across different mammalian species and sexes. Our results revealed that (1) there is a strong correlation between the Cd levels in the livers and kidneys across all examined species, (2) humans exhibit the highest Cd accumulation level in both organs, (3) primates also show a high Cd concentration at a level close to humans, (4) mice and rats show low Cd levels in both organs, indicating that humans accumulate about a few thousand times more Cd than mice and rats, and (5) the Cd concentration of female mammals is more than double of males for both organs. Our results indicate that these cross-sex as well as cross-species discrepancies cannot be explained by the difference in daily Cd intake. While further research is necessary to determine any potential role of Cd accumulation, we speculate that Cd plays some physiological function in the renal cortex of humans and primates.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Policy, George Mason University, 3401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA, 22201, USA

    Naoru Koizumi

  2. Department of Animal Resource Sciences, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1886 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-8510, Japan

    Koichi Murata

  3. Department of Public Health, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Cyuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan

    Chiyo Hayashi & Hisahide Nishio

  4. Health and Welfare Bureau, Health Center, Amagasaki City Public Office, 1-3-1-502 Nanamatu-cho, Amagasaki, 660-0052, Japan

    Junko Goji

Authors
  1. Naoru Koizumi
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  2. Koichi Murata
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  3. Chiyo Hayashi
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  4. Hisahide Nishio
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  5. Junko Goji
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Correspondence to Naoru Koizumi.

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Koizumi, N., Murata, K., Hayashi, C. et al. High Cadmium Accumulation Among Humans and Primates: Comparison Across Various Mammalian Species—A Study from Japan. Biol Trace Elem Res 121, 205–214 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-007-8048-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-007-8048-9

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