A Regional Perspective of Medical Geology – Cadmium in Jamaica

Abstract

High levels of geogenic cadmium (Cd) have been found in some soils of Jamaica, particularly in the central part of the island. The potential health impact on residents who consumed foods grown on these soils was determined. The foods which have shown the greatest affinity for Cd uptake are mainly green leafy vegetables, tubers and root vegetables. Diet studies showed that some residents are at risk of ingesting Cd in excess of the 7 mu g/kg body weight PTWI established by the WHO. Cd exposure and proximal tubular dysfunction were measured as urine Cd (U-Cd) and beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)-MG) in urine, respectively. Mean U-Cd and beta(2)-MG concentrations of 4.6 mu g Cd/g_cr and 290 mu g/g_cr confirm that the population is being exposed to elevated Cd levels and there is evidence of very mild tubular proteinuria. The proteinuria detected in the population was related to Cd exposure, evidenced by the relationship between U-Cd and beta(2)-MG. While positive results were obtained for the identification of Cd-related renal biomarkers in the study population and there was a clear association between U-Cd and beta(2)-TAG, the absolute concentrations obtained were well below critical limits for the onset of acute or chronic renal effects. Women typically ingested less Cd than men but absorbed greater amounts than males in the same cohort groups.