An immunological study on workers occupationally exposed to cadmium

Abstract

1. To assess the quantitative relation between exposure to airborne cadmium and various markers of immune function, 37 male workers were examined and compared with unexposed controls. 2. Blood cadmium concentrations were signficantly higher in the exposed workers than in the unexposed, as was urine cadmium. 3. No differences in the serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM and IgA) levels between two popularions were observed. There was also no significant correlation between blood cadmium concentrations and serum immunoglobulin levels of both exposed and control groups, it has been found also that while monocyte counts signficantly increased, lymphocyte, neutrophil and oesinophil counts remained unchanged.