Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal which can cause numerous alterations in cell functioning. Exposure to cadmium leads to generation of reactive oxygen species, disorders in membrane structure and functioning, inhibition of respiration, disturbances in ion homeostasis, perturbations in cell division, and initiation of apoptosis and necrosis. This heavy metal is considered a carcinogen by the Agency...

Little is known about the etiology of pancreatic cancer, which is an important cause of cancer mortality in developed countries. We hypothesize that exposure to cadmium is a cause of pancreatic cancer. Cadmium is a nonessential metal that is known to accumulate in the human pancreas. The major risk factors for pancreatic cancer (increasing age, cigarette smoking, residence in Louisiana, and occ...

Cadmium, an important environmental toxic agent has the kidney as its most important target organ. It is concentrated mainly in the renal cortex. Excessive renal accumulation of cadmium causes well defined morphological and ultrastructural pathological changes in the proximal tubules. Functional changes accompanying cadmium nephropathy include proteinuria, enzymuria, aminoaciduria, glycosuria, ...

Mining activities can increase the bioavailability of metals in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Following over 100 years of copper mining in portions of Michigan's Upper Peninsula (UP) terrestrial ecosystems retain vast quantities of waste rock with traces of cadmium and large concentrations of copper. We compared liver cadmium and copper concentrations in ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), a...

In the present study a novel approach has been made to evaluate the toxicity of cadmium in maize (Zea mays L. cv KJ9451) in terms of germination, seedling growth, pigment development and relevant enzyme activity and the possible remedial approach using potassium and copper to reduce cadmium toxicity. For the present investigations maize seeds were sown in petridishes on filter paper in triplica...

This study was conducted to determine the histopathological and biochemical effects of humic acid on cadmium stress in liver and kidney tissues of Salmo trutta fario, L. The fish were treated in four groups as follows and were exposed to chemicals for 7 days: control (C), cadmium (2 ppm) (Cd), humic acid (5 ppm) (HA) and humic acid + cadmium (Cd + HA). At the end of the experimental period, liv...

To characterize the histomorphologic effects of cadmium on adult newt testes, male Iberian ribbed newts (6 months post-hatching) were intraperitoneally exposed to a single dose of 50 mg/kg of cadmium, with histologic analysis of the testes at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Beginning 24 h after cadmium exposure, apoptosis of spermatogonia and spermatocytes was observed, and congestion was observed in the...

Cadmium is a transition metal ion that is highly toxic in biological systems. Although relatively rare in the Earth's crust, anthropogenic release of cadmium since industrialization has increased biogeochemical cycling and the abundance of the ion in the biosphere. Despite this, the molecular basis of its toxicity remains unclear. Here we combine metal-accumulation assays, high-resolution struc...

OBJECTIVES To study the body burden of cadmium and signs of tubular dysfunction in a rural population living near a closed nickel cadmium battery plant. METHODS Cadmium and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG) in urine were measured in 72 subjects who lived close to the plant. RESULTS Residents living close to the plant had higher median urinary cadmium concentrations than those living farth...

This study compares the abilities of four low-cost materials: peels of peas, broad bean, and medlar, respectively and fig leaves, to remove cadmium from aqueous solutions. Kinetic data and equilibrium sorption isotherms were measured in batch conditions. Kinetics of cadmium sorption was contact time, initial cadmium concentration and sorbent type dependent. The results also showed that the kine...