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Current Levels of Environmental Exposure to Cadmium in Industrialized Countries as a Risk Factor for Kidney Damage in the General Population: A Comprehensive Review of Available Data
Summary
This comprehensive review examines whether everyday environmental exposure to cadmium in industrialized countries is high enough to damage kidneys in the general population. The evidence suggests that even low-level chronic exposure can harm kidney function, especially in vulnerable groups. While focused on cadmium, this is relevant to microplastics research because microplastics can absorb and transport heavy metals like cadmium into the body.
The growing number of reports indicating unfavorable outcomes for human health upon environmental exposure to cadmium (Cd) have focused attention on the threat to the general population posed by this heavy metal. The kidney is a target organ during chronic Cd intoxication. The aim of this article was to critically review the available literature on the impact of the current levels of environmental exposure to this xenobiotic in industrialized countries on the kidney, and to evaluate the associated risk of organ damage, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). Based on a comprehensive review of the available data, we recognized that the observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) of Cd concentration in the blood and urine for clinically relevant kidney damage (glomerular dysfunction) are 0.18 μg/L and 0.27 μg/g creatinine, respectively, whereas the lowest observed adverse effect levels (LOAELs) are >0.18 μg/L and >0.27 μg/g creatinine, respectively, which are within the lower range of concentrations noted in inhabitants of industrialized countries. In conclusion, the current levels of environmental exposure to Cd may increase the risk of clinically relevant kidney damage, resulting in, or at least contributing to, the development of CKD.
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