Cadmium exposure in Thai populations from central, northern and northeastern Thailand and the effects of food consumption on cadmium levels.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between cadmium body burden and the areas of exposure in Thailand, as well as blood pressure levels, the types and frequencies of foods, and alcohol consumption. A total of 182 healthy adult Thai subjects of both genders (89 males, 93 females) ages 18 to 57 years old weighing 40-95 kg were included in this study. Participants were residents from three main areas of Thailand: Pathum Thani Province (central Thailand; n=50), Khon Kaen Province (northeastern Thailand; n=43) and Mae Sot District, Tak Province (northern Thailand; n=89). The total amount of cadmium excreted in urine over 2 hours (microg/g creatinine) was used as an indicator of long-term cadmium exposure. Quantitation of cadmium was performed using electrothermal (graphite furnace) atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The urinary cadmium excreted displayed a normal frequency of distribution. Significantly higher mean cadmium levels were observed in subjects residing in Mae Sot, Tak Province (0.63 +/- 1.41 microg/g creatinine) and Khon Kaen (0.51 +/- 0.76 microg/g creatinine) compared to Pathum Thani Province (0.23 +/- 0.35 microg/g creatinine). The proportion of subjects with elevated blood pressure was significantly higher in the group exposed to higher (n=39) as opposed to lower (n=5) levels of cadmium. There were no significant differences in the mean total amounts of cadmium excreted in the 2-hour urine samples from subjects who consumed different types of meat and offal, or from those who consumed them at different frequencies.