Lifestyle/environmental factors and blood cadmium levels in hypertensive and normotensive individuals.

Cadmium is a non-essential trace metal presently found at environmental concentration far exceeding its natural occurrence, to which human populations are exposed form diverse sources. Animals exposed chronically to subtoxic cadmium levels develop hypertension, yet human studies are inconclusive. In the present study, the relationship between lifestyle/environment factors and blood cadmium levels was investigated. Black females aged 50-75 years were chosen from university clinics and community settings (30 normotensives and 32 hypertensives). Questionnaires giving environmental, lifestyle and other date were collected. Cadmium blood levels were determined by atomic absorption spectophotometry; and results indicated a high degree of precision and accuracy for the cadmium analytical technique which was used. No significant differences were found in cadmium blood levels between groups.