Cadmium and zinc relationships in the liver and kidney of humans exposed to environmental cadmium

Concentrations of cadmium and zinc were determined in the liver and in the kidney (cortex and medulla) of subjects from the general population of Barcelona (Spain) by atomic absorption spectrometry. Tissues were collected from necropsies of 50 selected subjects without any occupational exposure to heavy metals. Cadmium levels calculated on a fresh tissue basis were 14.6 ± 5.9 μg/g (2.4–31) in the kidney cortex, 8.6 ± 4.3 μg/g (1.5–16.7) in the kidney medulla and 0.98 ± 0.50 μg/g (0.32–2.32) in the liver. Zinc concentrations ranged between 18–53 μg/g, (mean ± S.D.: 38.0 ± 10 μg/g) in the kidney cortex, 25.0 ± 7.7 μg/g (12–42 μg/g) in the kidney medulla and 41.7 ± 18.3 μg/g (20–84 μg/g) in the liver. The aim of the present work was to study the association of cadmium and zinc in the kidney and in the liver of a human population with cadmium accumulation from an environmental origin. The results obtained showed a significant correlation between cadmium and zinc concentration in the liver (r = 0.86, P < 0.001), but not in the kidney.