Cadmium immune system

Use and exposure Zinc is available as a silver or bluish-white foil or powder. It is incompatible with amines, cadmium, sulfur, chlorinated solvents, strong acids, and strong bases. The important use of zinc is to coat iron or steel in a process called galvanization to prevent rust. Zinc powder is very flammable. Zinc is another essential micronutrient that is important in immunity and antioxidation. Zinc is an essential mineral that is found in almost every cell function. It stimulates the activity of approximately 100 enzymes, which are substances that promote biochemical reactions in the body. Zinc supports a healthy immune system that the body requires for wound healing. It helps to maintain a sense of taste and smell and is needed for DNA synthesis. Zinc supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence. ... 

Lemaire-Gony, S., P. Lemair and A.L. Pulsford. Effects of cadmium and benzo[a]pyrene on the immune system, gill ATPase and EROD activity of European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax. Aquat. Toxicol. 31 297-313, 1995. 

Not only arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, aluminum, molybdenum, and bromine, but also zinc, copper and selenium are uniformly toxic to the immune system, although the ultimate effect depends on the species of animals studied and the route and mode of administration. An important feature of inorganic toxicity is the observation that in animals, some metals affect the immune system at doses that are unaccompanied by other clinical manifestations of toxicity. A similar effect also occurs in man (Chowdhury and Chandra 1991)... 

But some chemicals are bad actors they pose serious risks to human health and the environment. Lead, cadmium, DDT, CFCs, and PCBs are examples of hazardous chemicals that should not be in products. Chemicals that persist, bioaccumulate, and are toxic are dusted across the globe. The vast majority, if not all, humans and mammals, are contaminated with human-made chemicals. Literally, there is no human control group—every person on the planet carries industrial chemicals that were not present 100 years ago. Some of these chemicals have the potential to cause cancer or adverse effects to the brain, normal development, or the endocrine, reproductive, or immune system. The result is a vast chemical experiment with unknown consequences. 

In 1966 Selye and co-workers demonstrated that lead (Pb) acetate treatment dramatically increased the susceptibility of animals to infections with gram-negative bacteria containing endotoxin. Later it was shown by Cook et al. (1975) that cadmium (Cd) salts exert a similar effect in rats. A number of studies have been performed since, in order to clarify the mechanism of action of Cd on the immune system. 

The lack of epidemiological studies evaluating the effects of cadmium on the immune system make it difficult to assess its effects in humans. Reports of cadmium immunotoxicity in rodents after long-term exposure would argue for the need for human clinical studies (for reviews, see Roller 1980 Descotes 1992). Mice chronically exposed to cadmium exhibit an immunosuppressive effect on the humoral immune response, i.e., a decreased antibody response (Roller et al. 1975) however, conflicting results demonstrate an elevated antibody response or no response. An immunosuppressive effect of cadmium on cell-mediated immunity, i.e., a decrease in delayed-type hypersensitivity, has also been reported in mice (Muller et al. 1979). Cadmium has been shown to decrease phagocytosis in peritoneal macro-... 

Muller S, Gillert KE, Krause C, Jautzke G, Gross U, Diamantstein T (1979) Effects of cadmium on the immune system of mice. Experientia 35 909-910 Nakashima K, Wakisaka T, Fujiki Y (1988) Dose-response relationship of cadmium embryotoxicity in cultured mouse embryos. Reprod Toxicol 1 293-298 Niewenhuis KJ, Prozialeck WC (1987) Calmodulin inhibitors protect against cadmium induced testicular damage in mice. Biol Reprod 37 127-133 Nogawa K, Tsuritani I, Kido T, Honda R, Yamada Y, Ishizaki M (1987) Mechanism for bone disease found in inhabitants environmentally exposed to cadmium decreased 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D level. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 59 21-30... 

Immunosuppressant exposure also impacts the development of the immune system. Several studies have shown this effect [12, 13, 18] including one which examined TCDD, described in the study as a notorious innnunotoxicant [12]. Other chemicals that cause developmental immunotoxicity include PCBs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, chlordane, DDT, HCB, methylmercury, lead, and cadmium [13]. 

Cadmium exposure can cause permanent damage to the lung and kidney, afifect bone health and the immune system, and may be an endocrine disrupter. 

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