Tobacco smoke cadmium

Tobacco smoke contains a variety of air pollutants. In a survey of 80 homes ia an area where the outdoor TSP varied between 10—30 lg/m, the iadoor TSP was the same, or less, ia homes having ao smokers. la homes having oae smoker, the TSP levels were betweea 30—60 lg/m, while ia homes having two or more smokers, the levels were betweea 60—120 lg/m (64). la other studies, iadoor TSP levels exceeding 1000 lg/m have beea fouad ia homes with aumerous smokers. la additioa to TSP, burning tobacco emits CO, NO formaldehyde [50-00-0] bea2opyreaes, nicotine [54-11-5] pheaols, and some metals such as cadmium [7440-43-9] and arsenic [7440-38-2] (65). 

Food is the main source of cadmium input to human organisms, however the smokers take in a much larger amount of this element with tobacco smoke. The average period of cadmium storage in the human body is 18 years. 

Lead, cadmium, mercury, cobalt, uranium, antimony, barium, beryllium, cesium, molybdenum, platinum, thallium, tungsten, organochlorine pesticides, organophospho-rus insecticides (dialkyl phosphate metabolites), (specific metabolites), pyrethroid pesticides, other pesticides (2-isopropoyxyphenol, carbofuranphenol), herbicides, phthalates, phytoestrogens, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, tobacco smoke... 

Finally, it should be noted that smoking, both active and passive, has been associated with breast cancer risk. I87 Tobacco smoke contains cadmium, a known endocrine disruptor, as well as numerous carcinogens. No mechanism has yet been proposed for the association between smoking and breast cancer. 

The majorsourceofeadmium exposure in the general population is in tobacco smoke, with smokers having blood cadmium levels twice that of non-smokers. 

Experimental systems in animals can provide valuable insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of disease. Despite considerable efforts, there are still no good animal models of COPD. However, the use of chemical and irritant-induced injury models, combined with more mechanistic studies have provided some useful insights into a variety of disease relevant processes and may represent useful alternatives. Airway exposure to agents such as tobacco smoke (32,33), sulfur dioxide (34), cadmium chloride (35), and EPS (36) induce lung injury characterized by increases in neutrophils and macrophages within the central and peripheral airways, a loss of epithelial cilia through the upper airways. 

Cadmium is naturally present in the environment and is sometimes emitted from factories. It can be transferred from the soil to the plants that we eat and to tobacco used in cigarettes. The largest single source of cadmium exposure for humans is tobacco smoke, especially because the lungs absorb this toxic element [13]. 

Cadmium has an average concentration in the Earth s crust of 0.1-0.5 parts per million (ppm) [14]. It is a minor component in most zinc ores and is a zinc production by-product. Cadmium, which is naturally present in the environment, is sometimes emitted from factories. It can be transferred from the soil to the plants that we eat. As for plants, cadmium is taken up through their roots to the edible fruits and leaves. People are also exposed to cadmium when they consume contaminated animal food. In addition, cadmium is found in tobacco that is used in cigarettes. The largest single source of cadmium exposure for humans is tobacco smoke, especially because the lungs absorb this toxic element [14]. 

Much of the research into cancer of the respiratory system has been devoted to identifying lung carcinogens. Several chemical mixtures are known to increase lung cancer risk. These include tobacco smoke, which contain PAHs and cadmium, known as carcinogens other mixtures containing PAHs commercial oils and mixtures of chemicals and radiation [108]. Illustrative examples of respiratory system carcinogenic chemical mixtures are as follows. 

Muller G (1995) Cadmium Concentration in Tobacco of Popular Smoked Cigarettes in Germany 1978, 1985, and 1994 A Comparison. Naturwissenschaften 82 135... 

Cadmium is a nephrotoxin found in food, tobacco, and in the general environment. A study of cadmium-induced nephrotoxic effects on Swedish women has shown that even low level cadmium exposures in women who never smoked significantly impacted... 

Brunnemann, K.D., J.E. Cox, and D. Hoffmann Determination of cadmium in cigarette smoke and its possible role as a biomarker 47th Tobacco Chemists Research Conference, Program Booklet and Abstracts, Vol. 47, Paper No. 20, 1993, p. 30. ... 

Elia, V.J., E.E. Menden, and H.G. Petering Cadmium and nickel Common characteristics of lettuce leaf aud tobacco cigarette smoke Environ. Lett. 4 (1973) 317-324. 

Gutenmann, W.H., C.A. Bache, D.J. Lisk, D. Hoffmann, and J.D. Adams Cadmium and nickel in the smoke of cigarettes prepared from tobacco cultured on municipal sludge amended soil J. Toxicol. Environ. Hlth. 10 (1982) 423-431. 

Petering, H.G., E.E. Menden, and L.W. Michael Cadmium in tobacco and its fate during smoking Natl. Inst. OSHA, Cincinnati, OH (1988) pp. 1-8. 

Ingestion (eating) Cadmium can be absorbed through the digestive system, if a worker handles food, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or cosmetics which have cadmium on them. Never eat, smoke, or apply cosmetics around cadmium or until fully cleaned up after working with it. 

C. Employee Requirements.—You will not be able to smoke, eat, drink, chew gum or tobacco, or apply cosmetics while working with cadmium in regulated areas. You will also not be able to carry or store tobacco products, gum, food, drinks or cosmetics in regulated areas because these products easily become contaminated with cadmium from the workplace and can therefore create another source of unnecessary cadmium exposure. 

Cadmium Cadmium can enter the food chain and reside in the organs of animals such as the liver and kidney. Compared to other metals, it is more readily taken up by plants such as tobacco. As a result, cadmium in cigarettes can be a major nonoccupational source of exposure. One cigarette can contain 1 to 2 p,g and approximately 10% of the cadmium can be inhaled during smoking (Elinder et al. 1983). In ambient air in rural areas typical cadmium concentrations are 0.001 to 0.005 tg/m and up to 0.06 [Tg/m in urban areas (Kneip et al. 1970). Cadmium from diet and ambient air in North America and Europe has been estimated to be about 10 to 40 p,g/day (Goyer 1991). 

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