Human Cadmium Neurotoxicology

Very few investigators have reported toxic effects of cadmium on the human nervous system. It has long been known, however, that 

Wood 2 has suggested as an alternative explanation that cadmium-induced anosmia may result fix)m the displacement of zinc, since cadmium is an antagonist to zinc and zinc deficiency can result in disorders of smell and taste. 

Symptoms from the CNS were recorded in one study of 160 workers in an accumulator factory. The symptoms were partly unspecific and consisted of headache, vertigo, and sleep disturbances. Physical examination revealed exaggerated knee-joint reflexes, tremor, dermographia, and sweating. In tests of sensory, dermal, and motoric chronaxia, the results were abnormal in cadmium-exposed workers with subjective disturbances.  

When cadmium injections were repeated, the animals developed tolerance against its neurotoxicologic effects. In rats hemorrhagic lesions in ganglia were not seen before the age of 20 d, whereas in the rabbit the lesions wei only observed in young animals.  

Electron microscopy of sensory ganglia jifter acute cadmium intoxication has shown that the endothelial cells are damaged at 

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Up to now there have been very few reports on neurotoxicologic effects in human beings exposed to cadmium. In view of the numerous observations of toxic effects of cadmium on the nervous system in animal experiments, and considering the increased industrial production of cadmium, it wiU probably be wise to be observant for neurologic side-effects of cadmium exposure in human beings in the future. 

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