Environmental exposure to cadmium and risk of cancer: a prospective population-based study.

Background: Cadmium is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant, which accumulates in the human body such that 24-h urinary excretion is a biomarker of lifetime exposure. We aimed to assess the association between environmental exposure to cadmium and cancer. Methods: We recruited a random population sample(n=994) from an area close to three zinc smelters and a reference population from an area with low exposure to cadmium and cancer. At baseline (1985-1989), we measured cadmium in urine samples obtained over 24h and in the soil of participant's gardens, and followed the incidence of cancer until... Mehr ...