In the present study, 1476 adult women in 6 prefectures in Japan volunteered to offer peripheral blood and spot urine samples, and to complete questionnaires on social habits and health. Blood samples were analyzed for iron, ferritin and TIBC in serum in addition to RBC, Hb and Cd in whole blood. Urine samples were analyzed for Cd, alpha1-MG, and beta2-MG; the measures were corrected for creatinine and were expressed as e.g., Cd-Ucr. Among 1212 never-smokers, 37 women with < 25 ng ferritin/ml serum and < 10 g Hb/100 ml blood were classified as the anemics, whereas 701 women with > or = 25 ng/ml ferritin and > or = 10 g/100 ml Hb were taken as controls. Matching by age and the prefecture of residence was successful for 34 anemics. Comparison (by paired t-test) of Cd in blood, and Cd, alpha1-MG and beta2-MG in urine (as corrected for creatinine) of the anemics with that of matched controls showed no significant differences. Thus, it appeared likely that the current level of iron insufficiency among general women population in Japan may not induce substantial increase in Cd absorption or Cd-associated kidney dysfunction.