Cadmium and lipid balance in outdoor workers exposed to urban stressor

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2022 Feb:90:103793. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2021.103793. Epub 2021 Dec 28.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between levels of blood and urinary cadmium and lipid balance in a group of outdoor workers. The study was conducted on a group of 146 individuals (average age 45,1 ± 8,5). Blood and urinary samples were collected for the detection of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood cadmium and urinary cadmium. We divided the group of workers into two subgroups according to the task:75 traffic policemen and 71 police drivers. Gender differences were found. The Pearson correlation coefficient showed a positive association between blood and urinary cadmium levels and total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides levels. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly higher in the group of traffic policemen than in police drivers. In conclusion, the results suggest a statistically significant association between blood and urinary cadmium levels and lipid balance contributing to an increase of the cardiovascular risk.

Keywords: Blood cadmium; Cadmium; Lipid balance; Outdoor workers; Urban pollution; Urine cadmium.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Air Pollutants, Occupational / adverse effects
  • Cadmium / blood*
  • Cadmium / urine*
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Police
  • Sex Factors
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • Urban Population

Substances

  • Air Pollutants, Occupational
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Triglycerides
  • Cadmium
  • Cholesterol