Cadmium exposure is associated with overexpression of the metallothionein gene and heightened urinary deoxy-guanosine and protein carbonylation status in an exposed population of West Bengal, India
SonaliGhosh, RuchiraMukherjee, SwetaMandal, DwaipayanSinha, SarmishthaChanda and Alak Kumar Syamal
BACKGROUND: Cadmium (Cd), being a heavy metal, causes myriad clinical problems if exposed to the environment through food or drinking water or through inhalation. The river Churni of West Bengal is highly contaminated with heavy metals, particularly Cd, due to the disposal of waste materials from paint, sugar, and textile industries. People residing in the catchment area of the river are using the river water for drinking, cooking, and household work, and, therefore, are exposed to high levels of Cd throughout the years.
OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of biomarkers in chronic Cd-induced health hazards.
METHOD: A total of 105 study participants were recruited to evaluate chronic Cd-exposure-induced biomarkers. Among them, 50 were from the Cd-exposed population, and 55 were from the unexposed control. Cadmium concentration was measured by Graphite Furnace AAS in drinking and cooking water samples, and the biological samples (blood, urine) collected from every participant.