Cadmium Levels in Urine and Mortality among U.S. Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Andy Menke, Paul Muntner, Ellen K. Silbergeld, Elizabeth A. Platz, Eliseo Guallar
Primary Institution: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Hypothesis
We aimed to evaluate the association of creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the U.S. general population.
Conclusion
Environmental cadmium exposure was associated with an increased risk of all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease mortality among men, but not among women.
Supporting Evidence
- Cadmium exposure has been linked to increased mortality from cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
- The study included 13,958 adults from the NHANES III survey.
- Men showed a significant association between urinary cadmium levels and mortality, while women did not.
Takeaway
This study found that higher levels of cadmium in urine can lead to more deaths from cancer and heart disease in men, but not in women.
Methodology
The study analyzed data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) and followed participants for mortality through 31 December 2000.
Potential Biases
Potential residual confounding by smoking.
Limitations
Measurement error due to within-person variability in cadmium and creatinine excretion in single spot urine samples, and limited power to evaluate some causes of mortality.
Participant Demographics
Participants were adults aged 20 and older from the U.S. general population.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 1.15–1.43
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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