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KMID : 1156220230490010048
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Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
2023 Volume.49 No. 1 p.48 ~ p.56
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Cadmium Exposure and Renal Damage in Individuals with Low Socioeconomic Status in Environmentally Vulnerable Areas
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Cho Yong-Min
Jin Ho-Hyun
Kang Ji-Yun
Kim Cha-Hun
Han Da-Hee
Kim Su-Hyeon
Han Seo-Hui
Hong Young-Seoub
Kim Ki-Tae
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Abstract
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Background: Few studies have assessed exposure to chemicals in the context of environmental vulnerability with a focus on exposure among populations living in certain geographical areas.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate cadmium exposure levels and kidney damage indices in environmentally and socioeconomically vulnerable populations, with further subgrouping according to economic status.
Methods: Four areas were selected to represent geographical vulnerability (two environmentally vulnerable populations and two socioeconomically vulnerable populations). Among them, population groups with lower socioeconomic status (SES) were separately classified. Urinary cadmium (UCd), beta2-microglobulin (β2-MG), and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) levels were analyzed in samples from 245 residents of these four areas.
Results: Geometric means of concentrations of UCd (0.97~2.02 μg/g creatinine) in all selected populations (N, 245; mean age, 67.8~70.9 years old) were higher than the national reference values (0.39 for adults and 0.78 μg/g creatinine for people in their 60s). Participants with a lower SES had higher UCd and NAG concentrations than did non-low SES participants. In the lower SES group, there was a significant association between UCd and NAG concentrations; however, there was no such correlation in the non-low SES group.
Conclusions: Consistent with the findings of previous studies evaluating chemical exposure and associated health effects in specific populations, the findings of this study suggest that individuals with a low SES may be more vulnerable to exposure and related health effects.
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KEYWORD
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Environmental justice, cadmium, kidney damage, socioeconomic status
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