[Cadmium--element completely unnecessary for the organism].

Cadmium (Cd) is the main environmental pollutant. This metal presents a serious threat to the health of people and animals. The environmental risk can lead to the absorption of large quantities of cadmium and its toxic action on the organism. It adversely affects a number of organs in humans and animals, including the kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, and testis. The liver and kidneys, which are the primary organs involved in the elimination of this metal from the organism, are especially sensitive to its toxic effects. This paper presents the current state of knowledge related to the molecular mechanisms of the toxic action of cadmium in cells. Different mechanisms are discussed: the disruption of the cellular antioxidant system and decrease in thiol status, the generation of reactive oxygen species, inhibition of DNA repair and DNA methylation, the activation of cellular signals and protooncogenes, disruption of cell adhesion, cell damage leading to apoptosis, the promotion of cell proliferation, and the initiation of mutagenesis/carcinogenesis.