The concentration of cadmium in renal tissue from smokers and non-smokers.

The concentration of cadmium is determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry of renal tissue excised at autopsy. Tissue from 19 non-smokers and 42 smokers of either sex in the age group 45-65 years has been analysed. The concentration of cadmium in kidneys from 16 subjects who had been smoking pipes, cigars or cheroots did not differ significantly from the concentration in non-smokers and cigarette smokers. On the other hand, in both normotensive and hypertensive individuals, the concentration of cadmium in kidneys from cigarette smokers was twice as high as in kidneys from non-smokers.