Levels of cadmium in kidney and liver tissues among a Canadian population (province of Québec).

In an exploratory study, levels of cadmium in whole-kidney and liver tissues of 314 subjects from the general population of the province of Quebec (Canada) were measured postmortem. Frequency distributions of cadmium concentrations were lognormal. As reported in similar studies, age and especially smoking habits were the main variables affecting cadmium concentrations. The geometric mean of whole kidney concentrations (wet weight) was 17.62 microg/g, with a minimum concentration of 2.25 microg/g and a maximum of 100.61 microg/g. Mean concentrations of cadmium in kidneys increased with age, reaching a plateau in the group 50 to 59 yr (29.49 microg/g), and falling slowly thereafter.