Influence of сadmium compounds on the human body
Cadmium - a heavy metal, belongs to the second class of danger, has a strong tendency to accumulate in the body. Cadmium poisoning happens, when it gets into the stomach or via inhalation. Absorbed cadmium accumulates in the liver and kidneys as a complex with metallothionein. In red blood cells and soft tissues, cadmium binds to α2-macroglobulin and albumin. Cadmium binds with sulfhydryl groups of proteins that leads to their denaturation and inactivation of enzymes; the activity of mitochondria is inhibited, free radical oxidation in cells is increased. The concentration of cadmium in the kidneys can be assessed by examining the urine substrate using neutron activation method. Effect of cadmium on human body takes place in the production of galvanic elements, heat of metals, photography classes, in the production of accumulators and batteries, when manufacturing fertilizers, cigarettes, X-ray screens, television tubes, in the automotive and aircraft industries. Welders, brazers and jewelers, who work with cadmium alloys, have an increased risk of acute poisoning by cadmium oxide vapors. Clinical picture of acute poisoning is characterized by headache, dizziness, nausea, pallor, epigastric pain, sour taste in the mouth. Also, there are the phenomena of acute tracheobronchitis and generalized bronchiolitis, with attacks of painful convulsive cough with phlegm, severe shortness of breath and cyanosis. There is a risk of toxic bronchopneumonia and pulmonary edema, and death from them on 3rd-5th day. Chronic poisoning is characterized by a decrease and loss of smell, cadmium parkinsonism, cadmium line, asthenovegetative, astenoneurotic, neurasthenic, hypothalamic syndromes with autonomic disorders. With further development of intoxication, nasal bleedings, ulcerations and perforations of the nasal septum, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases with development of progressive pneumosclerosis and pulmonary emphysema, gastrointestinal disorders, liver damage, hypochromic anemia or compensatory polycythemia, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate up to 70 mm/h, osteomalacia are detected. Emergency care consists in clearing the airway, breathing and circulation maintenance, washing gastrointestinal tract; oral intake of hydrogen sulfide water 50-100 ml is recommended. For gastric lavage, 200 ml of hydrogen sulphide water is used with 800 ml of water or a solution of 5% unitiol (up to 15 ml in a glass of warm water), British antilewisite 1 ml/m i/m 4-6 times 3-4 days. In case of Itai-Itai disease, it is advisable to administer high doses of vitamin D, when consuming adequate amounts of calcium and phosphorus. Maximum allowable concentration of cadmium oxide in occupational air is 0.1 mg/m3. All persons in contact with cadmium should undergo periodic medical examinations 1 time a year. At the initial stage of chronic poisoning by cadmium compounds, temporary partial disability is diagnosed. At severe stages - persistent partial or total disability with assessment of disability.