Biological half-time of cadmium in the blood of workers after cessation of exposure

Scand J Work Environ Health. 1983 Aug;9(4):327-31. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2404.

Abstract

The biological half-time of cadmium in the blood of previously exposed workers was estimated after the cessation of exposure. Five men were followed for a period of 10 to 13 years. One-compartment and two-compartment exponential elimination models were used to describe the decrease in blood cadmium levels over time. The best fit to the observed data was obtained with a two-compartment model. The half-times estimated from this model ranged from 75 to 128 d for the fast component and from 7.4 to 16.0 years for the slow component. The results confirm that there is a very long whole-body biological half-time for cadmium, and the estimated half-times are similar to those obtained with different methods.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cadmium / blood*
  • Environmental Exposure*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Medicine*

Substances

  • Cadmium