Effects of Environmental Cadmium Exposure on the Liver in Korean Adults: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Studies

Cadmium (Cd) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant with an exceptionally long biological half-life. The liver is a major organ for Cd metabolism, but the toxicity of Cd is unclear. This study sought to determine whether blood Cd (BCd) level (representing recent exposure [months] to Cd) was associated with liver function in Korean adults, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The baseline cross-sectional study involved 2,086 adults (male: 908, female: 1,178) in 2010 − 2011, and 503 of them (male: 207, female: 296) were followed up in 2014 − 2015. BCd was measured by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, and liver function indices (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], and γ -glutamyltransferase [GGT]) were determined. Liver damage was defined as an abnormal elevation of more than one liver function index. The geometric mean of BCd (1.07 μg/L) was higher in females than in males (1.16 vs. 0.96 μg/L). Liver function indices increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner according to the BCd levels, except for ALT in males, and were higher in males than in females. BCd level was also associated with the risk of liver damage in both sexes. No significant changes in BCd were observed between baseline and follow-up. The liver function indices in 2014 − 2015 were comparable to those in 2010 − 2011 in males, while ALT and GGT were significantly increased in 2014 − 2015 compared to 2010 − 2011 in females with relatively high BCd. These findings suggest that even a low level of environmental Cd exposure, short- and long-term, may affect liver function, and females appear more susceptible than males.