A cross-sectional survey of cadmium biomarkers and cigarette smoking

Abstract

Cadmium contamination of tobacco may contribute to the health hazards of cigarette smoking. The 2005–2012 United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data provided a unique opportunity to conduct a cross-sectional survey of cadmium biomarkers and cigarette smoking. Among a sample of 6761 participants, we evaluated mean differences and correlations between cadmium biomarkers in the blood and urine and characteristics of never, former and current smokers. We found statistically significant differences in mean cadmium biomarker levels between never and former smokers as well as between never and current smokers. In current smokers, duration in years had a higher correlation coefficient with urinary than blood cadmium levels. In contrast, number of cigarettes smoked per day had a higher correlation coefficient with blood than urinary cadmium levels. These data suggest that blood and urine cadmium biomarker levels differ by duration and dose. These findings should be considered in evaluating any association between cadmium and smoking related diseases, especially cardiovascular disease.

Keywords:

• Biomarker
• cadmium
• cigarette smoking
• National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Author contributions

E.H. conceived, researched and wrote the manuscript. K.A., D.L., C.H. and W.W.H. provided guidance and support and made substantial contributions to conception, design, analysis and interpretation of data as well as revising the manuscript and making critically important contributions. All authors have given final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure statement

There are no external sources of funding to disclose. Professor Hennekens reported that he is funded by the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine of Florida Atlantic University; serves as an independent scientist in an advisory role to investigators and sponsors as Chair or Member of Data and Safety Monitoring Boards for Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers-Squibb, British Heart Foundation, Cadila, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, DalCor, Genzyme, Lilly, Regeneron, Sanofi, Sunovion and the Wellcome Foundation; to legal counsel for Pfizer and Takeda, the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration, and UpToDate; and receives royalties for authorship or editorship of three textbooks and as coinventor on patents for inflammatory markers and CV disease that are held by Brigham and Women’s Hospital; and has an investment management relationship with the West-Bacon Group within SunTrust Investment Services, which has discretionary investment authority and does not own any common or preferred stock in any pharmaceutical or medical device company.