ABSTRACT

Exposure to cadmium, a very toxic metal, continues to be a substantial envi­ ronmental and occupational concern. Cadmium has several diverse acute and chronic toxic effects (29,30), including carcinogenicity (47,98,101). Cadmium was recently accepted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a human carcinogen (47), primarily based on activity as a pulmonary carcinogen (82). Cadmium is also an effective and potent rodent carcinogen and has been as­ sociated with tumors of the lung, testes, and hematopoietic system among other possible sites (47,96,98,101).