ABSTRACT
Humperdinck, 1968, reported on a follow-up of eight cases of chronic cadmium poisoning described by Baader in 1951. Four deaths had occurred, one due to primary cancer of the lung. Out of all workers (536) who during 1949 to 1966 had had any contact with cadmium, 5 had contracted carcinoma (including the above mentioned case of lung cancer). The author concluded that the data did not support any causal relationship between cadmium exposure and cancer. It should be added, though, that the majority of the workers were relatively young with relatively short periods of contact with cadmium (269 for less than 1 year, only 4 for 7 to 11 years). Thus, the study does not elucidate the question of a possible association between cadmium exposure and cancer. It should be of value to study the group on a longitudinal basis, particularly if more detailed information on exposure levels can be made available.
