Introduction

The protein had different precipitation reactions from other urinary proteins and a lower molecular weight. There was no evidence of osteomalacia. Results from experimental studies on animals strongly incriminated cadmium as the etiological agent, although this was not at that time generally accepted. The cadmium species in the tissues may in turn be a function of differences in exposure routes and exposure forms. The growing scientific and administrative interest in cadmium toxicology is reflected in the increasing scientific output. The disease occurred among inhabitants in certain areas of Toyama Prefecture, where rice had been heavily contaminated due to irrigation of the soil with water contaminated with cadmium from industrial sources. A World Health Organization task group in the preparation of an environmental health criteria document for cadmium concluded that, “cadmium was a necessary factor in the development of Itai-itai disease.”