Biological Effects of Human Exposure to Environmental Cadmium
Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal for the human organism and for all ecosystems. Cd is naturally found at low levels; however, higher amounts of Cd in the environment result from human activities as it spreads into the air and water in the form of micropollutants as a consequence of industrial processes...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/1/36 |
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| author | Massimiliano Peana Alessio Pelucelli Christos T. Chasapis Spyros P. Perlepes Vlasoula Bekiari Serenella Medici Maria Antonietta Zoroddu |
| author_facet | Massimiliano Peana Alessio Pelucelli Christos T. Chasapis Spyros P. Perlepes Vlasoula Bekiari Serenella Medici Maria Antonietta Zoroddu |
| author_sort | Massimiliano Peana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal for the human organism and for all ecosystems. Cd is naturally found at low levels; however, higher amounts of Cd in the environment result from human activities as it spreads into the air and water in the form of micropollutants as a consequence of industrial processes, pollution, waste incineration, and electronic waste recycling. The human body has a limited ability to respond to Cd exposure since the metal does not undergo metabolic degradation into less toxic species and is only poorly excreted. The extremely long biological half-life of Cd essentially makes it a cumulative toxin; chronic exposure causes harmful effects from the metal stored in the organs. The present paper considers exposure and potential health concerns due to environmental cadmium. Exposure to Cd compounds is primarily associated with an elevated risk of lung, kidney, prostate, and pancreatic cancer. Cd has also been linked to cancers of the breast, urinary system, and bladder. The multiple mechanisms of Cd-induced carcinogenesis include oxidative stress with the inhibition of antioxidant enzymes, the promotion of lipid peroxidation, and interference with DNA repair systems. Cd<sup>2+</sup> can also replace essential metal ions, including redox-active ones. A total of 12 cancer types associated with specific genes coding for the Cd-metalloproteome were identified in this work. In addition, we summarize the proper treatments of Cd poisoning, based on the use of selected Cd detoxifying agents and chelators, and the potential for preventive approaches to counteract its chronic exposure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:28:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b7495554e48d4e5698dc4756e53b5447 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:28:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-b7495554e48d4e5698dc4756e53b54472023-11-30T21:21:50ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2022-12-011313610.3390/biom13010036Biological Effects of Human Exposure to Environmental CadmiumMassimiliano Peana0Alessio Pelucelli1Christos T. Chasapis2Spyros P. Perlepes3Vlasoula Bekiari4Serenella Medici5Maria Antonietta Zoroddu6Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, ItalyInstitute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 11635 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Chemistry, University of Patras, 26500 Patras, GreeceSchool of Agricultural Science, University of Patras, 30200 Messolonghi, GreeceDepartment of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, ItalyCadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal for the human organism and for all ecosystems. Cd is naturally found at low levels; however, higher amounts of Cd in the environment result from human activities as it spreads into the air and water in the form of micropollutants as a consequence of industrial processes, pollution, waste incineration, and electronic waste recycling. The human body has a limited ability to respond to Cd exposure since the metal does not undergo metabolic degradation into less toxic species and is only poorly excreted. The extremely long biological half-life of Cd essentially makes it a cumulative toxin; chronic exposure causes harmful effects from the metal stored in the organs. The present paper considers exposure and potential health concerns due to environmental cadmium. Exposure to Cd compounds is primarily associated with an elevated risk of lung, kidney, prostate, and pancreatic cancer. Cd has also been linked to cancers of the breast, urinary system, and bladder. The multiple mechanisms of Cd-induced carcinogenesis include oxidative stress with the inhibition of antioxidant enzymes, the promotion of lipid peroxidation, and interference with DNA repair systems. Cd<sup>2+</sup> can also replace essential metal ions, including redox-active ones. A total of 12 cancer types associated with specific genes coding for the Cd-metalloproteome were identified in this work. In addition, we summarize the proper treatments of Cd poisoning, based on the use of selected Cd detoxifying agents and chelators, and the potential for preventive approaches to counteract its chronic exposure.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/1/36cadmiumcadmium toxicitycadmium exposurechronic exposureprotein targets |
| spellingShingle | Massimiliano Peana Alessio Pelucelli Christos T. Chasapis Spyros P. Perlepes Vlasoula Bekiari Serenella Medici Maria Antonietta Zoroddu Biological Effects of Human Exposure to Environmental Cadmium Biomolecules cadmium cadmium toxicity cadmium exposure chronic exposure protein targets |
| title | Biological Effects of Human Exposure to Environmental Cadmium |
| title_full | Biological Effects of Human Exposure to Environmental Cadmium |
| title_fullStr | Biological Effects of Human Exposure to Environmental Cadmium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biological Effects of Human Exposure to Environmental Cadmium |
| title_short | Biological Effects of Human Exposure to Environmental Cadmium |
| title_sort | biological effects of human exposure to environmental cadmium |
| topic | cadmium cadmium toxicity cadmium exposure chronic exposure protein targets |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/1/36 |
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