An interventional study of rice for reducing cadmium exposure in a Chinese industrial town

Lei Huang; Linli Liu; Ting Zhang; Di Zhao; Hongbo Li; Hong Sun; Patrick L. Kinney; Masha Pitiranggon; Steven Chillrud; Lena Qiying Ma; Ana Navas-Acien; Jun Bi; Beizhan Yan

Environment International (Jan 2019)

An interventional study of rice for reducing cadmium exposure in a Chinese industrial town

Lei Huang,
Linli Liu,
Ting Zhang,
Di Zhao,
Hongbo Li,
Hong Sun,
Patrick L. Kinney,
Masha Pitiranggon,
Steven Chillrud,
Lena Qiying Ma,
Ana Navas-Acien,
Jun Bi,
Beizhan Yan

Affiliations

Lei Huang: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Xianlin Campus, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
Linli Liu: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Xianlin Campus, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
Ting Zhang: Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry, Ministry of Education, Nanjing University, Xianlin Campus, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
Di Zhao: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Xianlin Campus, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
Hongbo Li: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Xianlin Campus, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
Hong Sun: Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu, Road 172, 210009 Nanjing, PR China
Patrick L. Kinney: Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, United States
Masha Pitiranggon: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 61 Rt. 9W. Palisades, New York 10964, United States
Steven Chillrud: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 61 Rt. 9W. Palisades, New York 10964, United States
Lena Qiying Ma: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Xianlin Campus, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
Ana Navas-Acien: Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 61 Rt. 9W. Palisades, New York 10964, United States
Jun Bi: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Xianlin Campus, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China; Correspondence to: J. Bi, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Xianlin Campus, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China.
Beizhan Yan: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 61 Rt. 9W. Palisades, New York 10964, United States; Correspondence to: B. Yan, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 61 Rt. 9W. Palisades, New York 10964, United States.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 122
pp. 301 – 309

Abstract

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Background: Reducing cadmium (Cd) exposure in Cd-polluted areas in Asia is urgently needed given the toxic effects of Cd. The short-term and long-term benefits of lowering Cd exposure are unknown because of its long half-life in the body. Objectives: We aimed to investigate whether an intervention with low-Cd rice in a contaminated area of China reduced urinary Cd (UCd) levels and improved blood pressure and kidney function outcomes compared to no-intervention in consumers of high-Cd rice in the same region. Methods: 106 non-smoking subjects were divided into three treatment groups: the intervention group (replacing homegrown high-Cd rice with market low-Cd rice, n = 34), the non-intervention group (continue eating high-Cd rice, n = 36) and the control group (continued eating low-Cd rice they have been eating for years, n = 36). The intervention period lasted for almost 8 months, during which participants were visited on up to 4 occasions and UCd, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), kidney function biomarkers (β2-microglobulin and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase) were measured. Results: After 3 months, the geometric mean UCd in the intervention (Int) group decreased significantly by 0.32 μg/g (p = 0.007), while changes were not significant in the non-intervention (non-Int) group (0.13 μg/g, p = 0.95) or the control group (−0.01 μg/g, p = 0.52). UCd in the Int group remained lower than in the non-Int group but higher than in the Control group through the end of follow up. DBP in the Int group decreased significantly from 80 mm Hg at month three (p = 0.03) and stayed around 74 mm Hg for the remainder of the study. SBP also decreased in the Int group but with variations similar to those observed in the other two groups. The two kidney biomarkers showed variations without a clear pattern. Conclusion: This study suggested that UCd reflected both short-term (<3 months) and long-term Cd exposure. In addition, the low-Cd rice intervention showed initial benefits in lowering blood pressure levels, especially DBP, but not kidney biomarkers. Keywords: Cadmium exposure, Urinary cadmium, Blood pressure, Rice, Kidney dysfunction, Intervention

Published in Environment International

ISSN: 0160-4120 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international

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