Evaluation of serum cholesterol, cadmium and serum cadmium in smokers.

Abstract

The prevalent deaths from heart diseases resulting from smoking prompted this study to determine the serum cholesterol and cadmium in smokers. Higher levels of serum cholesterol (3.22 ±0.18 mmol/L) were obtained in smokers than in the non smokers (2.68 ±0.11 mmol/L). Also serum cadmium was higher in smokers (1.32± 0.11 mmol/L) and 0.13 ±0.04µl/L) for non smokers. Urine cadmium was 0.89±0.05mmol/L for smokers and 0.87 ±0.03 µl /L for non smokers. Duration and frequency of smoking also had an elevating effect on the serum levels of cholesterol, and cadmium as well as on the urine cadmium level. In all the samples analysed, the cadmium level did not exceed the WHO upper acceptable limit of 2µl/L.