The Mechanisms of Cadmium Toxicity in Living Organisms

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal primarily found as a by-product of zinc production. Cd was a proven carcinogen, and exposure to this metal has been linked to various adverse health effects, which were first reported in the mid-19th century and thoroughly investigated by the 20th century. The toxicokin...

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Main Authors: Slavena Davidova, Viktor Milushev, Galina Satchanska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Toxics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/875
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author Slavena Davidova
Viktor Milushev
Galina Satchanska
author_facet Slavena Davidova
Viktor Milushev
Galina Satchanska
author_sort Slavena Davidova
collection DOAJ
description Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal primarily found as a by-product of zinc production. Cd was a proven carcinogen, and exposure to this metal has been linked to various adverse health effects, which were first reported in the mid-19th century and thoroughly investigated by the 20th century. The toxicokinetics and dynamics of Cd reveal its propensity for long biological retention and predominant storage in soft tissues. Until the 1950s, Cd pollution was caused by industrial activities, whereas nowadays, the main source is phosphate fertilizers, which strongly contaminate soil and water and affect human health and ecosystems. Cd enters the human body mainly through ingestion and inhalation, with food and tobacco smoke being the primary sources. It accumulates in various organs, particularly the kidney and liver, and is known to cause severe health problems, including renal dysfunction, bone diseases, cardiovascular problems, and many others. On a cellular level, Cd disrupts numerous biological processes, inducing oxidative stress generation and DNA damage. This comprehensive review explores Cd pollution, accumulation, distribution, and biological impacts on bacteria, fungi, edible mushrooms, plants, animals, and humans on a molecular level. Molecular aspects of carcinogenesis, apoptosis, autophagy, specific gene expression, stress protein synthesis, and ROS formation caused by Cd were discussed as well. This paper also summarizes how Cd is removed from contaminated environments and the human body.
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spelling doaj-art-b4a201a898ec416b978242b19ff1050e2024-12-27T14:56:40ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042024-11-01121287510.3390/toxics12120875The Mechanisms of Cadmium Toxicity in Living OrganismsSlavena Davidova0Viktor Milushev1Galina Satchanska2UPIZ Educational and Research Laboratory of Biology-MF-NBU, New Bulgarian University, 1618 Sofia, BulgariaUPIZ Educational and Research Laboratory of Biology-MF-NBU, New Bulgarian University, 1618 Sofia, BulgariaUPIZ Educational and Research Laboratory of Biology-MF-NBU, New Bulgarian University, 1618 Sofia, BulgariaCadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal primarily found as a by-product of zinc production. Cd was a proven carcinogen, and exposure to this metal has been linked to various adverse health effects, which were first reported in the mid-19th century and thoroughly investigated by the 20th century. The toxicokinetics and dynamics of Cd reveal its propensity for long biological retention and predominant storage in soft tissues. Until the 1950s, Cd pollution was caused by industrial activities, whereas nowadays, the main source is phosphate fertilizers, which strongly contaminate soil and water and affect human health and ecosystems. Cd enters the human body mainly through ingestion and inhalation, with food and tobacco smoke being the primary sources. It accumulates in various organs, particularly the kidney and liver, and is known to cause severe health problems, including renal dysfunction, bone diseases, cardiovascular problems, and many others. On a cellular level, Cd disrupts numerous biological processes, inducing oxidative stress generation and DNA damage. This comprehensive review explores Cd pollution, accumulation, distribution, and biological impacts on bacteria, fungi, edible mushrooms, plants, animals, and humans on a molecular level. Molecular aspects of carcinogenesis, apoptosis, autophagy, specific gene expression, stress protein synthesis, and ROS formation caused by Cd were discussed as well. This paper also summarizes how Cd is removed from contaminated environments and the human body.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/875Cd pollutionCd toxicitybacteriaplantsanimalshuman
spellingShingle Slavena Davidova
Viktor Milushev
Galina Satchanska
The Mechanisms of Cadmium Toxicity in Living Organisms
Toxics
Cd pollution
Cd toxicity
bacteria
plants
animals
human
title The Mechanisms of Cadmium Toxicity in Living Organisms
title_full The Mechanisms of Cadmium Toxicity in Living Organisms
title_fullStr The Mechanisms of Cadmium Toxicity in Living Organisms
title_full_unstemmed The Mechanisms of Cadmium Toxicity in Living Organisms
title_short The Mechanisms of Cadmium Toxicity in Living Organisms
title_sort mechanisms of cadmium toxicity in living organisms
topic Cd pollution
Cd toxicity
bacteria
plants
animals
human
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/875
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AT galinasatchanska themechanismsofcadmiumtoxicityinlivingorganisms
AT slavenadavidova mechanismsofcadmiumtoxicityinlivingorganisms
AT viktormilushev mechanismsofcadmiumtoxicityinlivingorganisms
AT galinasatchanska mechanismsofcadmiumtoxicityinlivingorganisms