Seventh Expert Opinion: Scientific Studies (Scientific Literature On Cadmium Poisoning) What Are Average Normal Cadmium Levels?
Published scientific studies are accepted as presentation of scientific facts by experts. So exactly what do scientific studies show to be the average normal level of cadmium in human hair? Below is a large cross section of studies separated into unexposed subjects and those working or living in environmentally or occupationally contaminated situations. I collected the findings of numerous authoritative sources.
We note that even the levels of persons exposed occupationally, environmentally, or accidentally to abnormal cadmium amounts are also far below the levels seen in Srila Prabhupada’s hair, being a fraction one ONE PPM.
Cadmium Unexposed Subject Studies: Laurie Miller at the Center for Disease Control (888 422 8737) mailed us their thick manual on cadmium poisoning, which put the average and normal amount of hair cadmium at 0.07* ppm (Sharma, et al, 1982).
Analytical Research Laboratories (see above) of Phoenix, AZ disclosed through their president Kenneth Eck that in their hair analyses for their clients the usual range for cadmium levels was from 0.02 – 0.10 ppm (or an average of 0.06* ppm).
Dr. J. R. Montonte of Trace Minerals International in Cleveland uses an acceptable range for hair cadmium of 0.0 – 0.75 ppm (normal 0.10* ppm).
Dr. Max Sutton from Hill Laboratories in California uses a reference range for cadmium in hair of 0.0 – 0.15 ppm (or an average of 0.075* ppm).
A 1994 study by Wolfsperger M, et al of 79 healthy adults in Vienna & Rome found an average of 0.038* ppm cadmium in non-smoker’s hair and 0.075 ppm in smoker’s hair.
A study in 1999 by Liu XJ in Japan compared hair cadmium of 0.109 ppm in residents of a
cadmium polluted area in 1979 to lower levels of 0.055* ppm in 1999 after environmental cleanup by soil replacement.
A study in 1988 by Wilhelm M, et al in Germany of school children in different areas from hair cadmium levels ranging from 0.0637 to 0.1161 parts per million (his average was 0.0745* ppm) A 1990 study by Wilhelm M, et al at Germany’s Institute of Toxicology measured cadmium hair levels to be normal at 0.060–0.085 ppm. (average 0.072* ppm) A study in 1991 by Wilhelm M, et al in Germany found young children to have an average of 0.09* ppm hair cadmium in their hair.
A study in 2003 by Benes B, Sladka J, et al in Czech Republic measured cadmium levels in the hair of 3556 children averaging 10 years of age. The medium amount of cadmium was 0.14* ppm.
A study in 2003 in Slovenia by Erzen I, et al measured the median cadmium content in the hair of 245 random young men to be only 0.004* ppm.
A study in 1994 by Wilhelm M, et al in Germany found 0.111* ppm cadmium in the hair of a control group of children.
A 1991 hair cadmium study by Bosque MA, et al in Spain of 226 children compared average results from an industrial area (0.327 ppm) with a rural area 0.002* ppm. The industrial area values are not included in this average.
A study of 5846 healthy Japanese showed average cadmium in both men and women to be 0.028* ppm. (Yoshikazu, Yoshio, 2005).
The levels of cadmium in the hair samples were above the reference values of various countries: Italy is 0.03 mg/kg or 0.03 ppm. (2012, F.I. Abdulrahman) The levels of cadmium in the hair samples were above the reference values of various countries: England 0.11 mg/kg or 0.11 ppm. (2012, F.I. Abdulrahman) The levels of cadmium in the hair samples were above the reference values of various countries: Japan 0.05 mg/kg or 0.05 ppm. (2012, F.I. Abdulrahman)
CADMIUM: “AVERAGE NORMAL” OF ABOVE 17 STUDIES IS 0.065 ppm There are 17 studies above which ascertain an “average normal” amount of hair cadmium that is found in “normal,” unexposed persons. There are variations in these amounts due to location, environment, nearby industries, and other factors. We calculated an average of the studies of normal values for both exposed and unexposed persons, and this approach disallows any criticism that selective studies were used to push the figures up or down. We call this the “AVERAGE NORMAL”-we could “cherry-pick” the lowest value studies like the GBC author did when he chose the two unusually high arsenic studies in Mexico City and Glasgow, but that would not be honest, so an average of many studies is more accurate.
That average of normal cadmium in human hair comes to 0.065 ppm, about one sixteenth of one part per million. This is about half of the average normal arsenic hair levels. Srila Prabhupada’s 1977 cadmium levels as found in hair samples D, A, and Q-2 with 12.4 to19.9 ppm comes to an average of 15.73 ppm.
Srila Prabhupada thus had about 190 to 306 times more than the average normal amount of hair cadmium, and that was over a period of many months. The average is 242 times above
average normal.
Clearly, Srila Prabhupada’s cadmium poisoning was very, very serious. As shown by the expert opinions, this is a lethal amount over a short period of time.
TWO PERSONAL TEST RESULTS NOT INCLUDED IN THE ABOVE AVERAGE: The interesting value of these tests is how closely they conformed to the “average normal.” On August 5, 2005, Nityananda das had his own hair tested by Doctor’s Data through his personal physician in the course of a general physical check-up. The cadmium results were exactly in the ballpark for normal: 0.067 ppm. When he and his wife I had their hair tested a few years earlier, they both had cadmium levels of 0.10 ppm, although other mineral levels differed significantly.
CADMIUM EXPOSED SUBJECT STUDIES: (1). A 1989 study by Bergomi M, Borella P, et al in Italy looked at 142 children in an industrial area, finding average hair cadmium of 0.17 ppm.
(2). A 1994 study by Muller M, Anke M in Germany noted that a factory had extensive cadmium emissions since 1960, resulting in the local residents acquiring high hair cadmium levels that averaged 0.389 ppm.
(3). A 1995 study by Chlopicka J, et al in Poland examined exposure of children in both industrial and rural areas to cadmium, finding average hair levels of 0.43 ppm.
(4). A 1996 study by Kasnia-Kocot J, et al in Poland examined the hair cadmium levels of 69 children living in “the most polluted district” of Chorzow, finding average levels of 0.44 ppm in girls… (continued) (5). and 0.91 ppm in boys.
(6). A 1996 study by Zaborowska W, et al in Poland found 0.31 ppm of hair cadmium in 157 children, including those living in high exposure areas.
(7). A 1997 study by Zaborowska W, et al in Poland found 0.37 ppm hair cadmium in another group of exposed school children.
(8). A 1998 study by Chlopick J, et al in Poland found 0.91 ppm hair cadmium in children from a highly industrialized and contaminated area.
(9). A 1991 hair cadmium study by Bosque MA, et al in Spain of 226 children compared average results from an industrial area (0.327 ppm) with a rural area (0.002 ppm). The rural values are not included in this exposed average calculation.
(10). A study in 1994 by Wilhelm M, et al in Germany found 0.111 ppm cadmium in the hair of a control group of children and 0.265 ppm in another group of children who were known to have had high exposure to cadmium. The fathers of all these children averaged 0.068 ppm (0.048 to 0.088) cadmium. Children usually have higher Cd levels than adults.
(11). A study in 1999 by Liu XJ in Japan compared hair cadmium of 0.109 ppm in residents of a cadmium polluted area in 1979 to lower levels of 0.055 ppm in 1999 after environmental cleanup by soil replacement.
(12). A 1991 hair cadmium study by Bosque MA, et al in Spain of 226 children compared average results from an industrial area (0.327 ppm) with a rural area (0.002* ppm). The rural area values are not included in this average.
A website (www.webhart.net) reviews screenings tests for toxins, stating: “Cadmium in hair exceeding 1 part per million is cause for concern.” (not used in this average) A 1993 study by Diaz-Barriga F, et al in Mexico found very high levels of hair cadmium in children living in a smelter community of 0.25 up to 3.5 ppm. (average unknown, not used in the above average)
CADMIUM: AVERAGE OF THESE 12 EXPOSED STUDIES IS 0.387 ppm It is useful to look at studies of those exposed to cadmium. The above 12 studies of hair cadmium in persons environmentally or occupationally exposed gives this information: • “AVERAGE EXPOSED” is about 0.387 ppm, or 6 times that of the AVERAGE NORMAL in studies of unexposed persons. • Srila Prabhupada had an average of 15.73 ppm, or about 40 times more cadmium as those who were exposed to serious or significant environmental or occupational contamination !
How can anyone suggest Srila Prabhupada’s cadmium was due to “exposure” to factory or environmental contamination? In all the studies we came across, and there were quite a few, we never saw where someone had higher levels of cadmium in their hair than Srila Prabhupada had. Clearly, Srila Prabhupada’s cadmium levels were off the “exposure” chart!
NOTE HOW THESE STUDIES WERE SELECTED There are many scientific studies which include what are called “outliers” that result in misleading ranges and averages for cadmium and arsenic hair levels. This phenomenon is elaborated upon at the end of Chapter 48. Please refer to this section for further appreciation of the selection criteria used in selecting the studies for which the average normal values in cadmium were ascertained, namely about 0.065 ppm.