Risk Factors for Increased Urinary Cadmium Levels Among A Rural Population Living Near A Dumpsite in the Deli Serdang District of Indonesia

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic mineral, which occurs naturally in the environment and as a result of agricultural and industrial activities. It is also a carcinogenic heavy metal. After exposure, Cd accumulates in the kidney and is excreted in urine. The urinary Cd level is considered a biomarker of long-term exposure to the mineral. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between urinary Cd levels and sociodemographic characteristics of a rural population living close to Namo Bintang dumpsite. This study used a cross-sectional design and consisted of 99 participants, which were selected using the stratified random sampling method according to the distance from their homes to the dumpsite area. Urinary Cd levels were measured at baseline using agraphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer and normalized by urinary creatinine. Demographic data and exposure to Cd-related risk factors were obtained through a direct interview using a questionnaire. The urinary Cd level of all the participants exceeded guidelines (>5 µg/g creatinine) according to the biologicalexposure indices of The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The presence of a smoking habit was significantly associated with increased urinary Cd levels (p = 0.041). It can be concluded that the community living close to the dumpsite has been exposed to Cd, which was related to urinary Cd levels. Keywords: cadmium; urinary Cd; heavy metal; dumpsit