Zinc and Cadmium in Normal Human Embryos and Fetuses

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Abstract
Zinc and cadmium concentrations were determined in 36 first trimester intact human embryos and in liver, brain, and kidney of 14 second and 1 third trimester fetuses. Zinc was found in all first trimester specimens. It increased sevenfold between the 31st and 35th day of gestation. Cadmium was present in 57% of specimens in concentrations from 0.032μg/gm to 0.07μg/ gm of wet tissue. In second trimester specimens, mean zinc concentration in brain was 5.6μg, in kidney 15.7μg, and in liver 167.7μg. Cadmium was present in 80% of livers (mean, 0.113μg/gm), 28% of kidneys (mean, 0.05μg/gm), and 17% of brain specimens (mean, 0 140μg/gm). Mothers of these abortuses did not live in areas of Japan where endemic cadmium poisoning exists; however, higher cadmium content of the average Japanese diet may be reflected by cadmium concentration in these specimens.