摘要：People of over 30 years old living along the River Sasu and Shiine basin were examined for uriuary protein and cadmium excretion. Preliminary examination was made on combined urine samples taken from subjects classified by subjects living in A or F area was generally higher than those in other areas. The detailed study was carried out in A and K areas. A area is located down-stream of the river and adjacent to a zinc mine. K area is up-stream and a control area. The number of persons with proteinuria was 7 out of 77 in A area and 1 in 44 in K area, but all positive persons in A area were over 56 years old. The urinary cadmium concentrations expressed as means ± sd (number of persons) in μg/liter were as follows : A area : Farmer's family 12.2±6.4 (53), non-farmer's family 5.7±3.5 (24), K area : All family 2.3±1.5 (44). There was no difference between farmer and non-farmer in K area. No difference in zinc excretion was found in any group. No case has been definitely diagnosed as chronic cadmium poisoning.
