A suspected case of “itai-itai disease” in a cadmium-polluted area in Akita prefecture, Japan

• DOI: 10.1265/ehpm.24-00063
• Publication Date: 2024-08-06T22:11:53Z
• Authors: Toru Sasaki; Hyogo Horiguchi; Takehisa Matsukawa; Momoko Kobayashi; Yuki Omori; Etsuko Oguma; Atsushi Komatsuda
• Keywords: Cadmium Poisoning; Farmers; cadmium; akita prefecture; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Japan; Humans; Female; Environmental Pollutants; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; itai-itai disease; Research Article; Cadmium; Aged

Itai-itai disease is the most severe case of chronic cadmium (Cd) toxicity, which was endemic in Cd-polluted areas in the Jinzu River basin in Toyama prefecture, Japan. Akita prefecture also has Cd-polluted areas, but there have been no cases of "itai-itai disease".An elderly female farmer with Cd nephropathy residing in a Cd-polluted area in the northern part of the Akita prefecture was identified through hospital-based screening at Akita Rosai Hospital in Odate city. She had chronic renal failure with a high Cd exposure level and advanced renal tubular dysfunction. The shortening of height, bone deformities and fractures, abnormal bone metabolism suggesting osteomalacia, and renal anemia were also noted. Therefore, "itai-itai disease", similar to cases in the Jinzu River basin, was suspected.This is the first case of "itai-itai disease" in a Cd-polluted area in Akita prefecture.