Cadmium II. Cardiovascular effects of human exposure to cadmium: left ventricular structure and function.

Since the 1970s, the effect of cadmium perfusion on peak systolic contractility and cardiac atrioventricular conduction has been observed in rats and a growing body of evidence shows that cadmium exposure is associated with cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, in humans. However, few human studies linked the cadmium exposure to impaired left ventricular function. Due to the common coexistence of other poisoning heavy metals, such as lead, and the confounding effect of smoking, the causal relationship between cadmium exposure and left ventricular function in humans is still to be established.