Objective: The exact mechanism of interference between cadmium and bone mineralization remains for further studies. Therefore this study aimed at assessing the associations between urinary cadmium levels as an indicator of body burden
and osteoblastic and osteoclastic biological bone markers as an indicators of bone effects in middle aged welders. Methods: The studied population consist of a group of welders (n=30) selected from two welder shops in EL Manial and those who were engaged in welding work in Kasr Al-Aini hospital and matched control (n=20). All participants were subjected to occupational and medical history, creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium (U-Cd) as an indicator of the whole body burden and biochemical markers of bone turnover. Bone formation and bone resorption were assessed by
measuring the N-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP) and C-telopeptide crosslaps of type I collagen (CTX-1) respectively. Results: U-Cd and CTX-1 were significantly higher in welders when compared to the controls. Further comparison of the exposed group(regarding U-Cd level ≤ 5 μg/ g cr and > 5 μg/ g cr) and control revealed statistically significant differences as regard U-Cd and CTX-1 in addition to statistically significant lower mean value of P1NP only in the group of U-Cd > 5 μg/ g cr than that in control group. On correlating U-Cd on one hand with duration of work, smoking index, CTX-1and P1NP on the other, non significant correlation was found. In conclusion our study may
confirm other studies which claim that Cd increase osteoclastic bone markers and hence has a direct bone effect.