Chandravanshi, Shiv, Kumar 2021 — Developmental toxicity of cadmium in infants and children: a review
This Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology systematic review by Chandravanshi, Shiv, and Kumar (Indian forensic-science institutions: Faridabad, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad) synthesizes the human and animal literature on developmental toxicity of cadmium during in-utero and early-life exposure in infants and children. The review covers organ-system endpoints (kidneys, liver, heart, nervous system) and identifies the developmental windows during which cadmium exposure produces persistent effects. It is the most-recent comprehensive pediatric-focused Cd developmental toxicology review in the loaded corpus and is the foundational citing reference for HMTc Cd-threshold rationale targeting infant and child populations.
Key conclusions
The review documents that in-utero and early-life cadmium exposure produces health effects associated with kidney, liver, heart, and nervous-system endpoints in both human and animal studies. Specific developmental windows are identified during which Cd exposure produces persistent effects, supporting the case for vulnerable-population-targeted dietary Cd guidance below adult chronic reference values. The review aggregates the multi-decade literature including the China Wuhan in-utero cohort, the Bangladesh maternal-Cd cohorts, and U.S. and European biomonitoring data.
Implications
- Certification: Background context supporting tight HMTc Cd thresholds for IandC product rows. The pediatric developmental-toxicity case is the canonical justification for setting infant-and-toddler dietary Cd limits below adult-targeted reference values, and this review is the recent secondary-synthesis source that consolidates that case.
- Courses: Standard pediatric Cd developmental toxicology reference.
- App: Supports vulnerable-population flagging for in-utero and infant Cd exposure on Cd-bearing matrices (cocoa, root vegetables, rice, leafy vegetables).