Cadmium, lead and endometriosis

Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) have been demonstrated to exert endocrine disrupting activities. Their possible role in endometriosis, an oestrogen-dependent disease, is unknown. We compared cadmium urinary excretion (CdU) and blood concentration of cadmium (CdB) and lead (PbB) in 119 patients with peritoneal endometriosis and/or deep endometriotic (adenomyotic) nodules of the rectovaginal septum and 25 controls. The mean levels of cadmium in urine and blood did not differ among the groups. Women suffering from endometriotic diseases showed lower levels of PbB than controls. These data do not support a role for cadmium in the onset or the growth of endometriotic diseases but suggest a possible relationship with lead.