Whole-blood lead, mercury, and cadmium concentrations and their associations with cancer in Korean elders (2007–2018)

This study aimed to explore blood lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) levels and their associations with cancers in Korean elders, using 4th to 7th KNHANES data. Subjects were aged 60 or above with available heavy metal blood test results. A total of 3,623 elders were included, and it was found that while Pb levels were lower, Hg and Cd levels were notably higher in females compared to males (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Furthermore, Hg and Cd showed divergent relationships with age (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Of particular note, A 1% elevation of whole-blood cadmium level was associated with significantly elevated risks of breast and lung cancers, with OR of 7.03 and 13.63, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.01). In conclusion, the study underscores distinct age and gender disparities in Pb, Hg, and Cd levels among Korean elders and highlights the robust association between Cd and breast or lung cancer.