The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of smoking and drinking on blood lead and cadmium levels based on a dose-response relationship in the general Korean adult population.

The study population consisted of 1,901 Koreans, who took part in the 2008 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, in which blood lead and cadmium levels were measured. Geometric mean concentrations and their 95% confidence intervals of metals in blood were estimated by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors.

We observed a statistically significant dose-response relationship with daily smoking amount/alcohol intake and blood lead/cadmium levels. While daily smoking amount was more consistent with blood cadmium level (0.1-0.2 µg/L per 5 cigarettes), blood lead concentrations were higher as daily alcohol intake increased (0.1-0.2 µg/dL per 10 gram of alcohol).

Our findings clearly support a relationship between daily smoking amount/alcohol intake and blood lead/cadmium levels, suggesting an additional reason towards efforts to reduce smoking and drinking habits.