Cadmium was detected i n chromatin, chromosomes and lysosomes. Although cadmium i s one o f the r a r e r elements i n nature, i t now ranks as a u b i q u itous a i r and water p o l l u a n t . C i g a r e t t e smoking and food are the l a r g e s t sources o f cadmium a s s i m i l a t i o n i n humans. Food and water contamination may come from superphos. phate f e r t i l i z e r s and cadmium pesticides. I n mammals, the t e s t i s i s the t a r g e t organ a f t e r acute exposure.

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... matogonial c e l l s are destroyed r e s u l t i n g i n a temporary s t e r i l i t y . The t e s t i s l e s i o n s are secondary t o ischemia r a t h e r than due t o a d i r e c t e f f e c t , t h e b l o o d -t e s t i s b a r r i e r being disrupted. However, b i r d s which have a d i f f er e n t t e s t i c u l a r vasculature are a l s o affected, there i s extensive necrosis.