[Current cadmium load in the population.  Comparison of cadmium concentrations in the kidney tissue of autopsies from 1969-1980]. 
Cadmium accumulates in the human kidney.  Especially the cadmium-level in the cortex can be used as an indicator of the cadmium-burden.  We analyzed tissue samples from 183 inhabitants of Bavaria to determine the amount and the changes in time of cadmium-burden in the general population.  Autopsies and analyses were performed in 1969 (collective A: 25 men, 12 women, mean age of death 37.0 and 53.5 years, resp.),  1971/72 (collective B: 52 men, 54 women, mean age of death 65.0 and 66.8 years, resp.)  and 1980 (collective C: 26 men, 13 women, mean age of death 37,5 and 52 years, resp.).  Only the samples of the collective B were analyzed after separation into renal cortex and medulla.  Anamnestic data were obtained from case history, smoking habits were not known in collective A and C. The comparisons of renal cadmium-concentrations during the last decade (1969-1980) did not substantiate an increase of cadmium-burden: Mean cadmium-concentrations are in 1969 (collective A) 8.4 and 7.9 micrograms cadmium/g wet weight (collective C) in 1980.  The central 66%-ranges of both collectives matched in respect of age, sex, and cause of death.  In all samples the values were below the discussed critical cadmium-concentration of 200 micrograms/g renal cortex wet weight.  The highest concentration determined was 115 micrograms cadmium/g renal cortex (collective B).  Our results further confirm the following: increase of renal cadmium-concentrations in older persons--higher cadmium-levels in renal cortex compared with medulla--and lower renal cadmium-concentrations in women in relation to men.