In the Kakehashi River basin in Ishikawa Prefecture,
several areas were highly polluted by Cd originating
from an upstream mine, and adverse health eects were
observed in inhabitants of these areas (Department of
Health, Ishikawa Prefecture 1976). e rice Cd concen-
tration in the target area was 0.67ppm, which indicates
the most marked degree of pollution in areas in the
Kakehashi River basin (Department of Health, Ishikawa
Prefecture 1976). e target area was surrounded by
rice elds and was a common type of farm village in the
Kakehashi river basin. ere were no factories around
the target area. Most inhabitants own private rice elds.
Inhabitants without their own rice elds also ate rice
grown in the target area. In 1970, daily Cd intake was
investigated in three men and three women using the
total diet method (Department of Health, Ishikawa
Prefecture 1976). Daily Cd intake was 178