Differences in urine cadmium associations with kidney outcomes based on serum creatinine and cystatin C

► Cadmium is a well-known nephrotoxicant. ► However, cadmium associations with higher estimated glomerular filtration rate based on serum creatinine were recently reported. ► We compared models of estimated glomerular filtration rate based on serum cystatin C to those with serum creatinine. ► Despite correlated estimated glomerular filtration rates, cadmium was not associated with cystatin-C-based estimated glomerular filtration rate. ► These results support a biomarker-specific, rather than a kidney function, mechanism.