Cadmium can cause serious illness.

• When ingested, large amounts of cadmium can severely irritate the stomach and cause vomiting and diarrhea.
• Breathing high levels of cadmium damages the lungs and can cause death.
• Exposure to low levels of cadmium in air, food, water, and particularly in tobacco smoke over time, may build up cadmium in the kidneys and cause kidney disease and bone fragility.
• Cadmium is considered a cancer-causing agent, also known as a carcinogen.

There are many ways you can be exposed to cadmium:

• Eating foods containing cadmium. Low levels of cadmium are present in all foods. The highest levels of cadmium are found in leafy greens, vegetables, legumes, and kidney meat.
• Smoking cigarettes or breathing cigarette smoke. Cadmium is present in tobacco plants. People who smoke typically have twice the amount of cadmium in their bodies as people who do not smoke.
• Breathing in air contaminated with cadmium.
• Drinking water contaminated with cadmium.

• Workers in industries which produce or use cadmium have the greatest potential for cadmium exposure.
• Hobbyists such as jewelry makers and artists may also be at increased risk for cadmium exposure.
• Exposure to cigarette smoke can increase the body's cadmium burden.

• Stop smoking. Tobacco smoke contains cadmium which is absorbed into the body through the lungs.
• Ensure adequate dietary iron consumption. People who are iron deficient will absorb more oral cadmium into their system.
• Practice good occupational hygiene if involved in work with cadmium or in hobbies involving cadmium exposure such as jewelry making or paints using cadmium.
• Prevent children from playing with batteries; dispose of nickel-cadmium batteries properly.

Resources

• Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ)- Utah Ground Water Quality Standards
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)- Toxicological Profiles (Cadmium)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)- Drinking Water Chemical Contaminant Rules
• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)- Cadmium
• U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)- Cadmium

Environmental health reports