Cadmium poisoning
The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (January 2018) |
Cadmium poisoning | |
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Specialty | Toxicology |
Cadmium is a naturally occurring toxic metal with common exposure in industrial workplaces, plant soils, and from smoking. Due to its low permissible exposure in humans, overexposure may occur even in situations where only trace quantities of cadmium are found. Cadmium is used extensively in electroplating, although the nature of the operation does not generally lead to overexposure. Cadmium is also found in some industrial paints and may represent a hazard when sprayed. Operations involving removal of cadmium paints by scraping or blasting may pose a significant hazard. The primary use of cadmium is in the manufacturing of NiCd rechargeable batteries. The primary source for cadmium is as a byproduct of refining zinc metal.[1] Exposures to cadmium are addressed in specific standards for the general industry, shipyard employment, the construction industry, and the agricultural industry.[2]
Signs and symptoms
Acute
Acute exposure to cadmium fumes may cause flu-like symptoms including chills, fever, and muscle ache sometimes referred to as "the cadmium blues." Symptoms may resolve after a week if there is no respiratory damage. More severe exposures can cause tracheobronchitis, pneumonitis, and pulmonary edema. Symptoms of inflammation may start hours after the exposure and include cough, dryness and irritation of the nose and throat, headache, dizziness, weakness, fever, chills, and chest pain.[citation needed]
Chronic
Complications of cadmium poisoning include cough, anemia, and kidney failure (possibly leading to death).[3] Cadmium exposure increases one's chances of developing cancer.[4] Similar to zinc, long-term exposure to cadmium fumes can cause lifelong anosmia.[citation needed]
Bone and joints
One of the main effects of cadmium poisoning is weak and brittle bones.
Renal
The kidney damage inflicted by cadmium poisoning is irreversible. The kidneys can shrink up to 30 percent. The kidneys lose their function to remove acids from the blood in proximal renal tubular dysfunction. The proximal renal tubular dysfunction causes
Sources of exposure
Smoking is a significant source of cadmium exposure. Even small amounts of cadmium from smoking are highly toxic to humans, as the lungs absorb cadmium more efficiently than the stomach.[5] Cadmium is emitted to the electronic cigarette (EC) aerosol but, on currently available data, the lifetime cancer risk (LCR) calculated doesn't exceed the acceptable risk limit.[6][7]
Environmental
Buildup of cadmium levels in the water, air, and soil has been occurring particularly in industrial areas. Environmental exposure to cadmium has been particularly problematic in Japan where many people have consumed rice that was grown in cadmium-contaminated irrigation water. This phenomenon is known as itai-itai disease.[8]
People who live near
Some sources of
Food
Food is another source of cadmium. Plants may contain small or moderate amounts in non-industrial areas, but high levels may be found in the liver and kidneys of adult animals. The daily intake of cadmium through food varies by geographic region. Intake is reported to be approximately 8 to 30μg in Europe and the United States versus 59 to 113 μg in various areas of Japan.[12] A small study of premium dark chocolate samples found 48% had high levels of cadmium, the source commonly being the presence of cadmium in soil in which they were grown.[13]
Occupational exposure
In the 1950s and 1960s industrial exposure to cadmium was high, but as the toxic effects of cadmium became apparent, industrial limits on cadmium exposure have been reduced in most industrialized nations and many policy makers agree on the need to reduce exposure further. While working with cadmium it is important to do so under a fume hood to protect against dangerous fumes. Brazing fillers which contain cadmium should be handled with care. Serious toxicity problems have resulted from long-term exposure to cadmium plating baths.
Workers can be exposed to cadmium in air from the
Artists who work with cadmium pigments, which are commonly used in strong oranges, reds, and yellows, can easily accidentally ingest dangerous amounts, particularly if they use the pigments in dry form, as with chalk pastels, or in mixing their own paints.
Consumer products
Cadmium is used in
In February 2010, cadmium was found in an entire line of Wal-Mart exclusive Miley Cyrus jewelry. The charms were tested at the behest of the Associated Press and were found to contain high levels of cadmium. Wal-Mart did not stop selling the jewelry until May 12 because "it would be too difficult to test products already on its shelves".[14]
On June 4, 2010, cadmium was detected in the paint used on promotional drinking glasses for the movie Shrek Forever After, sold by McDonald's Restaurants, triggering a recall of 12 million glasses.[15]
Toxicology
Cadmium is an extremely toxic industrial and environmental pollutant classified as a human carcinogen: Group 1, according to the
Toxicodynamics
Cellular toxicology
Inside cells, cadmium ions act as a catalytic
Toxicokinetics
Inhaling cadmium-laden dust quickly leads to respiratory tract and kidney problems which can be fatal (often from kidney failure). Ingestion of any significant amount of cadmium causes immediate poisoning and damage to the liver and the kidneys. Compounds containing cadmium are also carcinogenic.[20]
Diagnosis
Biomarkers of excessive exposure
Increased concentrations of urinary
Treatment
A person with cadmium poisoning should seek immediate medical attention, both for treatment and
For a non-chronic
For long-term exposure, considerable evidence indicates that the traditional chelator
Epidemiology
In a mass cadmium poisoning in Japan, a marked prevalence for skeletal complications has been noted for older,
History
An experiment during the early 1960s involving the spraying of cadmium over Norwich was declassified in 2005 by the UK government, as documented in a BBC News article.[28]
See also
Citations
- ^ USGS (2018). Cadmium. Retrieved from https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/cadmium/mcs-2018-cadmi.pdf
- ^ "Safety and Health Topics | Cadmium". Osha.gov. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
- ^ S2CID 1902243.
- ^ a b (IARC)International Agency for Research on Cancer. 1993. Beryllium, cadmium, mercury and exposures in the glass manufacturing industry, vol. 58. IARC, Lyon, France. 119238.
- PMID 9569444.
- S2CID 3702954.
- PMID 25988311.
- ^ "Itai-itai disease". Kanazawa-med.ac.jp.
- .
- .
- PMID 9496656.
- ^ Elinder CG. Uses, occurrence and intake. In:Cadmium and Health: An Epidemiologic and Toxicological Appraisal, Friberg L, Elinder CG, Nordberg GF et al, CRC press, Boca Raton, FL 1985. Vol 1, p.23
- ^ Loria, Kevin (December 15, 2022). "Lead and Cadmium Could Be in Your Dark Chocolate". Consumer Reports.
- ^ Pritchard, Justin (19 May 2010). "AP IMPACT: Wal-Mart pulls jewelry over cadmium". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010.
- ^ Gelles, Jeff (2010). "McDonald's Recalls Cadmium-Tainted Shrek Glasses - Made in NJ". Huffington Post.
- ^ IPCS (International Programme on Chemical Safety) Cadmium–Environmental Health Criteria 134. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1992. Accessed 29 December 2009. Available: http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc134.htm.
- ^ ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Cadmium. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA (2012)
- PMID 23430768.
- ^ "Cadmium (Cd) Toxicity: How Does Cadmium Induce Pathogenic Changes? | ATSDR - Environmental Medicine & Environmental Health Education - CSEM". Atsdr.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
- ^ "Safety and Health Topics | Cadmium - Health Effects". Osha.gov. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
- ^ ATSDR. Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (CSEM) Cadmium Toxicity Clinical Assessment - Laboratory Tests Archived 2017-09-08 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2010-09-10.
- PMID 19540908.
- ^ R. Baselt, Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man, 8th edition, Biomedical Publications, Foster City, CA, 2008, pp. 212-214.
- ^ PMID 23844395.
- ^ a b Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2017). "How Should Patients Exposed to Cadmium Be Treated and Managed?" In Cadmium Toxicity (online training course). Case Studies in Environmental Medicine. CDC.
- ^ Hamilton JW. "What is Itai-Itai disease". Access Science. McGraw-Hill Global Education Holdings, LLC. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
- PMID 32466586.
- ^ "BBC News - Enquiry into spray cancer claims". 2005-12-07.
General and cited references
- Hartwig, Andrea (2013). "Cadmium and Cancer". Cadmium: From Toxicity to Essentiality. Metal Ions in Life Sciences. Vol. 11. pp. 491–507. PMID 23430782.
- "Cadmium and you" (PDF). Bootle, UK: Health and Safety Executive. March 2010. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
- Shannon M. "Heavy Metal Poisoning", in Haddad LM, Shannon M, Winchester JF (editors): Clinical Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose, Third Edition, 1998.
External links
- ATSDR Case Studies in Environmental Medicine: Cadmium Toxicity U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- CDC - Cadmium - NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- National Pollutant Inventory - Cadmium and compounds
- http://www.canoshweb.org/odp/html/cadmium.htm Archived 2021-03-09 at the Wayback Machine
- After ‘Cadmium Rice,’ now ‘Lead’ and ‘Arsenic Rice’, New York Times