The atsdr toxicological profile succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for the toxic substances each profile describes. Routes of exposure relevance to public health health effects chemical and physical information cadmium is a metal. Cadmium fact sheet office of environmental health hazard. Exposure to very low levels of cadmium does not present a significant health risk. Such pressor effects have been linked to depressed blood and tissue levels of atrial natriuretic peptide, increased blood levels of aldosterone, and retention of sodium and water atsdr 1999. Cadmium is toxic at very low exposure levels and has acute and chronic effects on health and. Epa540186038 september 1984 health effects assessment for cadmium u.
Describe the known factors contributing to cadmium poisoning. The acute shortterm effects of cadmium in humans through inhalation exposure consist mainly of effects on the lung, such as pulmonary irritation. In addition, both human and animal studies are reported in this section. Health risk assessment and its associations with hypertension and impaired kidney function skip to main content thank you for visiting.
Other effects of cadmium expo sure are disturbances of calcium metabolism, hypercalciuria and formation of stones in the kidney. The diet is the main source of cadmium exposure in the swedish nonsmoking general population. Pdf cadmium is a heavy metal of considerable toxicity with destructive impact on most organ systems. Health effects occupational exposure to cadmium can lead to a variety of adverse health effects including cancer. Acute inhalation exposure high levels over a short period of. Cadmium exposure in these populations is often estimated by blood or urinary cadmium levels see section 3. Exposures to heavy metals can affect human health both directly or indirectly by disrupting ecological systems that exist in rivers, lake, oceans, streams, wetlands, estuaries and other ecosystems. Cadmium factsheet national biomonitoring program cdc. Human exposures and health effects nonoccupational exposure occurs mainly from active and passive inhalation of tobacco smoke and from. Safety and health topics cadmium health effects occupational. Cadmium is a naturally occurring metal found in the earths crust. Presents a standard to prevent the adverse effects of exposure to cadmium over a working lifetime.
Environmental protection agency office of research and development office of health and environmental assessment environmental criteria and assessment office cincinnati, oh 45268 u. Cadmium sulfide and selenide are commonly used as pigments in plastics. Cadmium exerts toxic effects on the kidney, the skeletal system and the respiratory system and is classified as a human carcinogen. Cadmium cd is a toxic heavy metal that can accumulate in the human body and the environment for lengthy periods. Safety and health topics cadmium additional resources. Cadmium in drinkingwater world health organization. Health effects the most sensitive targetsof cadmium toxicity are the kidney and bone following oral exposure and kidney and lung following inhalation exposure. Cadmium exerts toxic effects on the kidneys as well as the skeletal and respiratory systems. Cadmium compounds a hazard summary the main sources of cadmium in the air are the burning of fossil fuels such as coal or oil and the incineration of municipal waste. To predict future health risks from increases in dietary cadmium due to environmental changes such as acid deposition, it is necessary that the models used are based on correct assumptions. By contrast, the kidney can be monitored to provide prevention and early detection of cadmium induced kidney damage. Eight common heavy metals are discussed in this brief. Pdf cadmium cd, a byproduct of zinc production, is one of the most toxic elements to which man can be exposed at work or in the environment.
The atsdr toxicological profile succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for the hazardous substance described here. In addition, erythrocyte alad in mammals has no function as such because mature erythrocytes do not participate in haem synthesis. Cd has a long biological halflife mainly due to its low rate of excretion from the body. Human health effects of heavy metals introduction heavy metals are individual metals and metal compounds that can impact human health. On the other hand, it is an example for the beneficial potential of the international cooperation of laboratories, universities and local authorities. Kidney damage as mentioned above, cadmium reaches the kidney in form of cadmiummetallothionein cdmt. Cadmium cancercausing substances national cancer institute. Pdf environmental toxicity of cadmium and health effect. Toxicological profile for cadmium agency for toxic substances. The health effects of human exposure to cadmium are discussed with emphases on intake, absorption, body burden, and excretion.
Multiple studies in humans suggest that prolonged cadmium exposure may also cause lung. It is generally present in the environment at low levels. It occurs widely at low levels in the environment, and may be recycled from used nickel cadmium batteries. While the acute toxicity of cd was discovered as early as in 19th century5, the possibility that this metal could cause chronic effects in humans was recognized. The present margin of safety with regard to risk for renal effects is small. Thus, prolonged exposure to cd will cause toxic effect due to its accumulation over time in a variety of tissues, including kidneys, liver, central nervous system cns, and peripheral neuronal systems. Environmental toxicity of cadmium and health effect article pdf available in journal of environmental protection and ecology 101. Eating food or drinking water with very high levels can hurt the stomach, causing vomiting or diarrhea. In humans, the excess amount of cadmium can cause the potential health risk via consumption of polluted food crops and it can adversely effects the kidney and causes the bone damage.
The severity of the effects depends on duration and magnitude of exposure. Information on health effects of oral exposure to cadmium in humans is derived mainly from studies of residents living in cadmium polluted areas. Pdf cadmium is a heavy metal that occurs as a natural constituent in earths crust along with copper, lead, nickel and zinc. Cadmium exposure at early age should be limited as much as possible to prevent direct effects on children and to prevent accumulation of cadmium which may have serious health effects only becoming. Exposure occurs mostly where cadmium products such as batteries, pigments, metal coatings, and plastics are made or recycled. These are all naturally occurring substances which.
The main adverse health effects associated with cadmium overexposure are lung cancer and kidney dysfunction. Human health concerns of lead, mercury, cadmium and. Cadmium appears on the proposition 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer and reproductive harm. This study was aimed to estimate the potential health risks in a cdpolluted district in china, and examine the relationship between urinary cadmium ucd and. Sep 10, 2006 latest studies have proven the importance of a reduction of cadmium emissions for human health. Human health concerns of lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic 57 not considered to be a deleterious effect because the enzyme exhibits a large reserve capacity zielhuis, 1975. Worker notification program cadmium recovery workers cadmium. The action level for workplace exposure to cadmium is 2. Epa600s186004 research triangle park, nc us environmental protection agency. Seaweed in coastal areas can become toxic due to exposure to a certain level of heavy metal contamination 7. And potential effects cadmium is a major public health concern who, 2010 1 phosphate rock, used to manufacture fertilizers, contains cadmium.
In industry, its regulated by the environmental protection agency epa and it has a very low permissible exposure level. Freshly formed cadmium fume is an intense pulmonary irritant, resulting in respiratory distress and possible pulmonary edema that may develop as much as 48 hours after exposure. Cadmium intake via oysters and health effects in new zealand microform. It is not yet known how to adequately biologically monitor human beings to specifically prevent cadmium induced lung cancer. This study shows health effects due to environmental cadmium exposure. According to the current knowledge kidney damage renal tubular damage is probably the critical health effect. Cadmium is of no use to the human body and is toxic even at low levels. The pel is a timeweighted average concentration that must not be exceeded during any 8hour work shift of a. Other pertinent literature is also presented, but is described in less detail than the key studies.
The prevalences of diabetes, hypercholester olemia, and hypertriglyceridemia were not associated with cadmium exposure. Specific health effects of a given hazardous compound are reported by type of health effect death, systemic, immunologic, reproductive, by route of exposure, and by length of exposure acute, intermediate, and chronic. William page, program officer, advisory panel for the study of longterm health effects of participation in project shad shipboard hazard and defense, institute of medicine, the national academies. It is unlikely that the general population would be exposed to a level of cadmium high enough to cause adverse health effects. Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Only go outside for food, health reasons or work but only if you cannot work from home. Effective legislation, guidelines and detection of the areas. Effects of cadmium on bioaccumulation, bioabsorption, and.
Cadmium may cause local skin or eye irritation and can affect longterm health if inhaled or ingested. Health hazard information acute health effects the following acute shortterm health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to cadmium. Environmental protection agency office of emergency and remedial response office of solid waste and emergency response washington. Learn about cadmium, which may raise your risk of lung cancer. Pacific northwest pollution prevention resource center. Cadmium intake, metabolism, and effects in people with a high intake of ooysters in new zealand. Cadmium health effects the us epa has established a maximum contaminant level mcl of 0. In animals, chronic ingestion of cadmium causes increased systolic blood pressure in the absence of significant renal disease. In the first and second editions, these constituted volume 2. Health effects of zinc cadmium sulfide ii acknowledgements submitted to dr. This is a flulike illness with symptoms of metallic taste in the. May 12, 2008 identify the health effects of chronic cadmium exposure, and. Cd levels are consistently higher in smokers than nonsmok ers.
Cadmium toxicity cdc stacks centers for disease control. Acute inhalation exposure high levels over a short period of time to cadmium can result in flulike symptoms chills, fever, and muscle pain and can damage the lungs. The toxicity of cadmium and resulting hazards for human health. In addition, erythrocyte alad in mammals has no function as such because mature erythrocytes do not participate in. They have no known nutritional or beneficial effects on human health but are ubiquitous in nature and present in air, water, and soil, so that.
Many studies on the health effects of environmental cd pollution, especially its adverse effects on the bone and kidney kido et al. Health and safety executive 1 of 4 pages this is a webfriendly version of leaflet indg391rev1, revised 0310 introduction working with cadmium and its compounds may affect your health. Other respiratory effects of chronic occupational exposure to cadmium include chronic rhinitis, destruction of the olfactory epithelium with subsequent anosmia as well as the development of bronchitis atsdr 1999. Cadmium dust and fume have both acute and chronic health effects. Environmental toxicity of cadmium and health effect. Information for health care professionals cadmium exposure and. Breathing high levels of cadmium can cause death and severe lung damage. As already reported in 1942, intake of cadmiumcontaminated food causes acute gastrointestinal effects, such as vomiting and diarrhoea. Health effects toxicological profile for cadmium ncbi. Elevated blood pressure has not been observed as a result of excessive exposures to cadmium in japan or the workplace.
Chronic cadmium exposure produces a wide variety of acute and chronic effects in humans. Cadmium cd is a heavy metal that has received considerable concern environmentally and occupationally. Some efforts in this direction have been made, especially within in the european union. Cadmium occurs in the earths crust and is commonly associated with zinc, lead, and copper ores. Updated version of incident management and removed compilation pdf. Occupational exposure to cadmium can lead to a variety of adverse health effects including cancer. Some fume and dust from welding processes including brazing, soldering, and thermal spraying may contain cadmium or cadmium oxide compounds. Cadmium produces a number of health concerns and is a known carcinogen. Biomonitoring data can also help scientists plan and conduct research on exposure and health effects.
Epidemiology studies suggest an association between cadmium exposure and the incidence and severity of diabetes. The health effects associated with cadmium exposure depend on the way people are exposed to cadmium, how much has entered the persons body, how long the person has been exposed for and how the persons body. The health dangers of cadmium global healing center. The critical health effect of cadmium is on the kidneys where it damages the blood filtration system of the kidneys, which results in proteins being excreted in urine. Cadmium metal is used mainly as an anticorrosive, electroplated onto steel. Nordic council of ministers world health organization. Niosh occupational health guidelines for cadmium fume pdf icon. The primary and most serious adverse health effects of longterm exposure to cadmium include kidney dysfunction, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. Department of epidemiology and health effects, institute for environmental health and related product safety, chinese center for disease control and prevention, 29 nanwei ro ad, beijing, 50, china. Cadmium exerts toxic effects on the kidney, the skeletal system and the respiratory. The report focuses on the health effects of low cadmium doses and the identification of highrisk groups. Environmental toxicology examines the fate and effects of contaminants in the environment. This volume focuses on cadmium cd exposure, its effects on human health, the mechanism of cd accumulation and the development of mitigation technologies.
Health effects are determined by the dose how much, the duration how long, and the route of exposure. Exposure in these cases occurs primarily through the diet, but smokers in these cohorts. National institute for occupational safety and health niosh pocket guide this pocket guide serves as a valuable resource for industrial hygienists and scientists who need information on occupational exposure levels, physical properties, and general health effects of chemicals. Cadmium levels can be measured in the blood, urine, hair, nail and saliva samples. The health dangers of cadmium global healing center health.
Adverse effects of excessive acute cadmium exposure may include. Cadmium group iib of the periodic table of elements is a heavy metal posing severe risks to human health. The toxicity of cadmium and resulting hazards for human health ncbi. The agency has found cadmium to potentially cause a variety of effects from acute exposures, including. Cadmium accumulates in the human body and especially in the kidneys. Patients with cadmium toxicity need gastrointestinal tract irrigation. Workers face a greater danger of cadmium exposure from inhalation than from ingestion. Human health effects of exposure to cadmium springerlink. May 16, 20 cadmium produces a number of health concerns and is a known carcinogen. Human health concerns of lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. Cadmium, environmental exposure, and health outcomes. Cadmium is a bluishwhite metal commercially mined in germany and asia.
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