Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Cadmium is a metal used in batteries, solar cells, alloys, pigments, and more. Cadmium poisoning occurs when someone ingests or inhales contaminated food, water, or air. If you come into contact with toxic levels of cadmium, you may experience respiratory or digestive effects depending on whether you inhaled or ingested the substance.
Cadmium Poisoning Symptoms
Symptoms of cadmium poisoning differ depending on whether you inhaled or ingested the metal.
If you ingest contaminated food or water that contains cadmium, you may experience:
A person who inhales cadmium may experience the following symptoms about four to 10 hours after initial exposure:
These symptoms eventually lead to severe respiratory complications, includingpulmonary edema(the air sacs in the lungs fill with fluid) and blood clots.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
Causes of Cadmium Poisoning
Exposure to cadmium through the air is unlikely to happen unless you work in an industry that specifically uses cadmium. However, cigarette smoking can also expose you to cadmium over the long term.
Some plants, like tobacco, are more likely to take up cadmium from the soil than others. Other foods that may contain elevated levels of cadmium include:
However, the amount of toxicity varies depending on the area. Since cadmium can travel long distances once airborne, it can be challenging to pinpoint the contaminating source.
Water rarely contains toxic levels of cadmium unless there is a direct contamination source such as industrial wastewater or hazardous waste dumping.
Other sources of cadmium include:
Diagnosis of Cadmium Poisoning
To diagnose cadmium poisoning, your doctor will ask you about:
Further testing may include blood and urine tests along with nail and hair analysis.
Treatment for Cadmium Poisoning
Since there is no antidote for cadmium poisoning, treatment for cadmium poisoning involves managing the symptoms that arise, such as respiratory distress. In the case of acute poisoning, a doctor may:
Sometimes, exposure occurs over a long period of time. In the case of chronic exposure, preventative measures are vital. These include:
However, in cases where a person ingests a high enough amount of cadmium, they may experience gastrointestinal bleeding, necrosis (tissue death) of the liver and kidneys, heart problems, and metabolic acidosis (upset of the body’sacid-base balance).
The prognosis is even more serious for people who inhale high concentrations of cadmium, even for just a brief period. In such cases, inhalation may be fatal. Thankfully, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this rarely occurs.
In the case of long-term cadmium exposure, people may experience a host of adverse effects such as organ damage and cancer.
Other potential chronic effects include:
Summary
Cadmium is a naturally-occurring metal. Cadmium poisoning involves ingesting or breathing in contaminated food, drinks, or air. You’re more likely to experience acute or chronic cadmium poisoning if you work in specific industries such as mining and smelting.
A Word From Verywell
If you think you’ve been exposed to cadmium either through food, water, or air, you should visit a doctor immediately. There’s no antidote for cadmium poisoning, but it’s possible to treat and manage symptoms. It’s essential to follow workplace guidelines put in place to reduce chronic exposure to harmful substances like cadmium.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.United States Department of Labor.Cadmium.Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry.Cadmium toxicity: acute effects.Genchi G, Sinicropi MS, Lauria G, Carocci A, Catalano A.The effects of cadmium toxicity.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):3782. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17113782National Cancer Institute.Cadmium.Kim K, Melough MM, Vance TM, Noh H, Koo SI, Chun OK.Dietary Cadmium Intake and Sources in the US. Nutrients. 2018 Dec 20;11(1):2. doi: 10.3390/nu11010002Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Cadmium toxicity: where found.Beth Israel Lahey Health Winchester Hospital.Cadmium toxicity.Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Cadmium toxicity: treatment.Rafati-Rahimzadeh M, Rafati-Rahimzadeh M, Kazemi S, Moghadamnia A.Cadmium toxicity and treatment: an update.Caspian J Intern Med. 2017;8(3):135-145. doi:10.22088/cjim.8.3.135Environmental Protection Agency.Cadmium compounds.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.United States Department of Labor.Cadmium.Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry.Cadmium toxicity: acute effects.Genchi G, Sinicropi MS, Lauria G, Carocci A, Catalano A.The effects of cadmium toxicity.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):3782. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17113782National Cancer Institute.Cadmium.Kim K, Melough MM, Vance TM, Noh H, Koo SI, Chun OK.Dietary Cadmium Intake and Sources in the US. Nutrients. 2018 Dec 20;11(1):2. doi: 10.3390/nu11010002Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Cadmium toxicity: where found.Beth Israel Lahey Health Winchester Hospital.Cadmium toxicity.Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Cadmium toxicity: treatment.Rafati-Rahimzadeh M, Rafati-Rahimzadeh M, Kazemi S, Moghadamnia A.Cadmium toxicity and treatment: an update.Caspian J Intern Med. 2017;8(3):135-145. doi:10.22088/cjim.8.3.135Environmental Protection Agency.Cadmium compounds.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
United States Department of Labor.Cadmium.Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry.Cadmium toxicity: acute effects.Genchi G, Sinicropi MS, Lauria G, Carocci A, Catalano A.The effects of cadmium toxicity.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):3782. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17113782National Cancer Institute.Cadmium.Kim K, Melough MM, Vance TM, Noh H, Koo SI, Chun OK.Dietary Cadmium Intake and Sources in the US. Nutrients. 2018 Dec 20;11(1):2. doi: 10.3390/nu11010002Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Cadmium toxicity: where found.Beth Israel Lahey Health Winchester Hospital.Cadmium toxicity.Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Cadmium toxicity: treatment.Rafati-Rahimzadeh M, Rafati-Rahimzadeh M, Kazemi S, Moghadamnia A.Cadmium toxicity and treatment: an update.Caspian J Intern Med. 2017;8(3):135-145. doi:10.22088/cjim.8.3.135Environmental Protection Agency.Cadmium compounds.
United States Department of Labor.Cadmium.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry.Cadmium toxicity: acute effects.
Genchi G, Sinicropi MS, Lauria G, Carocci A, Catalano A.The effects of cadmium toxicity.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):3782. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17113782
National Cancer Institute.Cadmium.
Kim K, Melough MM, Vance TM, Noh H, Koo SI, Chun OK.Dietary Cadmium Intake and Sources in the US. Nutrients. 2018 Dec 20;11(1):2. doi: 10.3390/nu11010002
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Cadmium toxicity: where found.
Beth Israel Lahey Health Winchester Hospital.Cadmium toxicity.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Cadmium toxicity: treatment.
Rafati-Rahimzadeh M, Rafati-Rahimzadeh M, Kazemi S, Moghadamnia A.Cadmium toxicity and treatment: an update.Caspian J Intern Med. 2017;8(3):135-145. doi:10.22088/cjim.8.3.135
Environmental Protection Agency.Cadmium compounds.
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