chemical information
CAS RN:
07440-43-9
Chemical Class:
Found in these people:
Lexi Rome, Andrea Martin, Monique Harden
Found in these locations:
Mill Valley, CA; Sausalito, CA; New Orleans, LA
Summary
Cadmium is a known human carcinogen, associated with lung and possibly prostate cancer (NTP 2002). Cadmium poisoning can also cause death. Other symptoms of cadmium toxicity include: nausea; vomiting; coughing; chest tightness and pain; lung toxicity (pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema); kidney effects (impaired function and kidney stones); impaired olfactory function; bone effects (calcium deficiency, osteoporosis) and cardiovascular effects (cardiac arrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation, increased blood pressure). Developmental effects include possible decreases in birth weight (ATSDR 1999a).
Cadmium has been shown to cause tumors of the lung, testes, prostate, liver and adrenal gland in laboratory animals (NTP 2002). Other cancers include leukemia, lymphomas and sarcoma (NTP 2002). Non-cancer effects include: decreased body weight; lung toxicity (cellular changes, pneumonia, emphysema, edema, increased lung weight, difficult breathing); liver toxicity (cellular effects, lesions, discoloration); kidney toxicity (cellular degeneration, lesions); pancreatic toxicity; gastrointestinal tract lesions and ulcers; decreased immune function; neurotoxicity (decreased activity, tremors, brain weight changes, altered brain dopamine and serotonin levels); skeletal effects (poor bone mineralization, osteoporosis); cardiovascular effects (increased heart weight, increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure) and impaired reproductive function (altered reproductive cycling in females, testicular toxicity, decreased sperm counts and infertility). Developmental effects include: fetal death; decreased birth weight; undescended testes; delayed sensory-motor development; altered behavior and skeletal malformations (delayed bone formation, missing or fused limbs, altered facial development) (ATSDR 1999a).
Cadmium
In batteries, pigments, coatings, plastic and cigarette smoke. Cadmium causes cancer and is linked to birth defects and kidney damage.
Cadmium has been found in 3 of the 9 people tested in EWG/Commonweal studies. It has also been found in 10,999 of the 13,894 people tested in CDC biomonitoring studies.
Top health concerns for Cadmium (References)
| health concern or target organ | weight of evidence |
| Cancer | limited |
| Kidney and renal system | strong |
Other health concerns for Cadmium (References)
| health concern or target organ | weight of evidence |
| Reproduction and fertility | unknown |
| Brain and nervous system | limited |
| Hematologic (blood) system | moderate |
| Cardiovascular system | moderate |
| Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | limited |
| Birth defects and developmental delays | unknown |
| Respiratory system | strong |
| Musculoskeletal system | strong |
| General/other organs and biological systems | limited |
| Sense organs | strong |
| Gastrointestinal (including liver) | limited |
| Endocrine system | known |
| Persistent, accumulates in wildlife and/or people | probable |
Violations, restrictions, and warnings for Cadmium (References)
Unsafe for use in cosmetics, Canada
Other relevant risk considerations for Cadmium (References)
Wildlife and environmental toxicity
Results for Cadmium
in urine
Showing results from EWG/Commonweal Study #1, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults
EWG/Commonweal results
- geometric mean: 0.339 ppb in urine
- found in 3 of 9 people in the group
| 0 | ppb in urine | 0.7 |
 | ||
Cadmium results
Detailed toxicity classifications (References)
| classification | governing entity/references |
| May cause cancer (European Union classification); May cause cancer; Limited evidence of mutagenic effect (European Union classification); Possible risk of irreversible effects; Limited evidence of reproductive toxicity (European Union classification); Possible risk of impaired fertility; Toxic; Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and if swallowed; Very toxic; Very toxic by inhalation; Dangerous for the environment; Very toxic to aquatic organisms | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| May cause cancer (European Union classification); May cause cancer; Limited evidence of mutagenic effect (European Union classification); Possible risk of irreversible effects; Limited evidence of reproductive toxicity (European Union classification); Possible risk of impaired fertility; Toxic; Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and if swallowed; Very toxic; Very toxic by inhalation; Highly flammable; Spontaneously flammable in air; Dangerous for the environment; Very toxic to aquatic organisms | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| A2- Suspected human carcinogen, ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygeinists) | Amer Conf of Gov't Industrial Hygienists - Carcinogens |
| Prohibited from use in Canadian cosmetics | Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist |
| Limited evidence in humans: reproductive system toxicity; Condition: abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count); Organs/tissues affected: testes | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Acute tubular necrosis - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Anemia (including hemolytic) - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Arrhythmias - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Autoimmune antibodies (positive ANA, anti-DNA, RF, etc.) - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Brain cancer (adult)* - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Cardiomyopathy - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Chronic renal disease - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span)/Mental Retardation/Developmental Delay - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Cranio- Facial malformations* - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion, stillbirth) - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Genito-urinary malformations (includes male and female) - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Hypertension (High blood pressure) - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Hypoactivity - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Immune suppression * - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Itai-itai disease - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Menstrual disorders (abnormal bleeding, short cycles, long cycles, irregular cycles, painful periods) - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Metal fume fever - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Nephrotic syndrome - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Neural tube defects/CNS malformations* - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Olfactory alterations (hyposmia, anosmia, dysomias) - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Osteomalacia - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Osteoporosis - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Pancreatic cancer - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Peripheral neuropathy - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Pneumonia - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Pneumonitis (hypersensitivity) - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Prostate cancer - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Pulmonary edema - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Pulmonary fibrosis - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Reduced Fertility - Male (infertility and subfertility) - Good | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Renal (kidney) cancer - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Renal stones - Strong | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Soft tissue sarcoma * - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Testicular cancer - Limited | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Priority water pollutant under the Clean Water Act | EPA Water Quality Standards Database |
| EPA: probable endocrine disruptor | Illinois EPA Chemicals Associated with Endocrine System |
| Group B1: Probable human carcinogen - limited evidence for humans (EPA classification) | EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) |
| Priority substance in EU water policy | European Union - Water Framework Directive |
| Hazardous air pollutant under Clean Air Act | EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants |
| ; ; The chemical is toxic to the kidneys in the occupational setting; this is a primary toxic effect of the chemical; Toxic pneumonitis - Inflammation of the lungs induced by inhalation of metal fumes or toxic gases and vapors | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
| IARC Group 1: carcinogenic to humans (International Agency for Research on Carcinogens) | Inter'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Carcinogens |
| IARC Group 1: carcinogenic to humans (International Agency for Research on Carcinogens) | Inter'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Carcinogens |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Oslo-Paris (OSPAR) Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, priority chemical | OSPAR (2002). OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern. Secondary OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern. Secondary OSPAR. Place Published, OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environement of North-East Atlanic. |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, priority chemical for voluntary waste/emission reductions | EPA Waste Minimization Program (RCRA) (1998) |
| Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs | EPA Toxic Release Inventory (1999) |
| Kidney toxicity hazards: suspected | ATSDR, EPA-HEN, HAZMAP, KLAA, LAND, MERCK, OEHHA-CREL, RTECS, STAC |
| Cardiovascular or blood toxicity hazards: suspected | BENO, KLAA, LADO, RTECS |
| Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected | EPA-HEN, HAZMAP, NEME, OEHHA-CREL, RTECS |
| Endocrine toxicity hazards: suspected | IL-EPA, KEIT, WWF |
| Immunotoxicity hazards: suspected | IPCS |
| Developmental toxicity hazards: recognized | P65 |
| Cancer hazards: recognized | P65 |
| Reproductive toxicity hazards: recognized | P65 |
