Cadmium

Healthy Beings Staff
Aug 10, 2021 6:56:34 PM

Rechargeable batteries, solar cells, pigments, coating, and plastic stabilizers all use cadmium. Cadmium is a byproduct of the production of zinc, lead, and copper. There is no efficient way of recycling of these items and byproducts, so they are prevalent in our environment.

Poisoning signs and symptoms

Cadmium poisoning can occur via consumption or inhalation. Skin exposure to cadmium does not seem to have any ill effects. Short-term and long-term exposure to cadmium may cause:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Nausea
Stomach cramps
Kidney damage
Fragile bones
Flu-like symptoms, such as body aches, chills, weakness
Shortness of breath
Swelling of the nose, pharynx, and larynx—with chronic inhalation
Death

Sources of Exposure

Cadmium exposure is mostly due to the human impact on the environment. The prevalence of cadmium all around us makes it important to be aware of what situations put us at risk of exposure to it. Cadmium exposure may occur due to:

Working in industry, especially in manufacturing and construction
Smoking cigarettes or breathing cigarette smoke
Eating foods containing cadmium; all foods contain low levels (foods that usually contain more cadmium include shellfish, liver, and kidney meats)
Consuming color additives and food additives
Drinking contaminated water
Living near an industrial facility that releases cadmium into the air
Burning of fossil fuels

Exposure Levels

One cigarette has 1.7 micrograms of cadmium. Cigarette smokers have 3-4x the amount of cadmium in their blood compared to non-smokers. Imagine the amount of cadmium that is being ingested when you are smoking a pack a day in addition to the typical intake of cadmium. The average daily intake is 30 micrograms. Since cadmium is naturally occurring, a small amount of exposure is normal and may not have any effects. Because of this, there is a standard for how much cadmium can be present in our drinking water. 0.005 milligrams of cadmium per liter of water is the maximum allowed amount. Our food supply also contains some cadmium. It ranges from 2 to 40 parts per billion, which may seem small, but exposure can be cumulative.

Chronic Health Conditions Associated with Exposure

Cadmium affects every organ of the body in a vast and detrimental way. It has probable carcinogenic potential and toxic implications for all organ systems. Over time, cadmium exposure can cause:

Cancer
Kidney, bone, and lung disease
Organ system toxicity (Urinary, Reproductive, cardiovascular, Central and peripheral nervous system)

Solutions

Healthy Beings offers supplements and services that can mitigate and address toxicities you might be struggling with. We also offer recommendations beyond our current available inventory. You will find suggestions below that can help prevent and reduce cadmium toxicity. If you have further questions, contact us HERE