Cadmium is a silvery/gray metal by-product of zinc production and refining. It’s used in rechargeable batteries and color pigments that are often used in plastics. It is highly toxic and is known to cause birth defects and cancer. Cadmium generally stores in the kidneys, but can be found in the liver and bones also.
Sources
Cigarette smoke, tobacco, meats and seafood, vegetation, drinking water, coins, magnets, stainless steel, jewelry, manufacturing facilities (multiple alloys).
Physiological Effects
An allergic skin reaction is the most common adverse health effect in people who are sensitive to nickel. Once a person is sensitized to nickel, further contact with nickel will produce a reaction, most commonly a skin rash at the site of contact (dermatitis). Less frequently, some sensitized persons may have asthma attacks following exposure to nickel. Some people may react when they eat nickel in food, drink it in water, or breathe dust containing it. The most serious health effects occur when nickel is inhaled. This can result in: an increased risk of respiratory cancer due to chronic inhalation of fumes or fine particles when the exposure is to known carcinogenic forms like nickel oxide; asthma, nasal and sinus problems.
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