What Is Cadmium Toxin?

Cadmium is a metallic material that's used within many industrial workplace settings. As much as 10 million pounds of this metal is used for industrial purposes in the United States on an annual basis according to Healthline, a health information resource site. Cadmium can have a toxic effect on the body when ingested in small or large amounts.

Identification

• Cadmium appears along with zinc in natural underground rock deposits. As a result, zinc mining activities have brought cadmium into areas of the environment where it's not intended to be, like the soil and the air. It's a poisonous material that can have a cumulative effect as it enters the body over long periods of time, according to Healthy.net, a health information resource site. Soil contamination can result in cadmium residues within food and water supplies, which is one way this material enters the body. Its use within industrial applications produces everyday products that may contain traces of the metal. Over time, it can function as a toxin within the body.

Uses

• Cadmium exposure within industrial workplace settings takes place within various steps throughout the manufacturing process. Metal alloys and soldering materials may require cadmium as one of the ingredients for mixing. Electro and nickel plating processes can also produce an airborne version of the metal, as can engraving processes. Nickel-cadmium batteries are another source of airborne exposure that occurs during battery use and storage. Because of its toxic properties, cadmium is administered as a treatment for parasites in pig and poultry farming.

Effects

• When ingested in the body, cadmium can have adverse effects on how zinc is absorbed and metabolized. Normal enzymatic and organ functions may become impaired when high levels of cadmium are present. Certain refined foods like grains can offset the body's zinc-cadmium ratios, and over time, develop into a zinc deficiency. As zinc plays a part in protecting bodily tissues from damage, reduced levels can result in tissue damage brought on by increasing cadmium levels. As a toxin, accumulations within the body can impair the liver, kidneys and affect bone metabolism processes.

Symptoms

• Both mild and heavy exposures to cadmium toxins can be poisonous depending on individual body chemistry. Ongoing exposures can cause shortness of breath, weight loss and persistent coughing. When ingested, symptoms of cadmium poisoning include abdominal pain, anemia, vomiting and increased saliva production. When inhaled, possible symptoms may include coughing, headaches, chest pains, muscle weakness and dry throat. Individuals may experience a sweet, metallic taste and dry throat shortly after inhaling dust or powder forms.

Treatment

• The type of method used to treat cadmium poisoning depends on how it was ingested and in what amounts. In some cases, the body may be able to filter out the toxin on its own in individuals who've experienced mild exposures. Severe exposures where cadmium is ingested on a continuous basis can actually shorten a person's lifespan, and may become fatal. Treatment approaches like hemodialysis work to reduce the symptoms experienced by removing the toxin from the bloodstream; however, no actual treatments are in place that cure the condition altogether.