Poisoning cadmium

Cadmium (Cd) anode cells are at present manufactured based on nickel-cadmium, silver-cadmium, and mercury-cadmium couples. Thus wastewater streams from cadmium-based battery industries carry toxic metals cadmium, nickel, silver, and mercury, of which Cd is regarded the most hazardous. It is estimated that globally, manufacturing activities add about 3-10 times more Cd to the atmosphere than from natural resources such as forest fire and volcanic emissions. As a matter of fact, some studies have shown that NiCd batteries contribute almost 80% of cadmium to the environment,4,23 while the atmosphere is contaminated when cadmium is smelted and released as vapor into the atmosphere4 Consequently, terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric environments become contaminated with cadmium and remain reservoirs for human cadmium poisoning. 

Cadmium poisoning is almost as common as Pb and Hg poisoning. Of the following, which is unlikely to be associated with Cd poisoning ... 

Eisler, R. 1971. Cadmium poisoning in Fundulus heteroclitus (Pisces Cyprinodontidae) and other marine organisms. Jour. Fish. Res. Board Canada 28 1225-1234. 

Many cases of foodborne cadmium poisonings were reported in 1940s in England, France, New Zealand, the U.S., the U.S.S.R., and other countries. They were caused by consumption of lemonade, coffee, wine, and other products that had been prepared or stored in cadmium-coated containers, or in refrigerators with cadmium-coated freezers. 

The Japanese disease itai-itai (ouch-ouch) is a particular syndrome caused by chronic cadmium poisoning. It leads to fractures of long bones due to decalcification, and to muscular dystrophy. The first time the disease was... 

Cadmium, in trace amounts, is common in our foods, and as we age, our bodies cannot eliminate it effectively, so cadmium poisoning may result. The symptoms of mild poisoning are burning of the eyes, irritation of the mouth and throat, and headaches. As the intoxication increases, there may be severe coughing, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. There is a 15% chance of death from cadmium poisoning. The main risk from cadmium poisoning comes from industrial exposure—not from a healthy diet. 

Dunphy B Acute occupational cadmium poisoning A critical review of the literature. J Occup Med 9 22-26, 1967... 

It is indicated in metallic intoxication due to arsenic, mercury, gold, bismuth, lead, nickel, thallium and antimony in conjunction with sodium calcium edetate for lead poisoning. It is also useful in hepatolenticular degeneration (Wilson s disease). It is contraindicated in iron and cadmium poisoning. 

Finally, herbal products imported from China may be contaminated with pesticides or with heavy metals added during the manufacturing process. Contaminated Chinese herbals have led to cases of arsenic, lead, mercury, thallium, and cadmium poisoning. Similarly, investigations of traditional Indian Ayurvedic remedies have shown them to sometimes contain dangerous levels of lead, zinc, mercury, arsenic, aluminum, and tin. 

Lead produces a generalized hyperamino aciduria which may be accompanied by glycosuria (W12), hyperphosphaturia, and rickets (C12). Clarkson and Kench (C14) have studied cases of lead, mercury, uranium, and cadmium poisoning they all produced hyperamino aciduria, particularly in the two latter cases. No blood level determinations have so far been made. 

The most spectacular and publicized occurrence of cadmium poisoning resulted from dietary intake of cadmium by people in the Jintsu River Valley, near Fuchu, Japan. The victims were afflicted by itai, itai disease, which means ouch, ouch in Japanese. The symptoms are the result of painful osteomalacia (bone disease) combined with kidney malfunction. Cadmium poisoning in the Jintsu River Valley was attributed to irrigated rice contaminated from an upstream mine producing lead, zinc, and cadmium. 

In what respect does cadmium s chemical similarity to zinc possibly contribute to the toxicity of cadmium Which organ in the body is most susceptible to cadmium poisoning ... 

Cadmium is chemically similar to the metal zinc, and is absorbed from the gut in a similar way using the same system. It can interfere with zinc in the body and consequently may affect the male reproductive system where zinc is important. Cadmium interferes with the metabolism of calcium too, a critical mineral in the body with which it also has similarities. This interference leads to loss of calcium from the bones which then become brittle (osteomalacia). In the case of itai-itai disease, which was the result of cadmium poisoning in Japan, the exposure to cadmium was accompanied by a deficiency of vitamin D which made the problems with the bones worse. 

Friberg L. Flealth hazards in the manufacture of alkaline accumulators with special reference to chronic cadmium poisoning. Act Med Sea nd 1950 138 (su ppl. 240) 1-124. 

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