Environmental Protection and Toxicology

Production. Since soluble cadmium compounds have a toxic effect on human beings and the environment, all wastewater originating from the production of cadmium pigments must be treated to remove cadmium. In the EU, the following 

Toxicity. Cadmium pigments are cadmium compounds with a low solubility, however, small quantities of cadmium dissolve in dilute hydrochloric acid (concentration equivalent to stomach acid), and in cases of long-term oral intake of cadmium pigments, they can accumulate in the human body. On inhalation of subchronic amounts of cadmium pigments, a small proportion of cadmium is biologically available [3.115], [3.116]. 

Cadmium pigments have no acute toxic effect (oral LD50, rat, 10 g/kg). The pigments do not have any adverse effects on the skin and mucous membranes. 

Genotoxic Effects and Carcinogenicity. Tests for damages of the DNA [3.117] and cell transformation caused by crystalline cadmium sulfide were positive [3.118]. Cadmium sulfide also proved to be carcinogenic by intraperitoneal and after intratracheal administration [3.119]. The significance of such animal studies is being controversially discussed by toxicologists. 

In the United States, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) has shown that cadmium and different cadmium compounds (including cadmium sulfide) have a carcinogenic effect in animal experiments. 

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