Cadmium Poisoning

Cadmium is a chemical element discovered by a German chemist, Friedrich Stromeyer in 1817. It was actually discovered as an impurity with the metal zinc. Its symbol is Cd and the atomic number of cadmium is 48. It belongs to group 12 in the periodic table and shares some similar chemical properties with zinc and mercury. Cadmium occurs in minute quantities in most of the zinc ores. Cadmium is bluish-white in color. It is a bivalent metal which possesses the properties of ductility and malleability.

What is Cadmium Poisoning?
Cadmium poisoning is caused by excessive exposure to cadmium. If inside the human body, cadmium is harmful. There are high levels of toxic compounds inside cadmium that can pose a serious threat to living organisms and our ecosystem.

Cadmium Poisoning Symptoms
Cadmium is toxic and can prove fatal if it is swallowed or inhaled. Recovery generally doesn't take much time if exposure to cadmium is in minimal quantities. Some reports have also suggested that consumption of even 10 milligrams of cadmium is very dangerous. Let's have a look at some cadmium poisoning signs.

• Cadmium is found in most food and water supplies. High levels of cadmium are detected in shellfish, kidney and liver meats of animals. Consumption of cadmium can cause shock, loss of consciousness, salivation, abdominal pain, choking, vertigo, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting and convulsions.
• Inhalation of some cadmium fumes can severely damage your lungs and it can cause muscle weakness, shooting pain in the chest, dry throat, coughing, excessive sweating, shivering, pneumonitis, frequent headaches and wheezing.
• If you are faced with continuous exposure to cadmium for a few minutes you can have difficulty in breathing, loss of sense of smell, a drastic weight loss, severe lung and liver damage, kidney stones, bone fractures, osteomalacia, pulmonary edema and various kidney diseases.

Cadmium Poisoning Causes
Now let us have a look at a few instances that put us at risk of being poisoned by cadmium.

• The most usual cause of cadmium poisoning is the lack of installation of safety measures where cadmium is used. The industrial area where cadmium is produced should be monitored with extra care.
• People often use cadmium plated containers to store acidic foods such as juices and vinegar, which cause stomach infections.
• Coal and oil are some of the fossil fuels which give out cadmium fumes in the air causing air pollution.
• Cadmium poisoning is also caused through water and soil, as industrial wastes are dumped into either of them.
• Cadmium poisoning also caused itai-itai disease which has affected more than 500 people in Japan.

Cadmium Poisoning Treatment
Currently there are no treatments available for cadmium poisoning. Only the symptoms can be diagnosed. The steps mentioned below will help you treat symptoms of cadmium poisoning.

• Even inhaling cadmium dust causes life-threatening situations. Always get a medical check done to diagnose a cadmium symptom. Cadmium poisoning is generally detected by high levels of creatinine in the blood and urine of humans.
• Render gastric lavage or make the infected person vomit within an hour if the person has consumed cadmium salts. Take the person away from the cadmium source and provide him oxygen.
• Don't opt for chelation therapy as it proves toxic for the body when combined with cadmium.
• To be on the safer side future, avoid exposure to cadmium. Smoking should be avoided and do check your house products for compounds which contain cadmium. If you possess nickel-cadmium batteries, keep them away from small children.
• If you have a well near your home, have your water checked for cadmium levels in it.

Well, I hope this article on cadmium poisoning has given you enough information on this toxic chemical element. Cases of cadmium poisoning are most in areas where it is processed and mined. I advise all my readers to stay away from exposure of this harmful chemical element.