CadmiumMinnesotaPriorityChemicalSummary,Minnesota.pdfVIP

B. Cadmium CAS Number 7440-43-9 1. Overview Cadmium, a natural metal found in the earth’s crust, is extracted during the refining of other metals, including zinc, lead and copper (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2010). According to the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 83% of extracted cadmium is used in batteries, 8% in pigments, 7% in plating and coatings, and the remainder in plastics and other applications (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry [ATSDR], 2008). Cadmium enters the body through ingestion or inhalation. Cadmium levels in blood reflect recent exposures, while levels of cadmium in urine reflect body burden from longer term exposures (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD], 2004). With repeated exposure, cadmium can accumulate in the body, especially in the kidney and liver, with potential of remaining in the body for several decades (ATSDR, 2008; OECD, 2004). The kidney can be damaged after over-exposure to cadmium (ATSDR, 2008; CDC, 2010). Cadmium can also cause malformation of bone, bone loss or decrease in bone strength. Further, there is some limited evidence that cadmium is a neurotoxin and an endocrine disruptor (ATSDR, 2008). In animal laboratory studies, cadmium has been found to be absorbed more readily by younger animals (ATSDR, 2008). Children have more years to accumulate cadmium and to manifest related health effects, making cadmium in children’s products a concern. Cadmium has been found to cause lung cancer in some workers who have been exposed to it occupationally. It has been named a known carcinogen by the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Toxicology Program (NTP) (National Toxicology Program [NTP], 2005), as well as being named a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (International Agency for Research on Cancer [IARC], 1997), and a probable carcinogen by the Environmenta