{"id":419,"date":"2011-06-06T11:53:36","date_gmt":"2011-06-06T15:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.environmentalriskmanagers.com\/erm\/?p=419"},"modified":"2011-06-06T11:53:36","modified_gmt":"2011-06-06T15:53:36","slug":"cadmium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estrategist.com\/members\/cadmium\/","title":{"rendered":"Cadmium"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every Business Is Impacted by Environmental Exposures<\/strong><\/p>\n

On January 13, 2010 USA Today reported that Wal-Mart, Claire\u2019s will pull jewelry from China containing cadmium. USA Today went on to say \u201cTwo chain stores are pulling jewelry that lab tests show contained high levels of the heavy metal cadmium. Jewelry and accessories store Claire\u2019s, with nearly 3,000 location, joined Wal-Mart in saying it would stop selling any item cited in an Associated Press investigation of the presence of cadmium in bracelets and charms. Chinese regulators said they will investigate dangerous levels of the toxin in children\u2019s jewelry being exported to the U.S..\u201d<\/p>\n

If you are not familiar with Cadmium I offer the following information.<\/p>\n

Cadmium<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cadmium (pronounced \/\u02c8k\u00e6dmi\u0259m\/, KAD-mee-\u0259m) is a chemical element. similar to two other metals zinc and mercury.<\/p>\n

Cadmium occurs as a minor component in most zinc ores and therefore is a by-product of zinc production. Cadmium was for a long time used as pigment and for corrosion resistant plating on steel. Cadmium compounds were used to stabilize plastic. With the exception of its use in nickel-cadmium batteries, the use of cadmium is generally decreasing in all other applications. This decrease is due to the high toxicity and
\ncarcinogenicity of cadmium and the associated health and environmental concerns.<\/p>\n

Toxicity<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cadmium poisoning is an occupational hazard associated with industrial processes such as metal plating and the production of nickel-cadmium batteries, pigments, plastics, and other synthetics. The primary route of exposure in industrial settings is inhalation. Inhalation of cadmium-containing fumes can result initially in metal fume fever but may progress to chemical pneumonitis, pulmonary edema, and death.[23]<\/p>\n

Cadmium is also a potential environmental hazard. Human exposures to environmental cadmium are primarily the result of the burning of fossil fuels and municipal wastes.[24] However, there have been notable instances of toxicity as the result of long-term exposure to cadmium in contaminated food and water.<\/p>\n

Cadmium and several cadmium-containing compounds are known carcinogens and can induce many types of cancer.[26]<\/p>\n

Tobacco smoking is the most important single source of cadmium exposure in the general population. It has been estimated that about 10% of the cadmium content of a cigarette is inhaled through smoking. The absorption of cadmium from the lungs is much more effective than that from the gut, and as much as 50% of the cadmium inhaled via cigarette smoke may be absorbed.[27]<\/p>\n

On average, smokers have 4-5 times higher blood cadmium concentrations and 2-3 times higher kidney cadmium concentrations than non-smokers. Despite the high cadmium content in cigarette smoke, there seems to be little exposure to cadmium from passive smoking. No significant effect on blood cadmium concentrations could be detected in children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.[28]<\/p>\n

Batteries<\/strong><\/p>\n

About three-quarters of all the cadmium is used in batteries, predominantly in rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries. Nickel-cadmium cells have a nominal cell potential of 1.2 V. The cell consists of a positive nickel hydroxide electrode and a negative cadmium electrode plate separated by an alkaline electrolyte (potassium hydroxide). More recent nickel-metal hydride batteries reduce the use of Ni-Cd batteries.<\/p>\n

The European Union banned the use of cadmium in electronics in 2004 with several exceptions but reduced the allowed content of cadmium in electronics to 0.002%.<\/p>\n

Jewelry<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reports of high levels of cadmium use in children’s jewelry in 2010 led to a US Consumer Product Safety Commission investigation. Twelve percent of the 103 items tested from New York, Ohio, Texas and California contained at least 10 percent cadmium, with a single item test claimed to be 91 percent cadmium.<\/p>\n

Other uses<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most of cadmium which is not consumed in battery production is used mainly for cadmium pigments, coatings and plating, and as stabilizers for plastics. Other uses include:<\/p>\n