Cadmium

Environmental behavior

Persistence and movement

Cadmium does not break down and can remain in soil and sediment or be taken up by plants and organisms.

Pathways

How exposure may occur

• Breathing workplace dust or fumes
• Eating contaminated food or ingesting soil and dust
• Tobacco smoke is a major non-site exposure source

People

Potential long-term human effects

• Long-term exposure can damage kidneys and weaken bones.
• Inhaled cadmium can damage lungs and is associated with cancer.

Other living systems

Potential ecological effects

• Cadmium can harm growth, reproduction, kidneys, and gills in wildlife and aquatic organisms.
• It can accumulate in plants, invertebrates, and animals.

Limits

Important uncertainty

Bioavailability depends on water hardness, pH, soil chemistry, and chemical form.