Cadmium is an inorganic metal that is naturally present in the environment. Like lead, cadmium accumulates in the body and has varying degrees of toxicity.
Cadmium can contaminate food by its presence in pesticides, pigments, plaints, plastics, and cigarettes.
Cadmium’s toxic effects are kept under control when balanced by adequate body stores of zinc.
The human body can tolerate low levels of cadmium, but long term chromic exposure can lead to serious health problems.
Hazardous cadmium levels lead to nephrotoxic effects, i.e. renal tubular dysfunction. Cadmium furthermore inhibits several SH-containing enzymes in the brain, while chronic cadmium exposure leads to reduced levels of norepinephrine, serotonin and acetylcholine.
High exposure has been linked to osteomalacia, a softening of the bones.
Cadmium is a potent antagonist of several essential minerals, including zinc, copper, iron and calcium.
Cadmium cam accumulate to toxic levels over a lifetime because the mineral is not well excreted by the human body. However cadmium is poorly absorbed, so normal dietary intake does not warrant concern for toxicity.
The absorption of cadmium from food varies, depending on genetic factors, age, and nutritional factors.
Infants absorb and accumulate more cadmium than adults.
Cadmium deposits in the kidneys, causing kidney tissue damage and high blood pressure or hypertension as well as calcium kidney stones.
Cadmium toxicity
