subject: Are You Being Exposed to Cadmium? [print this page] Are You Being Exposed to Cadmium? Are You Being Exposed to Cadmium?
In the past year, cadmium has showed up as a medical topic dueto a flurry of high-profile product recalls. Everything fromjewelry, toys, and paints has been found to contain cadmium. Inthe spring of 2010, companies targeting a preteen marketrecalled necklaces, earrings and bracelets after discovering theproducts contained substantial levels of cadmium. Then, in June,McDonald's recalled 12 million "Shrek" drinking glasses.
Many consumers are now wondering: what is cadmium and whyis it showing up in so many products? Does cadmium pose athreat to you and your family? Scientific evidence stronglyshows that cadmium is a major human toxicant, meaning that it'stoxic to our bodies.
Cadmium is used in metal alloys to increase strength and wearresistance, or to lower the melting point. Cadmium pigments areused to create bright yellow, orange, red, and maroon dyes,paints, plastics, and ceramics. The metal is also used to producenickel-cadmium batteries. It can be found in electricalconductors, PVC products, tires, automobile radiators, electroniccomponents, and heating elements. Another big source ofexposure to cadmium comes in the form of the burning of fossilfuels.When it comes to food, more than 80% of dietary cadmiumintake has been estimated to come from cereals (especially riceand wheat), vegetables (especially leafy greens), and rootvegetables (especially potatoes and carrots).
If you have low iron stores, you are especially vulnerable to theadverse effects of cadmium. People with hypertension also maybe at increased risk.
A research team did an extensive review of cross-sectional dataon blood cadmium and self-reported diagnoses of heart disease,stroke, and hypertension. In all, data from1,908 adults, aged 20years and older, who participated in the 2005 Korea NationalHealth and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) wereanalyzed for the study. After adjusting for various factors, theresearchers found that an increase in blood cadmium wasassociated with an increased risk for heart disease. Theyconcluded that cadmium in the blood may be associated with anincreased risk for ischemic heart disease and hypertension in thegeneral adult population.
You can reduce the effects of cadmium exposure by making sureyou have adequate intake of several essential minerals, includingiron, calcium and zinc. These minerals could help reduce theamount of ingested cadmium that is absorbed.
If you smoke, stopping will significantly reduce your exposureto cadmium.
To combat cadmium-bearing soil carried indoors, expertsrecommend replacing carpets with floor coverings that can becleaned with water or by using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPAfilter to prevent tiny cadmium-loaded particles from being re-emitted into the air.
Ultimately, however, public education can help all of us avoidcadmium exposure. By lobbying industry and government,options to purchase cadmium-free items and foods can becomethe norm.
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