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Cadmium is a trace metal. It is soft, malleable and malleable, silvery white in color (pure cadmium sticks make a characteristic crackle when bent).
It does not exist in the free state; it accompanies zinc compounds (cadmium sulphide – CdS-grenocite is in the blend, cadmium carbonate CdCO3 in galman). In the atmosphere of humid air, cadmium is covered with a layer of cadmium oxide, which protects the metal against further oxidation.
It is easily oxidized by halogens to form halides. It easily dissolves in acids – preferably in nitric acid, it is resistant to the action of alkalis (bases). Cadmium is obtained as a by-product in the processing of zinc-lead and copper-zinc ores. It is used for protective coatings protecting steel against corrosion, for obtaining bearing and printing alloys as well as alloys with copper used in electrical engineering for telephone and telegraph cables. It is used in nuclear reactors to capture slow secondary neutrons, to control nuclear reactions. Cadmium is also used to make alkaline cadmium-iron or cadmium-nickel batteries. Cadmium sulfide has found application as a yellow pigment, as well as in radar and television devices.
When cadmium is absorbed by both the respiratory tract and the digestive tract, it enters the blood, where it binds with red blood cells and forms very durable connections with a protein with low molecular weight called metallothioneins. The mechanism of the toxic action is based on blocking the activity of enzymes containing sulfhydryl groups, and thus disrupting the processes of tissue oxidation and phospholipid metabolism. Cadmium accumulates in the kidneys, liver, pancreas, thyroid gland, and in smaller amounts also in the marrow and brain. The cadmium load in the body during its lifetime is up to 30 mg and results from environmental stresses, including smoking.
Environmental contamination in Japan causes a disease called “itai-itai” (ouch-ouch), which is characterized by decreased calcium levels, joint pain and osteomalacia.
Acute exposure usually occurs via the inhalation route at the workplace.
Symptoms of poisoning
Initially, the clinical picture is similar to giser’s-zinc fever with symptoms: fever, headache, dyspnoea, pleural chest pain, conjunctivitis, sore throat, cough developing within 4–12 hours of exposure. Depending on the level of exposure, toxic pulmonary edema may develop, which may be fatal. A complication of toxic pulmonary edema may be bronchopneumonia or bronchitis with prolonged disturbance of ventilation and gas diffusion. The first symptom of consumption of cadmium compounds is acute gastroenteritis with vomiting, diarrhea and pain in the abdominal cavity, headache and muscle pain, and in severe poisoning, additional symptoms of kidney damage. The most common cause of death is acute heart failure.
The kidneys are the critical organ in chronic cadmium exposure (proteinuria being the most common symptom). There are also emphysema and osteomalacia, and among other symptoms of chronic exposure – chronic rhinitis, a feeling of general discomfort, stomach pain, weight loss, and sometimes chronic bronchitis. Cadmium is a potential carcinogen.
First aid
In oral poisoning, milk with hen’s egg white is administered every 4 hours, and disodium phosphate (4-8 g in a glass of water) is used as a laxative. Liver damage and kidney failure must be treated. In inhalation poisoning – see poisoning with irritating gases. In chronic exposure – cessation of exposure. All those who develop symptoms of cadmium poisoning and those who require the use of chelating agents should be hospitalized.
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