Cadmium Exposure
Prevention of cadmium exposure in the workplace
Cadmium is an element that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust as a mineral combined with oxygen, chlorine or sulfur. It is most often present in zinc, lead and copper ores. Most cadmium used in the United States is extracted as a by-product during production of metals such as zinc, lead and copper. It is also used in batteries (although use is declining), pigments, metal coatings, plastics and some metal alloys.
Most cadmium release into the environment is from the natural weathering of rocks, forest fires and volcanoes. Other sources are smelting, fertilizers, burning fossil fuels and household wastes, and leakage from hazardous waste sites.
Due to regulations, very little cadmium enters our water supplies. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows 5 parts per billion in the drinking water. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits amounts in food colors to 15 parts per million, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) limits cadmium in the workplace to 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
