What is cadmium? It is a heavy metal that is obtained by smelting other metals such as zinc, copper, or lead. It is widely used for the manufacture of nickel-cadmium batteries. In addition, cigarette smoke also contains such an element. As a result of continuous exposure to cadmium, very serious lung and kidney diseases occur. Consider the features of this metal in more detail.
Scope of Cadmium
Most of the industrial uses of this metal are protective coatings that protect metals from corrosion. Such a coating has a great advantage over zinc, nickel or tin, because it does not peel off during deformation.
What else could be the use of cadmium? It is used to produce alloys that are remarkably machinable. Cadmium alloys with insignificant additions of copper, nickel and silver are used for the manufacture of bearings in automobile, aircraft and marine engines.
Where else is cadmium used?
Welders, metallurgists and workers associated with the textile, electronics and battery industries are more likely to be exposed to cadmium poisoning. Nickel-cadmium batteries are used in mobile phones and other electronic devices. This metal is also used in the production of plastic, paints, metal coatings. Many soils that are regularly fertilized may also contain such toxic metal in large quantities.
Heavy metal cadmium: properties
Cadmium, as well as its compounds, are characterized as carcinogens, but it has not been proven that a small amount of the element in the environment causes cancer. Inhalation of metal particles in industrial production really contributes to the development of lung cancer, but when contaminated food is consumed, they do not pose a cancer risk.
How does cadmium enter the human body?
It has long been known to everyone that cigarette smoke contains cadmium. This heavy metal enters the smoker's body in an amount two times larger than the human body, which is not exposed to such a bad habit. However, secondhand smoke can be harmful.
Leafy vegetables, cereals, and potatoes grown in soils containing high amounts of cadmium can be a threat. The increased content of this metal is also famous for the liver and kidneys of marine inhabitants and animals.
Many industrial enterprises, especially metallurgical ones, emit large amounts of cadmium into the atmosphere. People living near such enterprises are automatically put at risk.
Some agricultural areas are actively using phosphate fertilizers, which contain a small amount of cadmium. Products grown on this earth pose a potential threat to humans.
The effects of cadmium on the human body
So we figured out what constitutes cadmium. The impact on the human body of this heavy metal can cause negative consequences. In any living organism, it is in small quantities, and its biological role is still not fully understood. Cadmium is usually associated with negative function.
Its toxic effect is based on the blocking of sulfur-containing amino acids, which leads to disruption of protein metabolism and damage to the cell nucleus. This heavy metal promotes the removal of calcium from bones and affects the nervous system. It can accumulate in the kidneys and liver, and it is excreted from the body very slowly. This process can take decades. Usually, cadmium is excreted in urine and feces.
Cadmium inhalation
This element enters the body of industrial workers by inhalation. To prevent this, use effective protective equipment. Neglect of this rule leads to sad consequences. If you inhale cadmium, the effect on the human body of such a metal is manifested as follows: the body temperature rises, chills and muscle pain appear.
After some time, lung damage occurs, chest pain, shortness of breath, cough. In severe cases, this condition causes the death of the patient. Inhalation of air containing cadmium contributes to the development of kidney disease and osteoporosis. The likelihood of lung cancer increases several times.
Cadmium intake with food
What is the danger of cadmium in water and food? With the regular use of infected foods and water, this metal begins to accumulate in the body, which leads to negative consequences: kidney function is impaired, bone tissue is weakened, the liver and heart are affected, and in severe cases death occurs.
Eating cadmium-contaminated foods can cause stomach irritation, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. In addition, flu-like symptoms appear, laryngeal edema develops, and tingling in the hands occurs.
Causes of Cadmium Poisoning
Heavy metal poisoning most often occurs in children, diabetics, pregnant and lactating women, people who abuse smoking. In Japan, cadmium intoxication occurs as a result of eating contaminated rice. In this case, apathy develops, the kidneys are affected, the bones soften and deform.
The industrialized areas where oil refining and metallurgical enterprises are located are famous for the fact that the soil is contaminated with cadmium. If plant products are grown in such places, then it is likely that heavy metal poisoning will occur.
Element in large quantities can accumulate in tobacco. If the raw material is dried, the metal content increases sharply. Cadmium enters the body with both active and passive smoking. The occurrence of lung cancer directly depends on the content of metal in the smoke.
Poisoning treatment
Symptoms of cadmium poisoning :
- damage to the central nervous system;
- sharp pain in the bones;
- protein in the urine;
- stones in the kidneys;
- genital dysfunction.
If acute poisoning has occurred, the victim should be warm, he needs to ensure the flow of fresh air and peace. After washing the stomach, he needs to be given warm milk, to which a little baking soda is added. There are no cadmium antidotes. To neutralize the metal, use "Unithiol", steroids and diuretics. Comprehensive treatment involves the use of cadmium antagonists (zinc, iron, selenium, vitamins). Your doctor may prescribe a fortifying diet that contains a lot of fiber and pectin.
Possible consequences
A metal such as cadmium has a very serious effect on the human body, and if poisoning by this element has occurred, the consequences can be dangerous. It displaces calcium from bones, contributing to the development of osteoporosis. In adults and children, the spine begins to bend and bone deformation occurs. In childhood, such poisoning leads to encephalopathy and neuropathy.
Conclusion
Thus, we have examined what constitutes such a heavy metal as cadmium. The effect on the human body of this element is quite serious. Gradually accumulating in the body, it leads to the destruction of many organs. You can even get cadmium poisoning if you eat large quantities of contaminated foods. The consequences of poisoning are also quite dangerous.