Various forms of cadmium poisoning have been documented in the literature. Acute poisoning, depending on the mode of exposure, can cause life-threatening respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms in the absence of immediate supportive therapy, while chronic toxicity, mostly through occupational exposure may lead to renal failure, osteomalacia and increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. Patient history and laboratory studies are vital for the diagnosis.
Presentation
Cadmium is used for various industrial purposes, including plastic and battery manufacturing, smelting, pigment production, metal-plating, but also in the production of tobacco, suggesting that a wide range of workers are at risk of exposure [1] [2] [3] [4]. Cadmium poisoning can occur either by inhalation or ingestion and in both settings, poisoning may be acute or chronic, depending on the amount of cadmium introduced into the body and the rate of exposure [1] [2] [3] [5] [6]:
- Acute poisoning - Inhalation of cadmium-contaminated air causes profound damage to the respiratory system, and is primarily seen in the industrial setting [1] [2] [3]. Dyspnea, pulmonary edema, cyanosis, tachycardia, chest pain and pneumonitis develop within 4-24 hours after cadmium reaches the lungs and can be life-threatening without early recognition of the cause [1] [3]. Ingestion of large amounts of cadmium, on the other hand, occurs accidentally by eating food grown in cadmium-rich soil, or intentionally in suicidal purposes [3] [6]. As little as 10 mg is sufficient to cause severe erosion of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, while > 100 mg is considered to be lethal [6]. Principal symptoms of acute poisoning after ingestion appear within 15-30 minutes and are abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, but also muscle cramping, vertigo, bone pain, loss of consciousness, convulsions and even coma [1] [6].
- Chronic poisoning - Cadmium is known for its very long half-life in the human body (about 15-30 years), and is able to accumulate in the proximal renal tubules, the principal site of its reabsorption after glomerular filtration [1] [7]. Chronic exposure to this heavy metal results in its progressive deposition in the kidneys leading to chronic kidney disease [2], the most important long-term consequence of chronic cadmium poisoning. Because cadmium is found in cigarettes, tobacco smoking is a well-known risk factor for chronic poisoning, and urine levels of cadmium have shown to be substantially higher in this population compared to non-smokers [1] [2]. In addition to kidney damage and proteinuria, other known complications are hypertension, diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy, anemia, osteomalacia, yellowing of teeth, and cardiovascular damage, while its carcinogenic potential is still being investigated [2] [3] [5] [7] [8] [9]. Moreover, the term Itai-Itai disease was designated to describe patients who suffer from frequent fractures, accelerated osteoporosis and bone-associated pain due to consumption of foods that were contaminated with high amounts of cadmium [1] [9].
Entire Body System
- Pain
Principal symptoms of acute poisoning after ingestion appear within 15-30 minutes and are abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, but also muscle cramping, vertigo, bone pain, loss of consciousness, convulsions and even coma. [symptoma.com]
Clinical findings Renal tubule disfunction (aminoaciduria), glucosuria, hyperphosphatemia, hepatic fibrosis, emphysema and COPD, osteomalacia accompanied by bone pain. Daily intake 40 µg/day, primarily from food. Total body burden ± 30 mg. [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]
Whereas, cadmium inhalation is primarily treated with symptom relief care, i.e. oxygen therapy, pain relievers, etc. [healthblurbs.com]
Management Frontiers in Medicine Epidemics Zika Virus Ebola Virus View all topics Health Policy Epidemics Pain Management Ebola Virus Multimedia Multimedia Selected Multimedia View all multimedia Audio Clinical Practice Audio Interviews Interactive Medical [nejm.org]
Additional symptoms may include fever, headaches, fatigue, sluggishness (letheragy), vomiting, loss of appetite (anorexia), abdominal pain, constipation, joint pain, loss of recently acquired skills, incoordination, listlessness, difficulty sleeping [rarediseases.org]
- Weakness
Later on you may experience some of these toxic cadmium inhalation symptoms: dyspnea sweating shivering coughing arthralgia wheezing dry throat headache chest pain pneumonitis muscle weakness Inhalation of cadmium fumes can cause severe lung inflammation [healthblurbs.com]
The proximal renal tubular dysfunction creates low phosphate levels in the blood (hypophosphatemia), causing muscle weakness and sometimes coma. [en.wikipedia.org]
[…] miosis), and/or muscular weakness and twitching. [rarediseases.org]
When you are exposed to arsenic over a long period of time, it leads to several serious health problems like cancer, lung diseases, kidney damage, bone marrow diseases and weak bone health. [livewelltesting.com]
- Fatigue
Symptoms of heavy metal toxicity include mental confusion, pain in muscles and joints, headaches, short-term memory loss, gastrointestinal upsets, food intolerances/allergies, vision problems, chronic fatigue, and others. [diagnose-me.com]
Acute inhalation of Cadmium dusts, fumes or soluble salts may produce cough, pneumonitis and fatigue. Manifestations of Cadmium toxicity may be lessened or delayed by an individual’s protective and detoxification capacities. [chelationmedicalcenter.com]
Overexposure may cause fatigue, headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and fever. [rarediseases.org]
Long term-exposure to lead can include irritability, fatigue, behavioral change, and developmental delays. [articles.sun-sentinel.com]
- Fever
MFF, or "brass founder’s ague," "zinc shakes," or "Monday morning fever" as it is variously known, is characterized by fever, headache, fatigue, dyspnea, cough, and a metallic taste occurring within 3-10 hours after exposure. [emedicine.medscape.com]
Overexposure may cause fatigue, headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and fever. [rarediseases.org]
Symptoms of inflammation may start hours after the exposure and include cough, dryness and irritation of the nose and throat, headache, dizziness, weakness, fever, chills, and chest pain. [en.wikipedia.org]
- Chills
Exposure to these metal may cause mild flu-like symptoms (a.k.a., "the cadmium chills") that can increase in severity to include respiratory, liver and kidney problems, which may be irreversible and fatal. [home-health-chemistry.com]
Symptoms of inflammation may start hours after the exposure and include cough, dryness and irritation of the nose and throat, headache, dizziness, weakness, fever, chills, and chest pain. [en.wikipedia.org]
View of Los Angeles' Hollywood Blvd Penguins chill at the Kansas City Zoo in Missouri More Privacy Policy Your CA Privacy Rights Children's Online Privacy Policy Interest-Based Ads Terms of Use Contact Us Search Menu Interest Successfully Added We'll [abcnews.go.com]
The person may experience fever and chills. Cadmium may also increase blood flow to the lungs, further complicating the alveolar hemorrhage. The lungs may also become inflamed and swell, causing difficulty breathing. [livestrong.com]
Respiratoric
- Cough
Chronic inhalation exposure to low doses of cadmium can cause poisoning symptoms of: coughing proteinuria weight loss difficulty breathing sense of smell loss Chronic cadmium exposure can also cause an increased risk for these health conditions: anemia [healthblurbs.com]
Chronic poisoning from inhalation may cause a loss of the sense of smell, coughing, difficult breathing, weight loss, and injury of the liver and kidneys. Treatment usually includes the oral administration of calcium edetate. [britannica.com]
Acute inhalation of Cadmium dusts, fumes or soluble salts may produce cough, pneumonitis and fatigue. Manifestations of Cadmium toxicity may be lessened or delayed by an individual’s protective and detoxification capacities. [chelationmedicalcenter.com]
Symptoms of inflammation may start hours after the exposure and include cough, dryness and irritation of the nose and throat, headache, dizziness, weakness, fever, chills, and chest pain. [medicaljournal.blogspot.com]
- Anosmia
Anosmia and yellowing of teeth have been reported. Developmental Effects In animals, cadmium crosses the placenta, and large parenteral doses during early gestation cause birth defects. [atsdr.cdc.gov]
Similar to zinc, long term exposure to cadmium fumes can cause life long anosmia. Inside cells, cadmium ions act as a catalytic hydrogen peroxide generator. [en.wikipedia.org]
PMID: 17405690 Anosmia Anosmia is the technical name for not being able to smell things - “an inability to perceive odours”. Cadmium can cause anosmia. Cancer Carla Mascaro A host of different types of cancer are known to be caused by cancer. [allaboutheaven.org]
[…] unusually rapid heart beat (tachycardia); low levels of iron within the red blood cells (anemia); bluish discoloration (cyanosis) of the skin and mucous membranes due to insufficient oxygen supply to these tissues; and/or an impaired sense of smell (anosmia [rarediseases.org]
- Aspiration
Low-grade chronic exposure to elemental or other forms of mercury induces subtler symptoms and clinical findings. [ 6 ] Inorganic and elemental mercury are poorly absorbed from the gut and ingestion is usually harmless (unless aspiration occurs). [patient.info]
Flame methods are generally used for liquid samples that can be aspirated into a flame, usually an air-acetylene flame. [inchem.org]
- Throat Irritation
When its initially inhaled you may notice a sweet or metallic taste, and then throat irritation. [healthblurbs.com]
Cadmium workers sometimes suffered from symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation, but did not show abnormal chest X-ray findings when exposed to cadmium oxide fume at a concentration of 100 µg/m 3 for 4-8 years (Hardy & Skinner, 1947) or 40-1440 [inchem.org]
Gastrointestinal
- Nausea
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and prostration usually occur within 15 minutes after ingestion and subside within 24 hours. Inhalation of cadmium fumes in industry produces an acute, extremely severe inflammation of the lungs that may be fatal. [britannica.com]
Nausea and Vomiting Ingestion of a large dose of cadmium can cause severe gastrointestinal effects. [livestrong.com]
Principal symptoms of acute poisoning after ingestion appear within 15-30 minutes and are abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, but also muscle cramping, vertigo, bone pain, loss of consciousness, convulsions and even coma. [symptoma.com]
- Abdominal Pain
Cadmium exposure is associated with the following symptoms and conditions: Abdominal pain, weight loss, vomiting Disrupted iron, copper, and magnesium metabolism Immune suppression, immune dysfunction, slow healing Sodium retention, low body temperature [coreonehealth.com]
These include: abdominal pain, burning sensation, nausea, vomiting, salivation, muscle cramps, vertigo, shock, loss of consciousness and convulsions. [academic.oup.com]
Principal symptoms of acute poisoning after ingestion appear within 15-30 minutes and are abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, but also muscle cramping, vertigo, bone pain, loss of consciousness, convulsions and even coma. [symptoma.com]
Additional symptoms may include fever, headaches, fatigue, sluggishness (letheragy), vomiting, loss of appetite (anorexia), abdominal pain, constipation, joint pain, loss of recently acquired skills, incoordination, listlessness, difficulty sleeping [rarediseases.org]
- Diarrhea
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and prostration usually occur within 15 minutes after ingestion and subside within 24 hours. Inhalation of cadmium fumes in industry produces an acute, extremely severe inflammation of the lungs that may be fatal. [britannica.com]
Overexposure may cause fatigue, headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and fever. [rarediseases.org]
painful neuropathy, coma, autonomic instability, MODS Late: Alopecia, Mees lines, residual neurologic symptoms Alopecia, neuropathy Toxic: >3 µg/L (blood) MDAC Prussian blue Zinc MFF (oxide fumes); vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain (ingestion) Copper [emedicine.medscape.com]
Cardiovascular
- Hypertension
[…] and, possibly, years later, cancer. cadmium poisoning A condition associated with industrial exposure; cadmium poisoning occurred in Japan due to contamination of drinking water by mining runoffs, resulting in itai-itai (“ouch-ouch”) disease, possibly hypertension [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]
Once this occurs, high blood pressure, which promotes hypertension, often develops. Some individuals with high blood pressure have blood cadmium levels three to four times higher than those with normal blood pressure. [coreonehealth.com]
Environmental Cd exposure may be a significant contributory factor to the development of chronic kidney disease, especially in the presence of other co-morbidities such as diabetes or hypertension; therefore, the sources and environmental impact of Cd [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
In addition to kidney damage and proteinuria, other known complications are hypertension, diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy, anemia, osteomalacia, yellowing of teeth, and cardiovascular damage, while its carcinogenic potential is still being [symptoma.com]
This toxic metal is known to cause cancer, hypertension and enzyme activity decrease as well. [healthblurbs.com]
- Heart Disease
Cadmium has also been associated with carotid atherosclerosis, electro-cardiogram diagnosed myocardial infarction, self-reported ischemic heart disease, stroke, heart failure and peripheral arterial disease. [pathopedia-india.com]
CADMIUM TOXICITY SYMPTOMS Degenerative Diseases. Cadmium is involved in all of the major diseases of our time, including cancer, diabetes, arthritic syndromes, heart disease, kidney disease, and others. [drlwilson.com]
It will be retained in the kidneys, blood vessels, brain and lungs and it weakens the immune system giving rise to the typical smokers diseases: lung infections, lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease, and malignant tumors. [tvernonlac.com]
- Chest Pain
Dyspnea, pulmonary edema, cyanosis, tachycardia, chest pain and pneumonitis develop within 4-24 hours after cadmium reaches the lungs and can be life-threatening without early recognition of the cause. [symptoma.com]
Later on you may experience some of these toxic cadmium inhalation symptoms: dyspnea sweating shivering coughing arthralgia wheezing dry throat headache chest pain pneumonitis muscle weakness Inhalation of cadmium fumes can cause severe lung inflammation [healthblurbs.com]
Symptoms of inflammation may start hours after the exposure and include cough, dryness and irritation of the nose and throat, headache, dizziness, weakness, fever, chills, and chest pain. [en.wikipedia.org]
Difficulty breathing, cough, chest pain. Complications include pneumonitis and pulmonary oedema. Chronic exposure may cause anaemia, emphysema or renal failure and cadmium may be a risk factor in the development of prostate or lung cancer. [patient.info]
- Tachycardia
Dyspnea, pulmonary edema, cyanosis, tachycardia, chest pain and pneumonitis develop within 4-24 hours after cadmium reaches the lungs and can be life-threatening without early recognition of the cause. [symptoma.com]
In some cases, affected individuals may exhibit increased salivation; yellowing of the teeth; an unusually rapid heart beat (tachycardia); low levels of iron within the red blood cells (anemia); bluish discoloration (cyanosis) of the skin and mucous membranes [rarediseases.org]
Furthermore, several types of abnormalities in the electrocardiogram of the exposed workers were observed: 39% showed tachycardia, between 11 and 13% were regarded as normal, and 26% had changes in the "R" spike (compared to the normal 7-9%). [inchem.org]
Skin
- Alopecia
Mees lines, residual neurologic symptoms Alopecia, neuropathy Toxic: >3 µg/L (blood) MDAC Prussian blue Zinc MFF (oxide fumes); vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain (ingestion) Copper deficiency: anemia, neurologic degeneration, osteoporosis Normal range [emedicine.medscape.com]
Overexposure to selenium may cause irritation of the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, and eyes; inflammation of the liver; loss of hair (alopecia); loss of skin color (depigmentation); and peripheral nerve damage. [rarediseases.org]
[…] does so in a manner that actually weakens the entire body and opens it up to more cancers, and particularly heart disease. (7) Some of the symptoms associated with cadmium toxicity include (1, 5, 6, 7): Abdominal pain Aches Ages the skin Alcoholism Alopecia [myersdetox.com]
Musculoskeletal
- Osteoporosis
Moreover, the term Itai-Itai disease was designated to describe patients who suffer from frequent fractures, accelerated osteoporosis and bone-associated pain due to consumption of foods that were contaminated with high amounts of cadmium. [symptoma.com]
[…] inhalation exposure to low doses of cadmium can cause poisoning symptoms of: coughing proteinuria weight loss difficulty breathing sense of smell loss Chronic cadmium exposure can also cause an increased risk for these health conditions: anemia liver damage osteoporosis [healthblurbs.com]
Effects kidney toxicity: Edema and Emphysema by killing macrophages Skeletal effects: Osteoporosis and osteomalacia (pseudofractures) Cancer: Carcinogenic in animal studies Approx.8% of lung cancers may be attributable to Cd 7. [slideshare.net]
Clinically significant bone lesions usually occur late in severe chronic cadmium poisoning and include pseudofractures and other effects of osteomalacia and osteoporosis. [atsdr.cdc.gov]
- Muscle Weakness
Later on you may experience some of these toxic cadmium inhalation symptoms: dyspnea sweating shivering coughing arthralgia wheezing dry throat headache chest pain pneumonitis muscle weakness Inhalation of cadmium fumes can cause severe lung inflammation [healthblurbs.com]
The proximal renal tubular dysfunction creates low phosphate levels in the blood (hypophosphatemia), causing muscle weakness and sometimes coma. [en.wikipedia.org]
Owing to hypokalaemia and muscle weakness, barium intoxication was strongly suspected initially; in addition, the emergency room physicians were told that the industrial chemical solution he had taken contained a chromium salt. [academic.oup.com]
Infertility Joint pain Kidney disease (cadmium is very toxic to the kidneys) Learning disorders Liver damage Lung disease Low energy Low sperm count Lung disease Memory loss/brain fog Migraines Muscle weakness Nausea Nerve cell damage Prostate dysfunction [myersdetox.com]
- Back Pain
Sanhe, the site of lead and zinc mining, is home to about 800 people, of whom about 80 per cent suffered from back pain and other ailments, residents said. Some villagers also complain of swollen knees and elbows. [scmp.com]
pain, cancer, and peripheral neuropathy. [chelationmedicalcenter.com]
Toxic metal accumulation in the kidneys including aluminum, mercury and cadmium, also contributes to kidney infections, kidney stones, electrolyte imbalances, back pain, and edema. [tvernonlac.com]
These symptoms may include fatigue, metallic taste in the mouth, low back pain, stomach distress, poor appetite, skin eruption and/or headache. [arltma.com]
- Myalgia
Myalgia. Gastrointestinal upset. Subsequent peripheral neuropathy, hepatic dysfunction or renal failure may develop. Chronic poisoning Irritability. Personality changes. Headache. Peripheral neuropathy. Memory problems. Ataxia. Coma. [patient.info]
Diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain subsided, but weakness and myalgias persisted. On hospital day 3, laboratory studies showed serum chloride 111 mEq/l, sodium 144 mEq/l, potassium 4.2 mEq/l and thrombocytopenia (platelet count of 77 000/mm 3 ). [academic.oup.com]
- Osteopenia
Normocytic and normochromic anemia, renal lesions characterized by tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis (Cd nephropathy), and bone lesions characterized by an increase of osteoid and osteopenia (Cd osteopathy) were induced in the monkeys treated [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The pitcher is taken to Princeton-Plainsboro where they discover that he is suffering osteopenia, a weakening of the bone. [house.wikia.com]
A study by Kido et al. (1989) indicates that exposure to cadmium could cause osteopenia, particularly in women. [inchem.org]
Urogenital
- Polyuria
Sufficient cadmium exposure can also lead to decreased GFR and chronic renal failure manifested by: aminoaciduria, glucosuria, hypercalcuria, hyperphosphaturia, polyuria, and reduced buffering capacity for acids (Jarup 2002). [atsdr.cdc.gov]
The polyuria is due to loss of urinary concentrating ability (Kazantzis, 1979), and, in addition, the kidneys of cadmium-poisoned workers lose their ability to handle an acid load after a standard NH 4 Cl-loading test. [inchem.org]
Neurologic
- Headache
Ren, a migrant worker originally from Sichuan, suffers from frequent headaches and breathing difficulties. If untreated, the cadmium poisoning can lead to kidney failure, cancer, and even death. [goodelectronics.org]
The effects may include vomiting, dyspnea, headache, prostration, pulmonary edema, and, possibly, years later, cancer. cadmium poisoning A condition associated with industrial exposure; cadmium poisoning occurred in Japan due to contamination of drinking [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]
Overexposure may cause headaches, drowsiness, confusion, seizures, and life-threatening complications. [rarediseases.org]
- Convulsions
Principal symptoms of acute poisoning after ingestion appear within 15-30 minutes and are abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, but also muscle cramping, vertigo, bone pain, loss of consciousness, convulsions and even coma. [symptoma.com]
Ingested cadmium poisoning causes symptoms of: shock vertigo choking salivation dyspepsia convulsions abdominal pain muscle cramps nausea, vomiting loss of consciousness Breathing high levels of cadmium can severely irritate and damage your lungs. [healthblurbs.com]
Overexposure to tin may damage the nervous system and cause psychomotor disturbances including tremor, convulsions, hallucinations, and psychotic behavior. [rarediseases.org]
Lead Signs and Symptoms include combinations of gastrointestinal complaints, hypertension, fatigue, hemolytic anemia, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, weight loss, peripheral neuropathy, cognitive dysfunction, arthralgias, headache, weakness, convulsions [diagnose-me.com]
- Dizziness
Workers exposed to cadmium can suffer symptoms such as memory loss, dizziness, headaches, lack of strength, and pain in the back and limbs. In 2006, the European Union banned cadmium in electronics due to its extremely toxic properties. [goodelectronics.org]
Symptoms of inflammation may start hours after the exposure and include cough, dryness and irritation of the nose and throat, headache, dizziness, weakness, fever, chills, and chest pain. [en.wikipedia.org]
- Tremor
Overexposure to tin may damage the nervous system and cause psychomotor disturbances including tremor, convulsions, hallucinations, and psychotic behavior. [rarediseases.org]
Symptoms include a metallic taste in the mouth, excess salivation, gingivitis, tremors, stomach and kidney troubles. Mental symptoms include shyness, irritability, apathy and depression, psychosis, mental deterioration, and anorexia. [diagnose-me.com]
[…] inhaled) Parkinson-like syndrome, respiratory, neuropsychiatric No clear reference standard * Mercury Elemental (inhaled): fever, vomiting, diarrhea, ALI; Inorganic salts (ingestion): caustic gastroenteritis Nausea, metallic taste, gingivo-stomatitis, tremor [emedicine.medscape.com]
Physical examination revealed increases in knee-joint reflexes, tremor, dermographia, and sweating. Cadmium sulfide is sometimes used as a yellow tattoo pigment, which is deposited intradermally. [inchem.org]
- Behavior Problem
Some affected children experience learning or behavioral problems such as mental retardation and selective deficits in language, cognitive function, balance, behavior, and school performance. In some cases, symptoms may be life-threatening. [rarediseases.org]
Workup
The diagnosis of cadmium poisoning must be made promptly, especially if the overall condition of the patient suggests acute poisoning. A detailed patient history is vital in order to determine the potential source of symptoms - whether the patient was exposed to cadmium in the industrial setting (in the case of respiratory symptoms), or if "suspicious" food was eaten prior to the onset of complaints. After a thorough clinical examination to assess breathing, cardiac function and vital signs, an immediate laboratory workup comprised of serum electrolytes, renal function tests (blood urea nitrogen and creatinine), a complete blood count (CBC) and liver enzymes (alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, or ALT and AST, respectively) must be performed [3] [4]. If poisoning through inhalation is suspected, a chest X-ray, arterial blood gas (ABG) measurements, and oxygen saturation are also necessary. Regardless of the mode of exposure or severity of symptoms, cadmium can be detected in both serum and urine, and levels of > 5 μg/dL in serum will be present in the setting of acute poisoning [1] [3]. In addition to urine testing for cadmium (which will show >100 nmol/L and a markedly increased creatinine), levels of β2-microglobulin in urine will be markedly elevated in this patient population, whereas N-acetyl-α-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and retinol-binding-protein (RBP) are also excreted in higher amounts in these patients. All three compounds are useful when cadmium is the presumed cause of symptoms, as their increased excretion occurs as a result of impaired proximal tubule reabsorption [1] [5] [9].
Urine
- Glycosuria
The effects of cadmium proximal renal function are characterized by increased cadmium in the urine, proteinuria (primarily Beta-2-microglobulin), aminoaciduria, glycosuria, and decreased renal tubular reabsorption of phosphate. [pathopedia-india.com]
In the final stages of cadmium nephropathy, glycosuria, wasting of calcium and phosphate, and altered calcium metabolism with secondary effects on the skeleton of osteoporosis and osteomalacia are seen (Roels et al. 1999; Jarup et al. 2000). [atsdr.cdc.gov]
Renal dysfunction affects calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus and sodium levels, resulting in proteinuria, glycosuria, renal hypertension and other metabolic disorders. [arltma.com]
Proteinuria and glycosuria appeared at a later stage, 37 and 42 weeks, respectively, after exposure had started. The cadmium concentration in the renal cortex was 300 mg/kg wet weight after 40 weeks. Table 12. [inchem.org]
Serum
- Hypophosphatemia
The proximal renal tubular dysfunction creates low phosphate levels in the blood (hypophosphatemia), causing muscle weakness and sometimes coma. [en.wikipedia.org]
SYMPTOMS Food poisoning (ingestion) Bronchitis (inhalation) Interstitial pneumonitis (inhalation) Pulmonary edema (inhalation) MEDICAL CONDITIONS Osteoporosis Osteomalacia Hyperuricemia Hypophosphatemia Itai-itai disease Renal failure [slideshare.net]
- Hyperuricemia
The dysfunction also causes gout, a form of arthritis due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints because of high acidity of the blood (hyperuricemia). [en.wikipedia.org]
SYMPTOMS Food poisoning (ingestion) Bronchitis (inhalation) Interstitial pneumonitis (inhalation) Pulmonary edema (inhalation) MEDICAL CONDITIONS Osteoporosis Osteomalacia Hyperuricemia Hypophosphatemia Itai-itai disease Renal failure [slideshare.net]
- Hyperchloremia
Another side effect is increased levels of chloride in the blood (hyperchloremia). The kidneys can also shrink up to 30%. Cadmium exposure is also associated with the development of kidney stones. [en.wikipedia.org]
Another side effect is increased levels of chloride in the blood (hyperchloremia). The kidneys can also shrink up to 30%. Other patients lose their sense of smell (anosmia). [medicaljournal.blogspot.com]
Treatment
When doctors or other medical professionals engage in treatment that violates the accepted "standard of care," and that treatment results in injury or harm, this constitutes medical malpractice. [sweeneylawfirm.com]
Treatment of the Acute High-dose Exposure The mainstay of management for most inhalation exposure victims is supportive treatment including fluid replacement, supplemental oxygen, and mechanical ventilation. [atsdr.cdc.gov]
Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. [betterhealth.vic.gov.au]
Treatment usually includes the oral administration of calcium edetate. [britannica.com]
Prognosis
Prognosis; Complications Although complete cure is possible, many people suffer the effects of toxicity for extended periods. Some of the damage, for instance to the liver or brain, may not be fully reversible. [diagnose-me.com]
Prognosis: The prognosis depends on the nature and severity of the cadmium load. Most cases of mild exposure resolve spontaneously after a few days. In other cases, cadmium can lead to permanent damage with shortened lifespan, or even death. [medicaljournal.blogspot.com]
The increased total Cd intake and high concentration of Cd in rice also exerts an adverse influence on life prognosis. PMID: 15688869 photo Carla Mascaro Treatment Clearly prevention requires a clean-up of our planet on a never before seen scale. [allaboutheaven.org]
FRIBERG, L. & NYSTROM, A. (1952) [Aspects on the prognosis of chronic cadmium poisoning.] Läkartidningen, 49: 2629-2639 (in Swedish). [inchem.org]
Etiology
Carcinogenesis And Teratogenesis Cadmium has been suggested as an etiologic factor in certain human cancers. Birth defects, probably due to zinc deficiency, have been observed in mice, rats and hamsters. [arltma.com]
At present, there is no convincing evidence for cadmium being an etiological agent of essential hypertension. [inchem.org]
Epidemiology
Epidemiology The degree of Cd pollution in different parts of the endemic area determined by the analyzed Cd concentration of the soil in the paddy fields was shown in Fig.1. [kanazawa-med.ac.jp]
The gross and pathological findings of forensic autopsies of two case of cadmium poisoning are presented and related to an epidemiological investigation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Genotoxicity Cadmium expresses genotoxic activities in vitro in cells and in vivo in animals; and there is limited epidemiological evidence for in vivo human genotoxicity. [atsdr.cdc.gov]
Epidemiology Heavy metal poisoning is rare in the UK, even in industries where there is an increased risk. [ 1 ] The most common cause of heavy metal poisoning is lead. [patient.info]
Pathophysiology
Because the renal anemia is based on the same pathophysiology as Cd-induced osteomalacia, which is derived from the disturbance of mineral metabolism due to renal tubular dysfunction, it is reasonable to include renal anemia in the criteria for the diagnosis [jstage.jst.go.jp]
Pathophysiology: The pathophysiology of the heavy metal toxidromes remains relatively constant. For the most part, heavy metals bind to oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfhydryl groups in proteins, resulting in alterations of enzymatic activity. [medicaljournal.blogspot.com]
Prevention
The purpose of this program is to prevent cadmium induced disease. [atsdr.cdc.gov]
Our observations provide new clues for the future recognition and prevention of Cd poisoning. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
"This understanding of how cadmium causes toxicity, at a molecular level, is crucial for developing new strategies for preventing cadmium poisoning." [sciencedaily.com]
The American Association of Poison Control Centers offers the following tips aimed at preventing lead and cadmium poisoning. Read product ingredient labels before purchasing an item, especially if it's intended for children. [articles.sun-sentinel.com]
The surest way to prevent poisoning by illegally manufactured children's jewelry is to discard cheap metal children's jewelry and not purchase any more. [poison.org]
References
- Godt J, Scheidig F, Grosse-Siestrup C, et al. The toxicity of cadmium and resulting hazards for human health. J Occup Med Toxicol. 2006;1:22.
- Jaishankar M, Tseten T, Anbalagan N, Mathew BB, Beeregowda KN. Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip Toxicol. 2014;7(2):60-72.
- Longo DL, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Jameson J, Loscalzo J. eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 18e. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2012.
- Porter RS, Kaplan JL. Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 19th Edition. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. Whitehouse Station, N.J; 2011.
- Chunhabundit R. Cadmium Exposure and Potential Health Risk from Foods in Contaminated Area, Thailand. Toxicol Res. 2016;32(1):65-72.
- Hung YM, Chung HM. Acute self-poisoning by ingestion of cadmium and barium. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2004;19(5):1308-1309.
- Tellez-Plaza M, Navas-Acien A, Menke A, Crainiceanu CM, Pastor-Barriuso R, Guallar E. Cadmium Exposure and All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality in the U.S. General Population. Environ Health Perspect. 2012;120(7):1017-1022.
- Tellez-Plaza M, Guallar E, Howard BV, et al. Cadmium Exposure and Incident Cardiovascular Disease. Epidemiology. 2013;24(3):421-429.
- Satarug S, Garrett SH, Sens MA, Sens DA. Cadmium, Environmental Exposure, and Health Outcomes.Environ Health Perspect. 2010;118(2):182-190.