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Safety and Health Topics: |
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Toxic Metals: Cadmium |
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Cadmium is an extremely toxic
metal commonly found in industrial workplaces, particularly where any ore is being
processed or smelted. Due to its low Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), overexposures
may occur even in situations
where trace quantities of cadmium are found in the parent ore or smelter dust. Cadmium is used extensively in electroplating, although the nature of the
operation does not generally lead to overexposures. Several deaths from acute exposure
have occurred among welders who have unsuspectingly welded on cadmium-containing alloys or working with silver solders. Cadmium is also found in industrial paints and may represent a
hazard when sprayed. Operations involving removal of cadmium paints by scraping or
blasting may similarly pose a significant hazard. Cadmium is also present in the manufacture of some types of
batteries. Cadmium emits a characteristic brown
fume (CdO) upon heating, which is relatively non-irritating, and thus does not alarm the
exposed individual.
Related Safety and Health Topics
Recognition
-
Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds-The Tenth Report on Carcinogens. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public
Health Service National Toxicology Program (2002, December), 2.07 MB PDF, 7 pages. This is a document that
explains the carcinogenicity, properties, use, production, exposure, and regulations regarding cadmium.
- Toxicology: Health effects are discussed in the Preamble
to the OSHA standard.
- Acute — Metal fume fever may result from acute
exposure with flu-like symptoms of weakness, fever, headache, chills, sweating and
muscular pain. Acute pulmonary edema usually develops within 24 hours and reaches a
maximum by three days. If death from asphyxia does not occur, symptoms may resolve within
a week.
- Chronic — The most serious consequence of chronic
cadmium poisoning is cancer (lung and prostate). The first observed chronic effect is
generally kidney damage, manifested by excretion of excessive (low molecular weight)
protein in the urine. Cadmium also is believed to cause pulmonary emphysema and bone
disease (osteomalcia and osteoporosis). The latter has been observed in Japan
("itai-itai" disease) where residents were exposed to cadmium in rice crops
irrigated with cadmium-contaminated water. Cadmium may also cause anemia, teeth
discoloration (Cd forms CdS) and loss of smell (anosmia).
- Cadmium compounds (as Cd). NIOSH Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations
(IDLHs) Documentation (1996, August 16), 4 pages.
- Occupational Exposure to Cadmium in the Construction Industry. OSHA 3139 (1993),
1.9 MB PDF, 28 pages.
- Occupational Exposure to Cadmium. OSHA 3136 (1992),
2.4 MB
PDF, 32 pages.
- Cadmium Overexposure in the Aircraft Repair Industry. OSHA Hazard Information Bulletin (1989, February
21), 2 pages.
- NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin 42: Cadmium (Cd). NIOSH Publication No.
84-116 (1984, September 27), 8 pages.
- Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Cadmium. NIOSH Criteria Document, Publication No.
76-192 (1976, August). This Criteria Document is contained in five PDF files, for ease of handling.
- NIOSH 800 Number Information Packet. NIOSH and other documents available
online or
that can be mailed as a packet by calling 1-800-35-NIOSH.
Evaluation
- Exposures should be evaluated with standard total dust
sampling techniques (see OSHA Methods) for comparison to
the OSHA PEL. Other methods for cadmium may be found in the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods
(NMAM), and in the NIOSH Cadmium
and Compounds as Cd, (1994, August 15), 20 KB PDF, 4 pages.
- Cadmium dust (as Cd) (1978), 317 KB PDF, or Cadmium fume (as Cd) (1978), 246 KB PDF, 6 pages each.
These files provide information about exposure limits, health hazards, chemical and physical
properties, monitoring and measuring procedures, personal protective equipment, etc. Note
that exposure limit information is dated. Consult the current OSHA standard requirements.
These are individual sections of the document Occupational Health Guidelines for Chemical Hazards
(1981, January), DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 81-123 and supplements
(1988-1995).
Biological Standards
- OSHA regulates cadmium under
29 CFR 1910.1027 (general
industry) and 29 CFR 1926.1127 for construction. The standards include
biological monitoring (1910.1027 App F). If Cd in urine exceeds 3 µg/g
creatinine, or
if Beta-2 microglobulin (indicating excessive protein excretion) exceeds 300 µg/g
creatinine, or if CD in whole blood exceeds 5 µg/liter, a reassessment of the employee's exposure and
follow up medical surveillance is required. Note: The medical action/removal levels have been reduced as of January 1, 1999. See Appendix A, Table A for the new levels (scroll to find Table A). There are OSHA
Separate Engineering Control Airborne Limits (SECALs) for certain processes.
- GOCAD. The original Cadmium Standard Biological Monitoring Advisor (released in 1994) is now obsolete, as a result of the Cadmium standard's built-in, change of requirements as of
January 1999. Therefore, the public should not use GOCAD to evaluate
biological monitoring data.
Instead,
use the new GOCAD 2.0
(coming soon) to evaluate laboratory results (of required medical surveillance) under the Cadmium
Standard.
Air Standards
-
The ACGIH Threshold Limit Values® (TLVs) for cadmium are 10 µg/m3 (8 hour
TWA) and 2 µg/m3 (8 hour TWA) for respirable fraction.
- OSHA regulates cadmium under 29 CFR 1910.1027 (general
industry) and 29 CFR 1926.1127 for
construction with an 8 hour PEL
of 5 µg/m3.
- Public
Health Statement for Cadmium. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Provides exposure risks, exposure limits, and
health effects (1999, July). ATSDR is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- National Center for Environmental Assessment Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS).
EPA's Office of Research and
Development (1999, November 8). IRIS
contains chemical health risk assessments and regulatory information.
- OSHA Chemical Sampling Information for cadmium, cadmium dust, and cadmium fume.
- Cadmium,
International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs), International
Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), (1993), 2 pages. An ICSC summarizes essential
health and safety information on chemicals for their use at the "shop floor"
level by workers and employers in factories, agriculture, construction and other work
places.
- Sample collection and analysis:
OSHA
NIOSH
- See also the following Safety and Health Topic:
Control
- Primary control should focus on inhalation. Inhaled cadmium is more readily absorbed into the body than is
ingested cadmium. Intake of cadmium by ingestion and skin absorption are considered to be of relatively less
importance in occupational settings.
- See also the following Safety and Health Topics:
Compliance
Due to the large amount of information, the Compliance section is located on a separate page.
Training
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| Revised: 14 August 2002 |
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