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New OSHA Cadmium Biological Monitoring Advisor eTool

Public Health Statement on Cadmium - ATSDR

Industry Sector Profile - Cadmium Exposure

Industry Subcategory Profile - Cadmium Exposure

Health Effects

Health Effects
Exposure & Controls

Exposure & Controls
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Health Effects

Occupational exposure to cadmium can lead to a variety of adverse health effects including cancer. Acute inhalation exposure (high levels over a short period of time) to cadmium can result in flu-like symptoms (chills, fever, and muscle pain) and can damage the lungs. Chronic exposure (low level over an extended period of time) can result in kidney, bone and lung disease. For a comprehensive discussion of cadmium’s health effects, see OSHA Preambles to Final Rules, (1992), under Occupational Exposure to Cadmium, Section V. Health Effects.

The following webpages provide additional information on the health effects of cadmium.

  • Report on Carcinogens, Twelfth Edition (2011) - Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds [151 KB PDF, 4 pages]. Department of Health and Human Services , National Toxicology Program. Identifies and discusses agents, substances, mixtures, or exposure circumstances that may pose a health hazard due to their carcinogenicity.

  • Workplace Safety & Health Topics Cadmium. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-NIOSH webpage provides information and resources on cadmium. Documents the criteria and information sources used by NIOSH to determine immediately dangerous to life or health concentrations, including cadmium.

  • Worker Notification Program -Cadmium Recovery Workers (Cadmium). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Includes sections on the following subjects: NIOSH Kidney Study, NIOSH Mortality Study, charts that show the risk of dying from lung cancer for cadmium workers at the plant, Steps to Protect Your Health, Estimated "Relative" Risk of Dying from Lung Cancer, and Additional Resources.

  • Cadmium (CASRN 7440-43-9). Environmental Protection Agency, Integrated Risk Information System.

  • Toxicological Profile for Cadmium. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Register (2008, September).

  • International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). IARC Monographs (volume 58, 1993, Beryllium, Cadmium, Mercury, and Exposures in the Glass Manufacturing industry). The monographs provide readers with detailed information on summaries of the toxicological cancer studies in humans and animals.

  • Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). IRIS is updated by the Environmental Protection Agency and maintained by the National Library of Medicine. The database contains chemical health risk assessments and regulatory information.

  • Public Health Statement for Cadmium. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Register (2008, September).

  • For additional information regarding carcinogens, see OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Page on Carcinogens.
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