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Chemical Sampling Information (CSI)
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General Description

Synonyms: Cadmium metal: Cadmium dust (as Cd); Other synonyms vary depending upon the specific cadmium compound.

OSHA IMIS Code Number: C141

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 7440-43-9 (metal)

NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: EU9800000 (metal)

Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 2570 154 (cadmium compound)

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Cadmium Dust (as Cd): chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more

Exposure Limits

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL):
General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1027 (Federal Register 57 (178) 42388-9 Sep 14, 1992) 29 CFR 1926.63 (Federal Register 57 (178) 42452-3 Sep 14, 1992) -- 5 µg/m3 TWA; 2.5 µg/m3 Action Level. SECALS [29 CFR 1910.1027 (FR 57 (178) 42390 Sep 14, 1992)]

Separate Engineering Control Airborne Limits (SECALs)
for Processes in Selected Industries
IndustryProcessSECAL (ĩg/m3)
Nickel Cadmium BatteryPlate making, plate preparation
All other processes		50
15
Zinc/Cadmium Refining*Cadmium refining, casting, melting, oxide production, sinter plant50
Pigment ManufactureCalcine, crushing, milling, blending
All other processes		50
15
Stabilizers*Cadmium oxide charging, crushing, drying, blending50
Lead Smelting*Sinter plant, blast furnace, baghouse, yard area50
Plating*Mechanical plating15
*processes in these industries that are not specified in this table must achieve the PEL using engineering controls and work practices as required in f(1)(i)

Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.1127 -- 5 µg/m3 TWA; 2.5 µg/m3 Action Level

Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1027 requirements identical to 1910.1027
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 0.01 mg/m3 TWA; 0.002 mg/m3 - Respirable Fraction (see Appendix C, paragraph C) TWA; Appendix A2 - Suspected Human Carcinogen; BEI (TLV listed under Cadmium and Compounds, as Cd)

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): Appendix A - NIOSH Potential Occupational Carcinogens; (REL applies to all Cadmium compounds (as Cd))

Health Factors

Carcinogenic Classification:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Group B1, probable human carcinogen

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): Group 1, carcinogenic to humans [62 KB PDF, 21 pages]

National Toxicology Program (NTP): Known to be a human carcinogen [115 KB PDF, 4 pages]
NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 9 mg Cd/m3

Potential Symptoms: Pulmonary edema; dyspnea, cough, chest tightness, substernal pain; headache; chills, muscle aches; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; anosmia (loss of the sense of smell); emphysema; proteinuria; mild anemia; increased fragility of bones; [potential occupational carcinogen]; INGES ACUTE: Increased salivation, choking, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, kidney malfunction; persistent urge to urinate

Health Effects: Lung and possible prostate cancer (HE1); Cumulative kidney and bone damage---Itai-itai disease (HE3); Cumulative lung damage---Pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema (HE10)

Affected Organs: Respiratory system, kidneys, prostate, blood, bone

Notes:
  1. Cadmium is an OSHA-regulated carcinogen (29 CFR 1910.1027).
  2. Anemia is thought to be caused by decreased production of erythropoietin due to cadmium-induced kidney damage.
  3. EPA's oral reference dose (daily oral exposure likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime) for cadmium in water is 0.0005 mg/kg/day and in food is 0.001 mg/kg/day.
  4. Cadmium accumulates in bone, where it may promote demineralization and lead to osteomalacia and osteoporosis.
Date Last Revised: 04/27/2006

Literature Basis:
  • NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Cadmium Dust (as Cd).
  • International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Cadmium.
  • U.S. EPA Integrated Risk Information System: Cadmium (CASRN 7440-43-9).
  • Bar-Sela, S., Levy, M., Westin, J.B., Laster, R. and Richter, E.D.: Medical findings in nickel-cadmium battery workers. Isr. J. Med. Sci. 28(8-9): 578-583, 1992.
  • Horiguchi, H., et al.: Hypoproduction of erythropoietin contributes to anemia in chronic cadmium intoxication: clinical study on Itai-itai disease in Japan. Arch. Toxicol. 68(10): 632-636, 1994.
  • Järup, L.: Cadmium overload and toxicity. Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. 17(Suppl.): 35-39, 2002.
  • No Author: Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds [115 KB PDF, 4 pages]. Report on Carcinogens (latest edition); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program.
  • Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Cadmium. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 433-436.
  • Rydzewski, B., Sulkowski, W. and Miarzynska, M.: Olfactory disorders induced by cadmium exposure: a clinical study. Int. J. Occup. Med. Environ. Health 11(3): 235-245, 1998.
  • Sahmoun, A.E., Case, L.D., Jackson, S.A. and Schwartz, G.G.: Cadmium and prostate cancer: a critical epidemiologic analysis. Cancer Invest. 23(3): 256-263, 2005.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:
  • sampling media: Mixed Cellulose Ester Filter (MCEF) 0.8 microns
    maximum volume: 960 Liters   minimum volume: 480 Liters   maximum flow rate: 2.0 L/min TWA
    current analytical method: Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; AAS/GF
    method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA ID-189)
    method classification: Fully Validated
    alternate analytical method: Inductively Coupled Plasma; ICP-AES/MS, AAS
    method reference: OSHA Analytical Methods (OSHA ID-125G, OSHA ID-206, OSHA ID-105, OSHA ID-121), & OSHA 1006
    method classification: Fully Validated
    note: If the filter is not overloaded, samples should be collected up to an 8-hour period or for the duration of the cadmium exposure.
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Page last updated: 03/20/2007

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