Cadmium (Cd) and CompoundsCAS 7440-43-9
Kidney damage, bone demineralization, and lung cancer — accumulates in the kidney with a 30-year half-life.
Toxic Chemical Databases
Substance-specific listings — these flags are for Cadmium alone, not for the broader family.
Chemical Type
Heavy Metal — Group 1 Human Carcinogen
Chemical Description
Cadmium accumulates in the renal cortex over decades — the human biological half-life is roughly 30 years. Once kidney cadmium burden exceeds ~200 µg/g cortex, kidney tubular damage begins; secondary effects include skeletal demineralization (the Japanese itai-itai disease). IARC Group 1 carcinogen for lung cancer. Construction sources include red and yellow cadmium pigments in pre-2000 PVC stabilizer formulations, cadmium plating on hardware, and cadmium-containing solder.
Biological Activity
Severity scores specific to this substance, NOT the parent family average. Differences between siblings are real and meaningful.
Top Health Consequences
- Lung cancer — IARC Group 1
- Renal tubular damage and end-stage kidney disease
- Bone demineralization (osteomalacia, fractures)
- Reproductive endpoints at high body burden
- 30-year human biological half-life
Pathways of Exposure
- Inhalation during cutting or welding cadmium-containing materials
- Diet — accumulation in shellfish, organ meats, and leafy vegetables
- Dust from cadmium-pigmented or cadmium-stabilized plastics
- Smoking (occupational and bystander cadmium source)
Building Materials with Cadmium
Listed alphabetically — product categories where this specific substance appears.
Cadmium-Plated Hardware
Glazed Tile & Ceramic Pigments
Legacy PVC Stabilizer Formulations
Pigmented Powder-Coat Finishes