Cadmium

CAS ID#: 7440-43-9

Affected Organ Systems: Cancer, Gastrointestinal (Digestive), Musculoskeletal (Muscles and Skeleton), Renal (Urinary System or Kidneys), Respiratory (From the Nose to the Lungs)

Cancer Classification: Please contact NTP, IARC, or EPA with questions on cancer and cancer classification.

Chemical Classification: Inorganic substances

Summary: Cadmium is a natural element in the earth's crust. It is usually found as a mineral combined with other elements such as oxygen (cadmium oxide), chlorine (cadmium chloride), or sulfur (cadmium sulfate, cadmium sulfide).

All soils and rocks, including coal and mineral fertilizers, contain some cadmium. Most cadmium used in the United States is extracted during the production of other metals like zinc, lead, and copper. Cadmium does not corrode easily and has many uses, including batteries, pigments, metal coatings, and plastics.

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Page last reviewed: February 10, 2021

Content source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry