Cadmium poisoning

Cadmium poisoning is mainly caused by inhalation of cadmium smoke or cadmium compound dust. A large amount of inhalation can cause acute pneumonia and pulmonary edema; chronic poisoning causes pulmonary fibrosis and kidney disease. Industries exposed to cadmium include smelting, spraying, welding and casting of cadmium bearing surfaces, cadmium rods of nuclear reactors or graphite rods covered with cadmium as neutron absorbers, cadmium storage batteries and other cadmium compounds. Painfulness is reported in Japan as a chronic cadmium poisoning caused by prolonged ingestion of water sources contaminated with cadmium sulfate.