Cadmium, a naturally occurring element found in the earth’s crust, was discovered in 1817, but was not used commercially until the end of the 19th century. This soft, silver-white metal was first used in paint pigments and as a substitute for tin in World War I.

 

Today, about three-fourths of cadmium is used as an electrode component in alkaline batteries, with the remainder used in pigments, coatings, and platings and as a stabilizer for plastics. Workers in many industries face potential exposure to cadmium. The potential for exposure is highest among workers in electroplating, metal machining, plastics, ceramics, paint, and welding operations.

 

The main exposure routes are through inhalation of dust and fumes and the incidental ingestion of dust from contaminated hands, food, or cigarettes. Workers may also be exposed to cadmium from the smelting and refining of metals or from air in industrial plants that manufacture batteries, coatings, or plastics. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry estimates that more than 500,000 workers in the United States face exposure to cadmium each year.

Tags: workers exposed to cadmium, Exposure limits, Communicating cadmium hazards, air monitoring, compliance, protective equipment, medical monitoring, Recordkeeping