Cadmium is a toxic metal that occurs naturally in the environment. Humans are exposed to cadmium mostly through plant-derived food. There is no safe margin of cadmium exposure and the need to lower human exposure is desperate. Cadmium produces a number of health concerns and is a known carcinogen. In industry, it's regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and it has a very low permissible exposure level.
Cadmium is of no use to the human body and is toxic even at low levels. The negative effects of cadmium on the body are numerous and can impact nearly all systems in the body, including cardiovascular, reproductive, the kidneys, eyes, and even the brain.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, cadmium induces multiple organ damage and one aspect of that is as a carcinogen. [5] Research by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services confirms cadmium is linked to human pancreatic cancer. [6]
Cadmium has a very detrimental effect on the central nervous system, including decreased attention and memory in humans. This is likely because cadmium induces neuron cell death. Neurons are brain cells that communicate and transmit information, if they are affected, so is brain function. [7]
Exposure to this toxic metal even affects the unborn before they've even joined this world. Cadmium is well-known to cross the placenta and to accumulate in fetal tissues. Prenatal exposure is a threat to the developing brain and results in reduced birth weight and birth size. [8]
Consuming polluted food is the main source of cadmium intake for non-smokers. As if the reasons to quit smoking weren't high enough, higher cadmium levels are found in smokers compared to non-smokers. [9] Other sources of cadmium exposure include nickel-cadmium batteries, fumes from hazardous waste facilities, and fertilizers.
Because of the prevalence of cadmium in the industry and the environment, completely eliminating exposure is a very difficult task but there are steps you can take to reduce and counteract your exposure risks. Eat a healthy diet of organically grown fruit, vegetables, and meat to decrease absorption of cadmium. It may be a little more expensive, but your health is worth it. Get yourself tested to determine the level of cadmium in your body. If you feel your levels are too high, I suggest a chemical and toxic metal cleanse.
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