Cadmium
Environmental Sources
Cadmium is a heavy metal that is known to bioaccumulate in the kidneys but may also bioaccumulate in the bones, heart, thyroid gland, pancreas, and liver. It is also classified as a human carcinogen, and is capable of inducing any malignancy in the body.
The kidney and bones are the most common organ systems affected by cadmium. Cadmium is unique in that certain foods including tobacco plants will bioconcentrate the metal from the soil into the plants.
Environmental sources of cadmium include the following:
- Rice
- Fish
- Sunflower Seeds
- Peanuts
- Mollusks and Crustaceans
- Tobacco Use
- Flaxseed
- Mollusks and Crustaceans
- Tobacco Use
- Flaxseed
- Coal/Oil Combustion
- Metal Working/Welding
- Battery Production
- Ceramic Production
Cadmium levels in the body are highly correlated with osteoporosis.
