Absorption of Cadmium

Abstract

Even outside occupational settings, the human environment contains measurable concentrations of cadmium compounds. These may be derived from natural sources, or be contributed to the environment by mining, smelting, or other industrial activities. As further discussed in Chap. 2, cadmium enters the human food chain in a variety of ways, such as by application of Cd-containing fertilizer to agricultural lands, or through bioaccumulation in marine organisms. In addition, significant amounts of Cd may be present in polluted water, or may be inhaled in ambient air (Buchet et al. 1980). Another significant source of Cd exposure is tobacco smoke. As a net result of overall exposure of the general population, the average body burden of the metal in a North American adult male amounts to perhaps 30 mg (Schroeder and Balassa 1961); higher values have been reported in more polluted areas, such as Japan (Tsuchiya et al. 1976).