What are the symptoms of cadmium poisoning?
The symptoms associated with cadmium exposure depend largely on how cadmium is encountered through eating or drinking, breathing or skin contact and over what period of time the exposure occurs. A short-term exposure to cadmium in the air can cause bronchial and lung irritation, and workers who have unknowingly done welding on cadmium alloys have even died from these complications. Cadmium in air presents a serious hazard because it is difficult to detect until significant damage to the lungs has occurred. Exposure to highly contaminated food or water can cause can severe irritation of the digestive tract, including vomiting, diarrhea and even death. Other symptoms of short-term exposures include muscle cramps, sensory disturbances, liver injury, convulsions, shock and kidney failure.
