Cadmium in Chennai

Q: How do you recognise cadmium toxicity?

You can recognise the presence of cadmium metal in your body once you have been exposed to it. It takes two to four hours for the symptoms to appear. Overexposure to cadmium metal may result in headaches, abdominal pain, fatigue, nausea, fever, and diarrhoea.

Q: What food items are high in cadmium?

Cadmium is present in many food items such as vegetables, pulses, nuts, cereals, potatoes, starchy roots, meat and meat products, etc. Since vegetarians have a high consumption of pulses, cereals, vegetables, etc., they have higher exposure to cadmium metal.

Q: What disease can you contract if you have high cadmium levels?

High cadmium levels can lead to itai-itai disease, which is characterised by osteomalacia with extreme bone pain and is also associated with renal tubular dysfunction. Cadmium exposure can be caused as a result of working in industries.

Q: How can cadmium affect kidneys?

Cadmium, an important industrial agent, is also a major environmental pollutant and a leading cause of kidney disease. If you face chronic exposure to cadmium, it may accumulate in the epithelial cells of the proximal tubule, resulting in a reabsorptive dysfunction characterised by polyuria and low-molecular-weight proteinuria.

Q: What preparation is needed for the cadmium test?

The test generally requires no special preparation. However, since certain food items such as seafood, particularly shellfish, may contain high levels of cadmium, thus, you should avoid eating them 48 hours before the test.

Q: What do the results of the cadmium test mean?

A cadmium test can help you evaluate the levels of cadmium in your body. If the test results show a higher level, you need to avoid exposure to cadmium. Your doctor may prescribe chelation therapy if the levels do not reduce after this.

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About

SAMPLE TYPE

WHOLE BLOOD K2EDTA

GENDER

Both

AGE GROUP

7 years & above

Heavy metals are naturally found in the environment, medicines, food items, and even water. One such commonly found heavy metal in the environment is cadmium. It is naturally present with a combination of other heavy metals such as zinc, copper, aluminium, mercury, lead, etc.

Cadmium metal is generally used in:

Low-melting alloys
Coatings and plating
Solder and bearing alloys
Storage batteries

Heavy metals such as cadmium can affect your system in different ways and increase your exposure to cadmium toxicity. If cadmium levels are excessive in your body, it can lead to metal poisoning. This can cause serious health problems, including behavioural changes and organ damage, and also affect thinking and memory.

Even if the levels are low, it can be highly toxic for the human body, and you may experience ill effects of cadmium metal, including reproductive, cardiovascular, eyes, brain issues, kidney disease, etc. Cadmium disease, known as Itai-Itai, was first termed in Japan when there was a significant case of cadmium toxicity. The disease spread due to excessive dumping of industrial waste in rivers.

The symptoms of cadmium toxicity can be visible two to four hours after exposure. You may experience:

Weakness
Fever
Cough
Irritation of the nose and throat
Headache
Chest pain

If you inhale cadmium dust, it may rapidly spread to the respiratory tract and cause kidney problems. This can even turn fatal as a slight increase in the levels can immediately cause the poison to spread.

People who work in industrial settings are at a higher risk of exposure to cadmium metal. Industrial workers working near factories and mining operations usually contract cadmium toxicity. Along with adults, some children under the age of six may also be exposed to it since they have a higher risk for heavy metal poisoning. Cadmium toxicity is a severe type of heavy metal poisoning that can affect your body for a long time. Hence, it is important to test for cadmium toxicity as exposure to it may lead to life-threatening diseases. Getting a cadmium test helps measure the levels of cadmium metal in the body. If you experience symptoms after exposure to heavy metal, it is recommended that you get tested immediately.

Apollo 24|7 offers a comprehensive cadmium test to determine the level of cadmium in your body. Based on the results, your doctor may offer you appropriate treatment to reduce cadmium toxicity. The treatment can be designed to help relieve and manage your symptoms as there is no effective treatment for cadmium toxicity.

Some preventive measures to avoid exposure to cadmium are:

Working in areas that are clean and free of dust
Prohibiting smoking
Cleaning hands
Disposing of contaminated clothes
Prohibiting food and beverages in the work zone

Medically reviewed by Dr. Naveen Polavarapu, Gastroenterologist, Apollo Hospitals Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you recognise cadmium toxicity?
You can recognise the presence of cadmium metal in your body once you have been exposed to it. It takes two to four hours for the symptoms to appear. Overexposure to cadmium metal may result in headaches, abdominal pain, fatigue, nausea, fever, and diarrhoea.
What food items are high in cadmium?
Cadmium is present in many food items such as vegetables, pulses, nuts, cereals, potatoes, starchy roots, meat and meat products, etc. Since vegetarians have a high consumption of pulses, cereals, vegetables, etc., they have higher exposure to cadmium metal.
What disease can you contract if you have high cadmium levels?
High cadmium levels can lead to itai-itai disease, which is characterised by osteomalacia with extreme bone pain and is also associated with renal tubular dysfunction. Cadmium exposure can be caused as a result of working in industries.
How can cadmium affect kidneys?
Cadmium, an important industrial agent, is also a major environmental pollutant and a leading cause of kidney disease. If you face chronic exposure to cadmium, it may accumulate in the epithelial cells of the proximal tubule, resulting in a reabsorptive dysfunction characterised by polyuria and low-molecular-weight proteinuria.
What preparation is needed for the cadmium test?
The test generally requires no special preparation. However, since certain food items such as seafood, particularly shellfish, may contain high levels of cadmium, thus, you should avoid eating them 48 hours before the test.
What do the results of the cadmium test mean?
A cadmium test can help you evaluate the levels of cadmium in your body. If the test results show a higher level, you need to avoid exposure to cadmium. Your doctor may prescribe chelation therapy if the levels do not reduce after this.

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The information mentioned above is meant for educational purposes only and should not be taken as a substitute to your Physician’s advice. It is highly recommended that the customer consults with a qualified healthcare professional to interpret test results