Personal Injury Law

A Secret, Silent Killer

By Megan Roth

Cadmium, which is highly toxic, is often found in industrial workplaces and recently there has been a growing awareness of workers and home owners alike being affected by cadmium poisoning.

Cadmium exposure can occur from sewage sludge, fertilizers, polluted groundwater, mining run-off and foods grown in contaminated soil. Regardless of how it occurs, cadmium is highly dangerous to the human body and has a variety of adverse effects on health.

Let's say you're one of those super-aware individuals who take every possible measure when it comes to safety. You have a state-of-the-art security system at your house, you look both ways before crossing the street, you check the backseat before getting in your car, you've had every vaccine possible, etc. You're safe, right? Nothing can possibly harm you when you've taken countless preventative measures to ensure your personal safety. You think you're safe, right?

Think again. You may have taken every preventative measure you thought possible, but what about the dangers you don't even know exist? What about cadmium?

You're probably wondering "what is cadmium?" The natural element is found as a mineral in the Earth's crust. But the fact that it's natural doesn't make it safe. Cadmium, which is highly toxic, is often found in industrial workplaces and recently there has been a growing awareness of workers and home owners alike being affected by cadmium poisoning.

Given its prevalence in industrial areas, its obvious how such workers come in contact with the mineral. What's not obvious is why it's been affecting homeowners? What, exactly, is cadmium doing near home sites and how are homeowners coming in contact with it?

Cadmium exposure can occur from sewage sludge, fertilizers, polluted groundwater, mining run-off and foods grown in contaminated soil. Regardless of how it occurs, cadmium is highly dangerous to the human body and has a variety of adverse effects on health.

Some of the acute effects resulting from exposure resemble flu-like symptoms. Individuals often experience fever, headache, chills, sweating, and muscular pain and weakness. If death does not occur, symptoms generally resolve in about three days.

However, not everyone who's exposed to the toxin is that lucky. Some individuals who experience chronic cadmium poisoning develop lung or prostrate cancer, kidney damage, bone disease, pulmonary emphysema, anemia, teeth discoloration and, in severe cases, even death.

Just when you thought you'd safeguarded yourself from all things harmful, you're exposed to the secret, silent killer lurking around your home. So how, exactly, do you know if cadmium is a problem where you live? And what can you do to eliminate its threat?

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on April 30, 2008 (boomark / email).