Dangers of Cadmium in Products

On January 29, 2010, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall for children’s necklaces due to high levels of cadmium. Since being barred from using lead in children’s toys, the Chinese are turning to cadmium. The results of lab tests performed on low-priced children’s jewelry indicated that some of the items had cadmium content of more than 10 percent of the total weight. Some were as much as 90 percent cadmium.


Cadmium is a transition metal and is commonly found in the ores of zinc. The most common use of cadmium in the United States is in the production of nicad, or rechargeable batteries. It can also be found in pigments, coatings and plating, manufacture of plastic products, and alloys. Low-cost jewelry makers find cadmium attractive because it is cheap and easy to work with.

People at the highest risk of health effects due to cadmium exposure are those who work directly with the metal. Manufacturing plants where batteries are made use a fine powder that can be easily ingested. Children can be exposed by sucking or biting jewelry made with the metal. Without direct exposure, most people do not experience its worst effects: cancer, kidneys that leak vital protein and bones that spontaneously snap. When ingested by young children, cadmium can cause brain damage and is a known carcinogen.

Symptoms of exposure to low levels of cadmium include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. When inhaled, cadmium dust can cause dryness of the throat, choking, headache, and pneumonia-like symptoms.

Other health effects that can be caused by cadmium are:


• Diarrhea, stomach pains and severe vomiting
• Bone fracture
• Reproductive failure and possibly even infertility
• Damage to the central nervous system
• Damage to the immune system
• Psychological disorders
• Possibly DNA damage or cancer development

For additional information about your recourse when you or a loved one has become ill from exposure to cadmium, please confer with an experienced Houston personal injury attorney.

Call the Wyly Law Firm at (713) 574-7034 or fill out our convenient online contact form for a free case evaluation!

These Hubs are provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Professional legal counsel should be sought for specific advice relevant to your circumstances.