Chemical Sampling Information
	Cadmium
Quick Links General Description Exposure Limits Health Factors Monitoring Search    [use word(s)/phrase ] Table of Contents By Name A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z By CAS Number General Description Synonyms: Cadmium metal: Cadmium dust (as Cd); Other synonyms vary depending upon the specific cadmium compound. OSHA IMIS Code Number: C141 Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 7440-43-9 (metal) NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: EU9800000 (metal) Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 2570 154 (cadmium compound) [27 KB, PDF] NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Cadmium dust (as Cd): chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more Exposure Limits OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1027 - Cadmium (Federal Register 57 (178) 42388-9 Sep 14, 1992) 29 CFR 1926.63 (Federal Register 57 (178) 42452-3 Sep 14, 1992) -- 5 µg/m3 TWA; 2.5 µg/m3 Action Level. SECALS [29 CFR 1910.1027 (FR 57 (178) 42390 Sep 14, 1992)] Separate Engineering Control Airborne Limits (SECALs) for Processes in Selected Industries Industry Process SECAL (µg/m3) Nickel Cadmium Battery Plate making, plate preparation All other processes 50 15 Zinc/Cadmium Refining* Cadmium refining, casting, melting, oxide production, sinter plant 50 Pigment Manufacture Calcine, crushing, milling, blending All other processes 50 15 Stabilizers* Cadmium oxide charging, crushing, drying, blending 50 Lead Smelting* Sinter plant, blast furnace, baghouse, yard area 50 Plating* Mechanical plating 15 *processes in these industries that are not specified in this table must achieve the PEL using engineering controls and work practices as required in f(1)(i) OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.1127 - Cadmium -- 5 µg/m3 TWA; 2.5 µg/m3 Action Level OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1027 -- Cadmium requirements identical to 1910.1027 American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 0.01 mg/m3 TWA; 0.002 mg/m3 - Respirable Fraction (see Appendix C, paragraph C) TWA; Appendix A2 - Suspected Human Carcinogen; BEI (TLV listed under Cadmium and Compounds, as Cd) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): Appendix A - NIOSH Potential Occupational Carcinogens; (REL applies to all Cadmium compounds (as Cd)) Health Factors National Toxicology Program (NTP) carcinogenic classification: Known to be a Human Carcinogen [150 KB, PDF] International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenic classification: Group 1, Carcinogenic to humans. [62 KB, PDF] Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carcinogenic classification: Group B1, Probable human carcinogen. NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 9 mg Cd/m3 Potential symptoms: Pulmonary edema; dyspnea, cough, chest tightness, substernal pain; headache; chills, muscle aches; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; anosmia (loss of the sense of smell); emphysema; proteinuria; mild anemia; increased fragility of bones; [potential occupational carcinogen]; INGES ACUTE: Increased salivation, choking, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, kidney malfunction; persistent urge to urinate. Health Effects: Lung and possible prostate cancer (HE1); Cumulative kidney and bone damage---Itai-itai disease (HE3); Cumulative lung damage---Pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema (HE10) Affected organs: Respiratory system, kidneys, prostate, blood, bone Notes: Cadmium is an OSHA-regulated carcinogen (29 CFR 1910.1027). Anemia is thought to be caused by decreased production of erythropoietin due to cadmium-induced kidney damage. EPA’s oral reference dose (daily oral exposure likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime) for cadmium in water is 0.0005 mg/kg/day and in food is 0.001 mg/kg/day. Cadmium accumulates in bone, where it may promote demineralization and lead to osteomalacia and osteoporosis. Date Last Revised: 04/27/2006 Literature Basis: NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Cadmium dust (as Cd). International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Cadmium. U.S. EPA Integrated Risk Information System: Cadmium (CASRN 7440-43-9). Bar-Sela, S., Levy, M., Westin, J.B., Laster, R. and Richter, E.D.: Medical findings in nickel-cadmium battery workers. Isr. J. Med. Sci. 28(8-9): 578-583, 1992. Horiguchi, H., et al.: Hypoproduction of erythropoietin contributes to anemia in chronic cadmium intoxication: clinical study on Itai-itai disease in Japan. Arch. Toxicol. 68(10): 632-636, 1994. Järup, L.: Cadmium overload and toxicity. Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. 17(Suppl.): 35-39, 2002. No authors listed: Cadmium (CAS No. 7440-43-9) and Cadmium Compounds. Report on Carcinogens, Eleventh Edition; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program, 2005. [150 KB, PDF] Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Cadmium. In, Sittig’s Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 433-436. Rydzewski, B., Sulkowski, W. and Miarzynska, M.: Olfactory disorders induced by cadmium exposure: a clinical study. Int. J. Occup. Med. Environ. Health 11(3): 235-245, 1998. Sahmoun, A.E., Case, L.D., Jackson, S.A. and Schwartz, G.G.: Cadmium and prostate cancer: a critical epidemiologic analysis. Cancer Invest. 23(3): 256-263, 2005. Monitoring Methods used by OSHA Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method: sampling media: Mixed Cellulose Ester Filter (MCEF) 0.8 microns maximum volume: 960 Liters   minimum volume: 480 Liters   maximum flow rate: 2.0 L/min TWA current analytical method: Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; AAS, AAS/GF method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA ID-189) method classification: Fully Validated alternate analytical method: Inductively Coupled Plasma; ICP/AAS/GF method reference: OSHA Analytical Methods (OSHA ID-125G, OSHA ID-206 & OSHA ID-189) method classification: Fully Validated note: If the filter is not overloaded, samples should be collected up to an 8-hour period or for the duration of the cadmium exposure. All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine at 202-693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.