CADMIUM
        FACT SHEET ON A DRINKING WATER CHEMICAL CONTAMINANT
GENERAL INFORMATION

Synonyms
• None

Chemical Description:
• Naturally occurring element (transition metal)
  found in most rock. coal, and lead or zinc ores
  as various salts

Properties:
• Elemental form is insoluble in water
• Solubility  of  cadmium  salts  is  compound
  specific

Production and Use:
• Commercially obtained as a byproduct during
  the processing of zinc-bearing ores
• Used  in  the manufacturing  of batteries,
  stabilizers,  pigments,  metal  alloys,  and
  electroplating for corrosion resistance

ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE

Occurrence:
• Naturally  occurring in  water supplies  from
  erosion of mineral deposits at levels in the
  range of 0 001 -0 01 mg/L
• Naturally  occurring   in  soil,  and as   a
  consequence, in food
• Occurs as a byproduct of corrosion of some
  galvanized plumbing and  distribution system
  materials

Releases:
• Enters the  environment  primarily  through
  industrial effluents and landfill leaching
• Can enter surface waters from natural sources
  and   from   a   variety  of  manufacturing
  operations that involve cadmium  or zinc that
  contains a cadmium impurity

Environmental Fate:
• Highly persistent in  water
• High potential for bioaccumulation, especially
  fish and other aquatic organisms
• Persistent in  many tissues such as  muscles.
  kidneys, and liver
HEALTH EFFECTS

Humans:
• Symptoms  of  acute  oral  toxicity include
  nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscular cramps.
  salivation, sensory  disturbances, liver  miury,
  convulsions,  shock, and/or renal failure and
  cardiopulmonary depression
• Long-term oie.il exposure to high  levels  of
  c.C'v'mium iiRiy  result  in  damage to  the
  kidneys, livoi, bones, and blood

Experimental Animals:
• Short-term, high-dose oral exposures to various
  cadmium compounds resulted in damage to
  the nervous system, kidney, liver, bone,  blood
  formation system, cardiovascular system
• Long-term, high-dose exposures by drinking
  water had adverse effects upon functions of
  the liver and kidneys
• High oral doses of cadmium had detrimental
  reproductive and teratogenic effects on rars
• Equivocal evidence of mutagenic potential
• Carcinogenic  via   inhalation,  but limited
  evidence of carcinogenicity following chronic
  oral exposure

REGULATORY HISTORY

Existing Standards:
  •Clean Air Act (CAA): Not regulated
  •Clean Water Act (CWA):
     Criteria established
  •Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
    (RCRA):
     Not regulated
  •Supeifund (CERCLA):
     • Hazardous waste
     •SARA: Toxic substance
  •Federal  Insecticide,  Fungicide,   and
    Rodentlclde Act (FIFRA):
     Registered (Cadmium compounds)
  •Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA):
     Not regulated

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HEALTH INFORMATION
Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLG):
• Non-enforceable levels based solely on an
evaluation of possible health risks and
exposure, and taking into consideration a
margin for public safety
• Set at 0 005 mg/L to protect against kidney
and liver damage
MCLG for Cadmium = 0.005 mgIL
(sffectlv. July 1992)
Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL):
• Legally enforceable levels for contaminants in
public drinking water supplies
• Based on health risks associated with the
contaminants, analytical methods for their
assay, and water treatment feasibility and
practicality aspects
• Exceedance of the MCI in drinking water may
result in adverse effects which will depend
upon the contaminant concentration in water.
amount of water/contaminant ingested,
length of exposure, and other biological
parameters
• Current MCI = 001 mg/I
MCL for Cadmium = 0.005 rng/L
(sff.ctlve July 1992)
EPA Health Advisories (HA):
• Short-term HAs: Provide acceptable
concentrations of contaminants in water for
up to 10 day exposures, primarily to evaluate
the public health risk resulting from an
accidental spill or an emergency
contamination situation
• Longer-term HAs:
persistent water contamination
cover a period of up to 7 years
• Ufetime HAs: Derived in the same way as an
MCLG
Health Advisories :
WATER TREATMENT
Permanent Trealyn.nt:
Best Available Technology (BAT):
• Coagulation/Filtration
• Lime Softening
• Reverse Osmosis
• Ion Exchange
SHORT-TERM HAZARD ELIMINATION
• If the drinking water standards are exceeded,
install BAT or use an alternative drinking water
supply such as bottled water
ADDITIONAL HELP
• State or county health officials can indicate a
certified laboratory for testing
• Experts in the state Department of
Environmental Protection or Natural Resources
may also be of help
• The EPA has toll-free numbers for further
information on drinking water quality,
treatment technologies, for obtaining Health
Advisories, and for other regulatory information
• EPA Hotlines are available Monday through
Friday
‘Sate Drinking Water 800.426.4791
•Natlonal Pesticides: 800-858-7378
• Supesfund/RCRA: 800-424-9346
• For information on the Clean Water Act, call
(202) 260-7301
• For information on the Toxic Substances
Control Act, call (202) 554-1404
• For information on the Clean Air Ac?. call
(919) 541-2777
Short-term HA to, a child = 0.04 mg/L
Longer-term HA for a chfld = 0.005 mg/L
Longer-term HA for an adult 0.02 mgIL
Lifetime HA 0.005 rnglL
ANALYTICAL METHODS
Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorbtion
EPA Method 2132
• Inductively Coupled Plasma
EPA Method 200 7A
Provide guidance for
situations to

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