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 ------- 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 ------- |