Is cadmium harmful to human body?

Cadmium is an element like zinc that exists in nature. There is also some cadmium in the air, but the content is very small. We have heard of "cadmium rice" before. It is a substance that is harmful to the human body. Cadmium not only exists in the air, but also in the soil. It's just that the amount is very small and has no effect on our body. However, excessive intake will be harmful to the human body. Let us learn about it below.

1. Cadmium that enters the human body forms cadmium-sulfur protein in the body, reaches the whole body through the blood, and selectively accumulates in the kidneys and liver. The kidneys can accumulate one-third of the absorbed amount and are the target organ of cadmium poisoning.

2. In addition, there is also a certain accumulation in the spleen, pancreas, thyroid gland, testicles and hair. Cadmium is mainly excreted through feces, and a small amount is also excreted through urine. The cadmium content in the blood of normal people is very low. It will increase after exposure to cadmium, but will quickly return to normal after stopping exposure. Cadmium combines with protein molecules containing hydroxyl, amino, and thiol groups, which can inhibit many enzyme systems and thus affect the normal function of the enzyme systems in the liver and kidneys.

3. Cadmium can also damage the renal tubules, causing symptoms such as diabetes, proteinuria and aminoaciduria, and increase the excretion of urinary calcium and uric acid. Renal insufficiency will affect the activity of vitamin D3, hindering the growth metabolism of bones, thereby causing bone porous, atrophy, deformation, etc. Chronic cadmium poisoning mainly affects the kidneys. The most typical example is Japan's famous pollution-related disease - Itai-itai disease. Chronic cadmium poisoning can also cause anemia.

4. Acute cadmium poisoning is mostly caused by inhaling or ingesting large amounts of cadmium compounds at one time in a production environment. In large doses, cadmium is a strong local irritant. Cadmium-containing gas passing through the respiratory tract can cause respiratory irritation symptoms, such as pneumonia, pulmonary edema, and difficulty breathing. When cadmium enters the human body through the digestive tract, it will cause symptoms such as vomiting, gastrointestinal cramps, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and may even lead to death from hepatorenal syndrome.

5. Animal experiments and epidemiological surveys of the population have shown that cadmium can also cause chromosomal abnormalities in warm-blooded animals and humans. The teratogenic and carcinogenic effects of cadmium (mainly causing prostate cancer) have also been confirmed by animal experiments, but have not yet been confirmed by epidemiological survey materials in the human population.

Through the above introduction, we now know that cadmium is harmful to the human body. In normal times, we must pay attention to prevent excessive intake of cadmium. If too much is consumed, it must be adjusted in the usual diet. Generally, it can be done by supplementing zinc or copper. In addition, we must also pay attention to the occurrence of cadmium poisoning. If poisoning occurs, go to the hospital for treatment in time.