Humans normally absorb cadmium into the body either by ingestion or inhalation Dermal exposure (uptake through the skin) is generally not regarded to be of significance (Lauwerys 1988). It is widely accepted (WHO 1992, ATSDR 1997) that approximately 2% to 6% of the cadmium ingested is actually taken up into the body.

Cadmium and its compounds are highly toxic and exposure to this metal is known to cause cancer and targets the body’s cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, neurological, reproductive, and respiratory systems.

Sources of cadmium It is most often found in small quantities in zinc ores, such as sphalerite (ZnS). Cadmium mineral deposits are found in Colorado, Illinois, Missouri, Washington and Utah, as well as Bolivia, Guatemala, Hungary and Kazakhstan.

The food groups that contribute most of the dietary cadmium exposure are cereals and cereal products, vegetables, nuts and pulses, starchy roots or potatoes, and meat and meat products. Due to their high consumption of cereals, nuts, oilseeds and pulses, vegetarians have a higher dietary exposure.

Suggestions to reduce the risk of exposure to cadmium include:

1. Stop smoking.
2. Try to avoid inhaling other people’s cigarette smoke.
3. Eat a healthy balanced diet with only moderate amounts of shellfish and organ meats.

1. There is no specific antidote for acute cadmium poisoning.
2. Prevention of further exposure is the most important step in management of patients with symptoms suggestive of chronic cadmium intoxication.

Cadmium toxicity occurs when a person breathes in high levels of cadmium from the air, or eats food or drinks water containing high levels of cadmium. Cadmium is a naturally occurring metal. It is usually present in the environment as a mineral combined with other elements like oxygen, chlorine, or sulfur.

Due to its low permissible exposure in humans, overexposure may occur even in situations where trace quantities of cadmium are found. Cadmium is used extensively in electroplating, although the nature of the operation does not generally lead to overexposure….

Cadmium is used for many items, including electroplating, storage batteries, vapor lamps and in some solders. The onset of symptoms may be delayed for two to four hours after exposure. Overexposure may cause fatigue, headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and fever.

A person may be able to reduce the levels of heavy metals in their body more gradually by making changes to their diet. Certain foods, such as spirulina and cilantro, may help transport excess heavy metals out of the body.

Analysis done for the nonprofit Center for Environmental Health revealed some jewelry sold with women’s dresses and shirts was nearly pure cadmium, which can cause cancer and reproductive harm after prolonged exposure. …

Researchers bought jewelry from retailers including Ross, Nordstrom Rack and Papaya, and had it tested. The report says several adult jewelry items tested positive for cadmium. Cadmium is a toxic metal that damages the kidneys and bones over time, and can cause cancer and reproductive problems.

There is no simple way to tell if jewelry contains cadmium or not just by looking at it. Buying jewelry that is made locally or its metal content verified by the retailer can reduce the risk of cadmium exposure.

Safer Jewelry Materials

• 100 percent gold.
• 100 percent sterling silver.
• Vermeil: a specific type of plating using gold and silver metals only.
• Non-metal materials like thread, macramé, and fabric.
• Surgical implant grade stainless steel (note that this is not the same as less-regulated “surgical grade”)

It has a natural gray-white luster. It doesn’t tarnish or need to be rhodium plated, so there it is low maintenance. Palladium is a platinum group metal and is 95% pure. Palladium also is hypoallergenic, so it will not cause allergic reactions that may be experienced by other types of ring metals.

To summarize, stainless steel offers enhanced durability and a longer lifespan than sterling silver due to its inherent corrosion and scratch-resistance. This makes it better for everyday use, especially for jewellery.

Stainless Steel (non magnetic)

It is truly the most ideal metal for many applications. ‘New’ products made from stainless steel already contain about 60% recycled materials, making stainless one of the most sustainable metals around. This fact alone makes stainless steel one of the most valuable commodities in the metal market.

Steel is the most recycled material on the planet. When stainless steel is recycled and melted down, these valuable alloys are able to be extracted and reused with no degradation in performance from product to product. In fact, the vast majority of stainless steel is manufactured using previously recycled materials.

To have a sustainable tomorrow, we need to use metals that are clean, durable and recyclable today. Stainless Steel is non-degradable and 100% recyclable. Therefore, it is recycled to produce more steel and this process goes on indefinitely.

Stainless steel is a green product. It is 100% recyclable, as it is not coated with any toxic material it does not produce toxic run-off. Its impact on the environment is minimal when compared to other materials and its life impact reduces significantly as it used and recycled.

Demand stays high because recycled stainless scrap comprises up to 60% of new stainless steel (source). In fact, you can make “new stainless” from 100% recycled scrap. But there is rarely enough scrap to use because stainless steel is so durable.