Cadmium is an environmental chemical that is found in the Earth's crust, naturally. Cadmium is formed as a mineral; Cadmium Oxide, Cadmium Chloride, and Cadmium Sulphate. These minerals are known to be toxic to humans and the environment. Since it is present in rocks it is less harmful, it is commonly found in soil and coal, even though toxic it is found in batteries, plastics, and metal coatings.
How is this environmental chemical related to biological interaction? There a few ways that it can be connected to biological interaction. Cadmium can get into to the environment, plants and animals can pick up Cadmium and can be taken in by humans.
Cadmium can get into the environment by the use of landfills, hazardous waste leaks, and poor waste disposal methods. It can also be released into the environment by working mines and other industrial activities including factories that produce batteries, plastics, and metal coatings. Another way that Cadmium is released into the environment is when coal is burned and used for energy and the burning of household waste. Cadmium can be discharged into the sea and ocean causing shellfish to accumulate Cadmium, whihc in turn will put it into a human body. Whenever Cadmium is present in the envirnoment animals and plants can take Cadmium in.
If Cadmium were ever to be consumed by humans the potential for complications is great. Consuming Cadmium can lead to irration of the digestive system and can cause vomitting, just to name a few of the complications that can arise. There is also a risk to your health if a human were to ever inhale Cadmium it can cause damage to the person's lung(s). Even low levels of Cadmium can be tough to get rid off, accumulated Cadmium can cause bone and kidney disease. Human intake of Cadmium can be from:
~welding and battery factories, inhaling by power stations burning fossil fuels, eating foods such as shellfish and liver, drinking water that is contaminated, and by smoking cigarettes.
Even though it occurs naturally in our envirnoment it is still toxic to the health of humans and animals that surround the envirnoment. As I see it, this element is NOT able to be "greenified" or become one that can be used and have its toxins limited.
http://www.planetagenda.com/chemicals.htm
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