Cadmium Exposure on Skin: Occupational Context
Cadmium is not typically absorbed through intact skin in occupational settings; the primary routes of occupational cadmium exposure are inhalation of fumes and dust, with secondary ingestion through contaminated hands. 1, 2
Primary Routes of Occupational Cadmium Exposure
Inhalation (Dominant Route)
- Respiratory absorption accounts for 13-19% of inhaled cadmium from air, making this the most clinically significant exposure pathway in occupational settings 3
- Inhalation of cadmium oxide fumes can cause acute toxicity including inhalation fevers or chemical pneumonitis 2
- Workers in battery production, welding, metal plating, and paint/pigment industries face the highest inhalation risks 2, 4
Oral/Ingestion (Secondary Route)
- Approximately 10-44% of ingested cadmium is absorbed through the digestive system 3
- In occupational settings, this occurs when airborne dust is mixed with saliva and swallowed, or through hand-to-mouth contact with contaminated surfaces 3
- For non-occupational, non-smoking populations, dietary intake is the sole exposure source 3
Dermal Exposure Considerations
Skin contact with cadmium-containing materials does not represent a significant absorption pathway based on the established toxicological literature. The guidelines and research consistently identify only two routes:
- Respiratory system (primary occupational route) 1, 2, 3
- Gastrointestinal tract (environmental/dietary route, or secondary occupational via contaminated hands) 3
Clinical Implications
- Workers handling cadmium compounds in battery production (80% of industrial use), pigments (10%), or electroplating should focus protective measures on respiratory protection and hand hygiene 2, 4
- Biological monitoring through urinary cadmium levels remains the most relevant exposure biomarker, regardless of contact route 5, 2
- Blood cadmium levels accumulate to 0.0052 ppm, with tissue deposition primarily in kidneys, liver, muscles (0.14-3.2 ppm), and bones (1.8 ppm) 3
High-Risk Occupational Settings
Workers at increased risk include those in: 1, 2, 4
- Battery manufacturing facilities (nickel-cadmium batteries)
- Metal working with heat exposure from furnaces
- Welding operations (cadmium in welding rods)
- Construction work with cement handling
- Paint and plastic pigment production
Biological Half-Life and Monitoring
- Cadmium has an exceptionally long biological half-life of 16-30 years (average 20-40 years), making prevention of initial exposure critical 2, 3
- Medical surveillance should include urinary cadmium measurements as the primary biomarker 5, 2
- Blood cadmium and beta-2-microglobulin in urine provide additional monitoring parameters 5