A reminder About Cadmium

[AweMan]

For those of us whom occasionally use heat for various projects.
Many bolts, nuts and washers are coated with cadmium, Cadmium is a carcinogenic! {cancer causing agent}
We MUST take extreme caution when using any type of heat source on bolts, nuts and washers in the process of working on our cars and other home projects.
If heating a bolt,nut or washer is a must do situation, make absolutely sure you are up wind {and I mean literally} Use a fan to blow the fumes away from you and or anyone in the immediate area. DO NOT heat cadmium coated items in ANY enclosed area!
Cadmium coating comes in several different colors, the three most common for bolts, nuts and washers are black, silver and gold,
Sanding or grinding cadmium coatings off is NOT an option! At the molecular level it still remains in the pores of the parent metal. The grinding/sanding process produces cadmium dust that is just as if not more dangerous than the fumes themselves.
We all know how dangerous lead fumes are ..... cadmium is WORSE!
Thank you for your attention and may we all live long prosperous lives!

 

[Basil]

Very good reminder. I'm going to move this to Car Care and leave a link here.

 

[foxtrapper]

Cadmium is a carcinogenic! {cancer causing agent}

Cadmium is *suspected* of being a carcinogen. It is *suspected* of being carcinogenic.

There is no definitive proof of it being cancerous. Nor have any of the epidimialogical or toxicological bodies released a statement declaring it such. ACGIH classifies it as an A2, a suspected human carcinogen. EPA classifies it as a suspected human carcinogen. Etc.

If you really wish to worry about exposure to cadmium, worry about the kidney damage it does in short order.

The same basic precautions would apply, but for fare more immediate reasons.

 

[AweMan]

Although normally I`m not one to disagree with anyone and their opinion, here are the facts about cadmium if you care to have a look see. It appears the D.H.H.S. disagrees with you about cadmium not being a carcinogen.
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts5.html#bookmark06
The people on this forum are much too important to me to not inform them with all the hazards involved when working with cadmium coated objects.

 

[foxtrapper]

You should read the actual study report itself.

https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp5.pdf

Go to section 3.2.1.7 Cancer. That sections not long, only about 5 pages of text. There are some notable highlights.

"The results of these [cancer] studies are conflicting and the carcinogenicity of cadmium has not been unequivocally established."

"However, no clear relationships between level and duration of cadmium exposure and lung cancer risk have been established and many of these studies did not account for confounding exposure to other carcinogenic metals (particularly arsenic and nickel) and cigarette smoking."

"However, no relationship between cumulative cadmium exposure and lung cancer deaths was found, suggesting that cadmium was not the causative agent."

"The available data provide inconclusive evidence on the potential of cadmium to induce lung cancer in humans."

You would also do well to read the IARC Monograph of cadmium and cadmium compounds.

https://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol58/mono58-7.pdf

You will find the same insubstantial evidence that cadmium is definitively a carcinogen.

 

[AweMan]

The two studies you post are somewhat dated. The first being over ten years old. The second, going on 23 years old.
Although dated itself, here is another contradictory study affirming cadmium as a Carcinogen.

https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/eleventh/profiles/s028cadm.pdf
and another one
https://www.nrel.gov/pv/cdte/cadmium_facts.html
and yet one more
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium_poisoning
last but not least, here is an article dated 2010, yet again affirming cadmium as a carcinogen
https://www.theledger.com/article/20100110/news/1105058
We could go on arguing about the substantive nature of Cadmium all day, the point was and still is Irregardless of ones position on Cadmium, the fact still remains that it is hazardous to our health and should be treated as such.
My original point was to inform and remind everyone that this substance is dangerous and should be treated accordingly and not to get into a pissing contest weather or not it is carcinogenic!

 

[Bruce Bowker]

I have always thought being born was hazardous to ones health from then on.

 

[ecurie_ecosse]

Apparently cadmium has shown up in some children's jewellery.
Walmart has pulled the trinkets for the reason mentioned.
It isn't healthy,and is as bad,if not worse than lead.

Stuart.

 

[foxtrapper]

The two studies you post are somewhat dated.

It's the basis for your claim. It's the fundamental document of what you referenced.

Strawman tactic Aweman, strawman tactic.

Since cancer studies are based on 40-70 year spans, they do tend to be pretty slow and long. They aren't cheap and they aren't done a weekly basis.

 

[JPSmit]

Guys, I've done a ton of woodworking in my time - most of it without mask. I now realize that was not very smart.

Debate all you want but I am grateful for reminders to be careful/ wear mask/ eye protection/ well ventilated etc. etc. - especially for things I don't know much about - like Cadmium - but mostly about things I do without thinking or take for granted. So, I appreciate the caution whether because it's a liver issue or a cancer issue or just because it's smarter not to inhale it than it is to inhale it.

I have no wish or desire to live in a world where I am frightened of everything - and I don't, but, to this reader anyway prudent warnings are always welcomed.

 

[AweMan]

The two studies you post are somewhat dated.

It's the basis for your claim. It's the fundamental document of what you referenced.

Strawman tactic Aweman, strawman tactic.

Since cancer studies are based on 40-70 year spans, they do tend to be pretty slow and long. They aren't cheap and they aren't done a weekly basis.

"<span style="font-weight: bold">Strawman tactic Aweman, strawman tactic.</span>"

Because I choose to put my faith in the latest studies? Strawman tactics indeed!

A naturally present white metal, cadmium already is listed in the federal Report on Human Carcinogens as a "known human carcinogen" and has long been known to cause human lung cancer in cadmium-related industry if safeguards are not taken. The new studies, in yeast and human cells, are intended to show how this happens.

Soon after the discovery of the DNA double helix 50 years ago, studies showed environmental chemicals and stresses could cause mutations in the DNA that could result in uncontrolled cell growth, leading to cancer. But the NIEHS group's new contribution is to show that cadmium causes mutations in another way – by inhibiting the ability of cells to repair routine errors made when the DNA is copied to make new cells.

Without the repairs, cells mutate "dramatically" and multiply.

Read the article for yourself here
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/06/030609010937.htm

Believe what you choose, MOX NIX to me!

Only a fool would be led astray by not having a complete picture of ALL of the available information.

 

[bgbassplyr]

Right, wrong, or indifferent, this is just one of the reasons that I just treated myself to a new Supplied Air System. Tight fitting full face mask with air supplied at about 6 psi from remote source. Good air, eye protection, etc. Also got an auto darkening welding mask to prevent breathing fumes from the welding process.

 

[Popeye]

Kidney damange, arguable carcinogenic - enough for me. Thank you Aweman/Kerry.