Baby Safety / Compounds / Cadmium

Is Cadmium safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

Infants are extremely vulnerable to Cadmium due to immature blood-brain barrier, higher gastrointestinal absorption rates (40-50% vs 3-10% in adults), and rapidly developing neurology. Even trace exposure can cause irreversible neurodevelopmental harm.

What is cadmium?

Also known as: Cadmium, elemental, Colloidal cadmium, Kadmium, Cadmium metal.

IUPAC name
cadmium
CAS number
7440-43-9
Molecular formula
Cd
Molecular weight
112.41 g/mol
SMILES
[Cd]
PubChem CID
23973

Risk for babies

High risk

Infants are extremely vulnerable to Cadmium due to immature blood-brain barrier, higher gastrointestinal absorption rates (40-50% vs 3-10% in adults), and rapidly developing neurology. Even trace exposure can cause irreversible neurodevelopmental harm.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

High risk

Placental transfer; fetal kidney development; cord blood cadmium predicts child kidney function.

Regulatory consensus

10 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Cadmium. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC2012Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans)Lung cancer (inhalation); kidney and bladder cancer; Monograph 100C
US EPA2012Likely to be carcinogenic to humansInhalation; lung cancer; oral exposure probable
EPA CTX / NIOSH—potential occupational carcinogen
EPA CTX / IRIS—B1 (Probable human carcinogen - based on limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans)
EPA CTX / NTP RoC—Known Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 1 - Carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / Health Canada—Group II: CEPA (probably carcinogenic to humans)
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Group B1 Probable Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (single report) (Ames: None, 1 positive / 0 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (single report) (Ames: None, 1 positive / 0 negative reports)

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter cadmium

  • Food — Shellfish and mollusks, Organ meats (liver, kidney), Grains and vegetables from contaminated soil
    Cadmium bioaccumulates in aquatic organisms; kidney and liver are primary accumulation sites in animals
  • Drinking Water — Groundwater near mining or industrial sites, Tap water from corroded galvanized pipes
    EPA maximum contaminant level is 5 μg/L; corrosion of old plumbing can leach cadmium
  • Consumer Products — Rechargeable batteries (Ni-Cd batteries), Pigments in paints and ceramics, Metal-plated jewelry and accessories
    Primarily historical use; many products phased out; continued exposure through worn or damaged items
  • Occupational Settings — Metal smelting and refining facilities, Battery manufacturing plants, Welding fumes from cadmium-containing alloys
    Workers at highest exposure risk; OSHA action level is 5 μg/m³ over 8-hour shift
  • Environmental/Soil — Agricultural soil near smelters or waste disposal sites, Urban soil in industrial areas, Contaminated sediments in waterways
    Cadmium persists in environment; uptake by crops is primary dietary exposure pathway

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Cadmium:

  • Process controls to minimize degradant formation
    Trade-offs: Additional manufacturing cost
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is cadmium safe for kids?

Infants are extremely vulnerable to Cadmium due to immature blood-brain barrier, higher gastrointestinal absorption rates (40-50% vs 3-10% in adults), and rapidly developing neurology. Even trace exposure can cause irreversible neurodevelopmental harm.

What products contain cadmium?

Cadmium appears in: Shellfish and mollusks (Food); Organ meats (liver, kidney) (Food); Groundwater near mining or industrial sites (Drinking water); Tap water from corroded galvanized pipes (Drinking water); Rechargeable batteries (Ni-Cd batteries) (Consumer products).

What should I do if my child is exposed to cadmium?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Why do regulators disagree about cadmium?

Cadmium has been classified by 10 agencies including IARC, US EPA, EPA CTX / NIOSH, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / NTP RoC, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.

See Cadmium in the baby app

Look up products containing cadmium, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 100C: Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds (2012) — regulatory
  2. US EPA IRIS Assessment: Cadmium (2012) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →