Cadmium and Cd Compounds
Cadmium (Cd) is a soft, silver-white, low-melting-point metal. Cadmium is extracted mainly as a byproduct of the mining and processing of zinc, lead or copper. Cadmium has many uses in industry and consumer products, mainly in batteries, pigments, coatings and plating solutions, polymer stabilizers, metal alloys and semiconductors for solar cells. Due to its serious adverse effects on human health and the environment, cadmium is subject to multiple regulations at the state, federal, and international levels. In 2018, Massachusetts facilities subject to TURA reported the use of over 160,000 pounds of cadmium and cadmium compounds.
Cadmium and cadmium compounds were designated as Higher Hazard Substances under the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) in January 2008, which reduces the associated reporting thresholds to 1,000 pounds per year.
Information about Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds Prepared by the TURA Program
Content Category | Publication Type | Title | Year | Description |
Overview | Fact Sheet | Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds Fact Sheet | 2021 | TURI Chemical Fact Sheets describe the hazards, exposure routes, uses and alternatives, and regulatory context for selected chemicals. |
Policy | Policy Analysis | Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds Policy Analysis | 2007 | TURA Policy Analyses are developed as background for state-level decision-making. |
Alternatives | Presentation | Alternatives To Cadmium Plated Military Connectors and Fasteners | 2013 | Description of desirable and undesirable properties of a cadmium plated finish, as well as industry standard connector specifications and industry test data. |
Coatings | Presentation | Corrosion Protection for the DoD | 2004 | Discussion of the Department of Defense environmental coatings programs. |
Source | Title | Year | Description |
Federal resources | |||
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry | Toxicological Profile for Cadmium | 2019 | The ATSDR toxicological profile succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for the hazardous substance described. |
EPA Hazard Summary | Cadmium Compounds | Revised 2000 | Uses, sources, and exposures health hazards summary. |
OSHA | Cadmium health effects | Information on occupational exposure and health effects | |
State resources | |||
National Conference of State Legislators | Cadmium in children’s consumer products | 2014 | Review of federal and state legislation on the use of cadmium in children’s products. |
California OEHHA | Cadmium Fact Sheet | Overview of cadmium, its uses, health effects and legislative status. |