Cadmium Blood Test – Purpose, Normal Range, and Results

Overview

The Cadmium Blood Test measures the amount of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, present in the blood.
Cadmium is not naturally produced by the human body. It enters through environmental exposure — mainly via cigarette smoke, contaminated food, polluted air, or through industrial work environments such as battery manufacturing, welding, plastic, and paint industries.

This test is important because cadmium poisoning can cause serious kidney, lung, and bone damage, and even increase the risk of cancer. Measuring cadmium levels in the blood helps identify recent exposure and evaluate poisoning risk, especially in people working in high-risk areas or those with unexplained symptoms related to heavy metal toxicity.

Where It Is Found or Produced in the Body

Unlike essential minerals like iron or zinc, cadmium is not required by the human body.
It is purely a toxic substance absorbed from external sources. Once cadmium enters the body:

• It first travels through the bloodstream.
• Over time, it gets stored mainly in the kidneys and liver, where it can remain for many years.
• The body removes cadmium very slowly, so long-term exposure can lead to a build-up and chronic toxicity.

Main Functions and Importance of the Test

Since cadmium itself has no beneficial function, the importance of this test lies in its diagnostic and preventive value.

The Cadmium Blood Test helps in:

1. Detecting recent cadmium exposure (within the last few days or weeks).
2. Assessing the risk of cadmium poisoning and potential organ damage, especially to kidneys and lungs.
3. Monitoring workers exposed to cadmium in high-risk industries such as:
   • Battery production
   • Metal smelting and refining
   • Plastic or paint manufacturing
   • Welding and soldering work
4. Supporting the diagnosis of cadmium toxicity, often in combination with urine cadmium testing, which shows long-term accumulation.

Causes of Low or Undetectable Levels

Low or undetectable levels of cadmium are normal and healthy.
They usually indicate:

• No significant exposure to cadmium.
• Good environmental safety and absence of occupational hazards.

Healthy individuals who do not smoke or live in polluted environments typically have negligible cadmium in their blood.

Symptoms of Low Levels

Because cadmium is a toxic substance, low or zero levels cause no symptoms and are completely normal.
In fact, this is the ideal and safest state for the human body.

Causes of High Cadmium Levels

Elevated cadmium levels indicate recent or ongoing exposure to this harmful metal.
Common causes include:

1. Smoking:
   Cigarette smoke is one of the largest sources of cadmium exposure. Smokers often have two to three times higher cadmium levels than non-smokers.
2. Contaminated Food and Water:
   Cadmium can accumulate in:
   • Rice, seafood, shellfish, and leafy vegetables grown in polluted soil or irrigated with contaminated water.
   • Drinking water from old pipes or industrial waste areas.
3. Occupational Exposure:
   People working in certain industries are at higher risk:
   • Battery manufacturing
   • Smelting and metal refining
   • Plastic and pigment production
   • Paint or welding industries
4. Polluted Environments:
   Living near industrial zones or waste dumping sites increases inhalation or ingestion of cadmium particles.

Symptoms of High Levels (Cadmium Toxicity)

The signs and symptoms of cadmium poisoning depend on whether the exposure is short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic):

Short-Term (Acute) Exposure:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach pain and cramps
• Diarrhea
• Breathing difficulty or chest pain (if inhaled)
• Weakness and dizziness

Long-Term (Chronic) Exposure:

• Kidney damage (loss of filtering ability, protein in urine)
• Bone weakness – osteoporosis and increased risk of fractures
• Lung damage – persistent cough, breathlessness
• Fatigue and anemia
• Reproductive issues (in severe cases)

Severe or Prolonged Poisoning May Cause:

• Chronic lung disease (emphysema)
• Kidney failure
• Higher risk of lung, prostate, or kidney cancer

Cadmium poisoning is serious and requires prompt medical attention.

Reference Ranges

Reference ranges may vary slightly between laboratories, but generally accepted limits are:

Note: Smokers may naturally have slightly higher levels even without occupational exposure.

Sample Type and Test Method

• Sample Type: Venous blood sample (taken from a vein in the arm).
• Additional Tests: A Urine Cadmium Test is often performed alongside to assess long-term exposure, since urine reflects cadmium stored in the kidneys.
• Method Used: Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) or Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) — both are highly sensitive methods for detecting trace metals.

Test Preparation

• Usually, no special fasting or preparation is required.
• Inform your doctor about any vitamin, mineral, or herbal supplements you take.
• Avoid occupational exposure or smoking for at least 24 hours before the test, if possible, to get an accurate measurement.
• If you are being tested for workplace monitoring, follow your lab’s instructions strictly.

When to Consult a Doctor

You should talk to your doctor if you:

• Work in industries that use metals, batteries, or paints.
• Have symptoms like fatigue, bone pain, or frequent urination.
• Live near industrial or polluted zones.
• Are a regular smoker and experience breathing or kidney problems.

If test results show high cadmium levels, your doctor may:

• Recommend chelation therapy or other detoxification methods.
• Advise stopping exposure immediately.
• Monitor kidney and liver function regularly.
• Suggest dietary and lifestyle changes to prevent further toxicity.

Important Word Explanations

• Cadmium: A toxic heavy metal found in the environment; harmful to kidneys, bones, and lungs.
• µg/L (Microgram per Liter): A measurement unit for very small concentrations of substances in blood.
• Chelation Therapy: A treatment that removes heavy metals from the body using special medications.
• Toxicity: The degree to which a substance can harm living organisms.
• ICP-MS / AAS: Advanced laboratory methods used to measure metal levels in biological samples.

~END~