Smoking

Cadmium has been shown to play a role in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in smokers. People who smoke, or who have smoked in the past, tend to carry a higher level of cadmium - often twice that carried by a non-smoker. This is due to the tobacco leaf's ability to accumulate high amounts of cadmium from the soil. When an individual smokes cigarettes, the cadmium in the tobacco is introduced into the smoker's body both by means of inhalation and ingestion. For someone who is working in an environment with cadmium exposure and who is also a heavy smoker, the risks of developing long-term health effects are increased.

To learn more about Cadmium Safety visit our Cadmium Safety Online Training web page.