"Cadmium is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant with toxic properties that gives cause for concern over its potential contamination of and accumulation in the nation's food supply. Major pollution sources of cadmium are alkali storage battery manufacturing plants (1), electroplating facilities (2), and smelting operations (3). Cadmium poisoning, when it occurs, is usually regarded as an occupational problem. Numerous symptoms of cadmiosis have been reported among industrial workers (3-6), but anemia (7) and renal tubular dysfunction (8) appear to be the most commonly described symptoms of chronic exposure to relatively high levels of cadmium. The toxicology of cadmium and its inorganic compounds have been well documented and reviewed (3, 6). Whereas the U.S. general population is exposed to low concentrations of cadmium, primarily from dietary sources, no evidence of long term (chronic) ill effects attributable to such sources can be found. Nevertheless, there is global awareness of the subtle toxic effects of this element and the need to minimize its contribution to the human diet"--Introduction.

Technical Memorandum