Cadmium poisoning is an occupational hazard associated with industrial processes such as metal plating and the production of nickel-cadmium batteries, pigments, plastics, and other synthetics. The primary route of exposure in industrial settings is inhalation. Inhalation of cadmium-containing fumes can result initially in metal fume fever but may progress to chemical pneumonitis, pulmonary edema, and death. Read more here. |
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Despite the risks, manufacturers in factories ringing Yiwu on China’s east coast say their top priority is profit. So offering cut-rate goods often means using lower cost materials, including cadmium, which is known to cause cancer.