Cadmium

(in 6 products)

Banned by Gov or classified as a carcinogen by IARC

1. Colorant - Pigments or dyes that are added in order to change or enhance the color.

2. Contaminant / Impurity - Unintended/unwanted by-product

Cadmium is an element with atomic symbol Cd, atomic number 48, and atomic weight 112.4.

Cadmium is a soft, malleable, ductile, bluish-white metal, was discovered in Germany in 1817, and Germany remained the only important producer for 100 years. Currently, a large percentage of global cadmium metal production takes place in Asia. Cadmium is generally recovered as a byproduct from zinc concentrates. Zinc -to- cadmium ratios in typical zinc ores range from 200:1 to 400:1. Sphalerite (ZnS), the most economically significant zinc mineral, commonly contains minor amounts of other elements; cadmium , which shares certain similar chemical properties with zinc , will often substitute for zinc in the sphalerite crystal lattice. The cadmium mineral, greenockite (CdS), is frequently associated with weathered sphalerites and wurtzites [(Zn, Fe)S], but usually at microscopic levels. A significant amount of cadmium is also recovered from spent nickel cadmium batteries. Cadmium is primarily consumed for the production of rechargeable nickel cadmium batteries; other end uses include pigments, coatings and plating, and as stabilizers for plastics. Solar cell manufacturing may become another significant market for cadmium in the future. Cadmium telluride thin-film photovoltaics are an alternative to the traditional silicon -based solar cells and are a preferred photovoltaic technology for commercial rooftop applications and for large-scale, ground-mounted utility systems.

This substance has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

In 2015-2016, the Hong Kong Consumer Council detected "a sample of organic carrots [containing] the heavy metal Cadmium at a level close to the legal limit". In 2020-2021, it stated that "Cadmium, known to cause chronic poisoning with excessive intake, was detected in 90% of the sardine samples and 60% of the tuna samples".

1. PubChem: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/23973

1. WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Group 1 [2018]

- Cadmium and cadmium compounds

2. EU CosIng Annex II, SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED IN COSMETIC PRODUCTS [2017]

- Ref: II/68

3. CANADA INGREDIENT HOTLIST, List of Ingredients that are Prohibited for Use in Cosmetic Products [2019]

- Cadmium and its compounds

4. Association of Southeast Asian Nations Annex II, Prohibited

- Cadmium and its compounds

5. South Korea - Ministry of Food and Drug Safety - Prohibited/Restricted Chemicals

- Ref: 543

6. US California Proposition 65, Chemicals known to the State to Cause Cancer

- Cadmium and cadmium compounds

7. US California Proposition 65, Chemicals known to the State to Cause Developmental or Reproductive Toxicity in Males

- Cadmium

8. US Environmental Protection Agency Chemicals Known to Cause Cancer

- Cadmium

9. US National Toxicology Program (NTP) Report on Carcinogens

- Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds

10. US CARB Identified Toxic Air Contaminants

- Cadmium (metallic cadmium and cadmium compounds)

11. Hong Kong Consumer Council 2015-2016 Annual Report

- Report: Improving Product Quality and Safety, p24

12. Hong Kong Consumer Council 2020-2021 Annual Report

- Report: Improving Product Quality and Safety, p31