[NPMUG] Computer "E-Waste" story #1 - Cadmium

[Dave Sevick]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium  ( the following are excepts from  
the site .... )

Cadmium (pronounced /ˈkædmiəm/) is a chemical element with the  
symbol Cd and atomic number 48. A relatively abundant (price 3.55 USD/ 
lb as of 2008-02-15), soft, bluish-white, transition metal, cadmium is  
known to cause cancer and occurs with zinc ores. Cadmium is used  
largely in batteries and pigments, for example in plastic products.

Toxicity

Main article: Cadmium poisoning
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.[12]
Cadmium is also a potential environmental hazard. Human exposures to  
environmental cadmium are primarily the result of the burning of  
fossil fuels and municipal wastes.[13] However, there have been  
notable instances of toxicity as the result of long-term exposure to  
cadmium in contaminated food and water. In the decades following World  
War II, Japanese mining operations contaminated the Jinzu River with  
cadmium and traces of other toxic metals. As a consequence, cadmium  
accumulated in the rice crops growing along the riverbanks downstream  
of the mines. The local agricultural communities consuming the  
contaminated rice developed Itai-itai disease and renal abnormalities,  
including proteinuria and glucosuria.[14] Cadmium is one of six  
substances banned by the European Union'sRestriction on Hazardous  
Substances (RoHS) directive, which bans certain hazardous substances  
in electronics.
Cadmium and several cadmium-containing compounds are known carcinogens  
and can induce many types of cancer.[15]
Current research has found that cadmium toxicity may be carried into  
the body by zinc binding proteins; in particular, proteins that  
contain zinc finger protein structures. Zinc and cadmium are in the  
same group on the periodic table, contain the same common oxidation  
state (+2), and when ionized are almost the same size. Due to these  
similarities, cadmium can replace zinc in many biological systems, in  
particular, systems that contain softer ligands such as sulfur.  
Cadmium can bind up to ten times more strongly than zinc in certain  
biological systems, and is notoriously difficult to remove. In  
addition, cadmium can replace magnesiumand calcium in certain  
biological systems, although these replacements are rare.
Tobacco smoking is the most important single source of cadmium  
exposure in the general population. It has been estimated that about  
10% of the cadmium content of a cigarette is inhaled through smoking.  
The absorption of cadmium from the lungs is much more effective than  
that from the gut, and as much as 50% of the cadmium inhaled via  
cigarette smoke may be absorbed.[16]
On average, smokers have 4-5 times higher blood cadmium concentrations  
and 2-3 times higher kidney cadmium concentrations than non-smokers.  
Despite the high cadmium content in cigarette smoke, there seems to be  
little exposure to cadmium from passive smoking. No significant effect  
on blood cadmium concentrations could be detected in children exposed  
to environmental tobacco smoke.[17]
[edit]





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Apple Recycling at Goodwill of Southwestern PA
Apple Outreach with Hosanna Industries
Apple User Groups from the Pittsburgh area
PGHMAC.COM website by Nathan Brentzel

Dave Sevick and Bob Donaldson
dave at davesevick.com - 724-779-0099
radonaldson at mac.com - 412-477-9188
-----
Peter Carras and Marty Swartz
pcarras+PAUGC1 at pitt.edu - 724-327-5870
marty.swartz at gmail.com - 412-818-8096

As  Apple users in Pittsburgh, we are taking local action
to keep the environment free from e-waste .....
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