Cadmium (CED0000006)

Cadmium (Cd) is an inorganic compound with an average molecular weight of 112.41 g/mol. It is a solid at room temperature and is exogenous in origin. Cadmium belongs to the homogeneous transition metal compounds, a class of homogeneous metal compounds within the inorganic compounds. In industrial applications, it serves as a surface modifier and a degradant or impurity. It is used in various plastics, including High-Density Polyethylene, Low-Density Polyethylene, Expanded polystyrene, Polyamide, Polyurethane, and Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Additionally, it is present in Polyvinyl Chloride, Polystyrene, High impact polystyrene, and Polypropylene, and is released in Polycarbonate and Polyethylene Terephthalate. Cadmium is found in or released from 14 recorded sources, including food contact materials, fermentation processes for beer, cigar cigarettes, non-electric simulated smoking devices, and electrical and electronic equipment such as antennas, discharge lamps, electric switches, electrically stimulated smoking devices, and fixed capacitors. Recorded exposure routes include oral, inhalation, and touch. Regarding health effects, cadmium is associated with proteinuria (PMC9774004). The compound interacts with 18 recorded protein targets. It binds to and activates the estrogen receptor (ESR1) and estrogen receptor beta (ESR2), likely causing reproductive dysfunction and stimulating the growth of certain types of cancer cells through estrogenic effects. Cadmium also activates mitogen-activated protein kinases, including MAPK1, MAPK3, MAPK8, and MAPK9, among six other proteins, which causes cell apoptosis. Other recorded protein targets include amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP), ferritin light chain (FTL), metallothionein-1A (MT1A), and metallothionein-2 (MT2A).