Safety Tidbit 5.05 – Ototoxins-Cadmium

Safety Tidbit 5.05 – Ototoxins-Cadmium

Reference: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/4411/b019832e5c9c194ad1b615d37754544bbffe.pdf

      https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/cadmium/evaluation.html

This week’s Safety Tidbit was written by one of my students, Patrick DeIvernois – a senior in the Safety Sciences Program at the Indiana University of PA.

Ototoxins are chemicals that have toxic effects on the ear. Many ototoxins exist within the environment as single elements or as compounds. Examples of ototoxins include lead, cadmium, zinc, carbon monoxide. This tidbit will be specifically focusing on cadmium, its effects on the human body, and potential controls.

Cadmium is a rare earth metal, and exposure can occur in the manufacturing of rechargeable batteries, solar cells, electroplating, pigments, as well as demolition of structures. Primarily, cadmium enters the body through inhalation.

Currently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard for cadmium is “1910.1027”. It states that the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for an airborne concentration of this substance must not exceed five micrograms per cubic meter of air (5 µg/m3) over an eight-hour time-weighted average exposure (TWA). The standard specifies more details regarding air monitoring.

In 2015, the Journal of International Advanced Otology published a study led by Jae Jun Song and other researchers that examined the relationship between cadmium exposure and Otitis media (OM), which is a common inflammatory disease among children. In the United States, more than half of all children will have one or more episodes of OM by the age of 3 years. Inflammation within the body increased mucin gene expression and examined other biological factors in the presence of cadmium. The researchers were able to explain the causal contribution between cadmium exposure and OM with the development of the human middle ear epithelial cells.

Employers must follow the hierarchy of controls due to the various health effects of cadmium. Elimination is used first, followed by substitution, engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment (PPE). The replacement of cadmium is possible using compounds such as nickel-metal hydride. Standard engineering controls for cadmium consist of isolation, ventilation, torch-cutting extensions, which are widely used within the industry to limit employee’s exposure to the substance. Administrative controls comprise of defining exposure time and decontamination zones. Personal protective equipment (e.g., respiratory protection) is last.

I hope this was helpful and thank you for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have a new safety or health question, please let me know.