Yousef+and+Matt

__Abstract__:

Cadmium is a chemical element that is a poisonous carcinogen. Its symbol is Cd and it’s atomic number is 48. Cadmium is very dangerous if humans and animals are exposed to it. It can be inhaled through smoke, and ingested through drinking and food. It can also be found in batteries and paint.

Cadmium is and should be a health concern. The damages it can do to the lungs can be fatal. It can cause reparatory disorders that can make it extremely hard to simply breathe. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, is only where it begins, however. Studies have shown it can progress to chemical pnuemonitis, pulmonary edema. It has been shown to be related to cancer. In many biological systems it can replace zinc, magnesium, and calcium. It can be inhaled through cigarette smoke, cadmium paints. In fact, exposure to cadmium has become a very big problem in battery and paint factories. It can also contaminate our drinking water. Economically, It would cost a lot to filter it out of our drinking water. If it was banned in paint than the prices of paint would most likely rise. Politically, problems would start with the tobacco companies because if cadmium were to be banned in the U.S., they would not be able to import cigarettes.

Personally, we think cadmium is a real danger and we should all we can do to limit our exposure to it. By all means necessary, this chemical needs to be banned, especially in cigarettes where it is increases the risk of lung cancer.

__Background on Cadmium__

Cadmium -How/why do we use this chemical? We use this chemical in coatings, stabilizers, pigments, electronic alloys and other things.

-What products is it used in? This product is mostly used in NiCd rechargeable batteries. About 80% of its use. Also to coat steel and in some plastics.

-What benefits does this chemical offer these products? This element is very abundant and cheap. It benefits steel by putting preventing corrosion of the steel. It benefits the batteries.

-Where in the world is it used? It is used mainly everywhere.

-Is it banned anywhere? The use of cadmium is banned in paints but that is about it, and only because there are substitutes.

__Human Health implications__

-What are the possible dangers associated with this chemical? Possible dangers associated with cadmium is that it can cause some horrible respiratory diseases, and can even be fatal, when inhaled or ingested. Humans can be exposed to cadmium usually by smoking or inhaling fumes in industrial areas, even in cadmium rich foods such as mushrooms. -How, specifically, does this chemical affect the body? It’s toxicity acts as poisoning, the cadmium binds up strongly with different parts of the body, becoming extremely difficult to remove. It starts replacing Zinc. -What human body processes are affected by this chemical? The process of simply breathing becomes increasingly difficult for someone who is constantly exposed to cadmium. It can also have many other side affects when it travels, through blood, throughout the body: - Diarrhoea, stomach pains and severe vomiting - Bone fracture - Reproductive failure and possibly even infertility - Damage to the central nervous system - Damage to the immune system - Psychological disorders - Possibly DNA damage or cancer development -What human systems are affected by this chemical? (eg reproductive, endocrine) -Include chemical reactions that take place in the body. ? It deteriorates the abilities of your respiratory system, the lungs specifically leading to pneumonitis and pulmonary edema. The chemical reaction: Cadmium is carried into the body by zinc binding proteins, and can replace zinc in your body. It can also accumulate in the kidneys damaging filtering mechanisms

__Environmental implications__

-What specific environmental systems/processes does your chemical interact with? It is found in the earth’s crust. It can enter to the environment through the ground. 25,000 tons of cadmium contaminates our air, rivers, water supply, soil, etc. -How does the chemical interact with the environment? It can contaminate plants and therefore be passed on to humans, and animals dependant on plants, possibly poisoning them. It can also effect aquatic animals if there is cadmium presence in water. -What happens when this chemical degrades? What byproducts are formed? This chemical is closely related to Zinc, so it becomes an impurity that can be in ZINC. -How long does it take to degrade? It can take years. -How is it disposed of? It can be naturally disposed off into rivers, soil, plants, etc. -Include at least 3 balanced chemical reactions.

__Summary__

What we need to do to get rid of Cadmium in the environment: Cadmium, is poisonous and very dangerous to humans and our environment. We can breathe it in through smoke, and it can contaminate our drinking water. We can better purify our water so that we limit or eliminate our ingestion of Cadmium. And we play a part to it’s release into the environment via us burning fossil fuels and mining. Therefore, we should cut back on those things, especially burning fossil fuels for the sake of our environment and out health.