Cadmium at Home: What ATSDR Says About Food, Smoke and Old Batteries

If you know cadmium from the dark chocolate headlines, the everyday picture looks different. ATSDR’s ToxFAQs for Cadmium says that for nonsmokers, the most common exposure to cadmium is through eating food with high levels of cadmium, and that people who smoke, and those who live with smokers, will be exposed to higher levels of cadmium than nonsmokers. This explainer covers what ATSDR says about where cadmium comes from at home, what it does to the body, testing, and ATSDR’s protection steps, with FDA’s advice on food. For the chocolate details, see what FDA says about cadmium in dark chocolate.

What cadmium is and where it is used

ATSDR describes cadmium as a naturally occurring metallic element, found in nature in several minerals, many times with zinc, copper, or lead. Its main use is nickel-cadmium batteries, which can be used in cellular phones and laptops; however, many electronics now use lithium-ion batteries instead. Cadmium is also used to color plastics, ceramics, and glasses, and ATSDR notes that the use of cadmium in the manufacture of solar panels has increased.

The coloring use can reach the kitchen: FDA notes that pottery with cadmium-based pigments may leach cadmium into foods. FDA also says there are no FDA regulations that authorize cadmium for use as a color additive or food additive (including as a component of foodware, cookware, or food contact surfaces).

Food: the main route for nonsmokers

ATSDR names the foods with high levels: leafy green vegetables, potatoes, grains, peanuts, soybeans, sunflower seeds, shellfish, or organ meats (e.g., liver, kidney). You may also breathe low levels in the air or drink water containing low levels of cadmium. Crops pick it up from the soil: ATSDR says some cadmium compounds may dissolve or be taken up by plant roots, and FDA says levels are higher in areas where some phosphate fertilizers are used, and where industrial processes such as smelting, mining, and burning of fossil fuels occur.

That list is not a list of foods to drop. FDA says testing results that detect cadmium do not necessarily mean the food should be avoided, and that eating a variety of nutrient-dense foods can also limit exposure to a contaminant from a specific food.

For babies and young children, FDA says there is no reason to believe that homemade foods would contain fewer heavy metals, and that organic crops absorb heavy metals from the earth just like conventional crops do. Through its Closer to Zero work, FDA has published draft guidance on action levels for cadmium in processed food intended for babies and young children.

Smoke, work and nearby facilities

ATSDR says that because cadmium is present in tobacco smoke, individuals who smoke, and those who live with smokers, will be exposed to higher levels of cadmium than nonsmokers. FDA puts it plainly: for smokers, smoking is the primary source of exposure to cadmium.

People who live near a facility that manufactures or uses cadmium may be exposed to higher levels in the air or drinking water than the general population, and if you make or use cadmium at work, your exposure may increase. FDA names occupational settings such as smelting and demolition, and in factories that manufacture batteries and electronic plating.

What cadmium does to the body

In ATSDR’s words, exposure to cadmium can damage the kidney and cause weak, brittle bones, and breathing cadmium is damaging to the lungs. Repeated exposure to cadmium results in build-up of cadmium in the kidneys, which damages them, and breathing cadmium particles can cause breathing difficulty and cause damage to your nose, throat, and lungs over time. ATSDR also notes that studies in animals indicate that exposure to cadmium during pregnancy and/or early life may damage the developing nervous system.

On cancer, ATSDR reports that:

• HHS classified cadmium and cadmium compounds as substances known to be human carcinogens;
• EPA classified cadmium as a probably human carcinogen by inhalation route (note: this assessment was last updated in 1989);
• IARC classified cadmium and cadmium compounds as carcinogenic to humans.

Can you get tested?

ATSDR says cadmium levels can be reliably measured in urine, blood, and feces. Urine levels are the best estimate of the total amount of cadmium in your body and the best measure for exposure over time, while blood levels indicate more recent exposures. But these tests cannot predict whether you will have health problems from exposure to cadmium, and doctor’s offices do not routinely offer these tests.

If you think you have been exposed, ATSDR says to talk to your doctor or nurse or call 1-800-222-1222 to be connected to your local poison control center.

ATSDR’s steps to protect your family

• Avoid smoking and keep away from areas where you or your children may be exposed to secondhand smoke.
• Safely dispose of household batteries and electronics containing batteries.
• Do not let your children play near facilities manufacturing or using cadmium.
• If you work in one of these facilities, make sure you follow all safety guidelines.

For how cadmium compares with lead, arsenic and mercury, see where heavy metals come from in everyday life.

Sources

• wwwn.cdc.gov – “ToxFAQs™ for Cadmium | ATSDR” (2026)
• fda.gov – “Cadmium in Food and Foodwares | FDA” (2026)
• fda.gov – “Closer to Zero: Reducing Childhood Exposure to Heavy Metals from Foods | FDA” (2026)
• fda.gov – “Action Levels for Cadmium in Processed Food Intended for Babies and Young Children: Draft Guidance for Industry | FDA” (2026)
• wellofness.com – “Cadmium in Dark Chocolate: Soil, Cocoa Share and What FDA Says” (2026)
• wellofness.com – “Where Heavy Metals Come From: Everyday Sources of Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic and Mercury” (2026)