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Journal of Medical Toxicology logoLink to Journal of Medical Toxicology
. 2006 Mar;2(1):14–15. doi: 10.1007/BF03161007

Cadmium exposure: Health hazards of silver cottage industry in developing countries

P K Sethi 1,, Dinesh Khandelwal 1, Nitin Sethi 2
PMCID: PMC3550031  PMID: 18072106

Abstract

In countries such as India, the silver jewelry industry is an important cottage industry. Silver is mixed with cadmium and then used to make silver jewelry. During this process there is a formation of cadmium fumes, and the workers inhale the fumes. Cadmium is a neurotoxic and nephrotoxic heavy metal, and there are no national policies to prevent exposure to such chemicals. We will present a case of cadmium induced peripheral neuropathy, nephropathy, and decreased bone density.

Keywords: cadmium, silver cottage industry, peripheral neuropathy, nephropathy

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