(11 Dead) Cadmium Levels Puzzle Pa. Investigators

[DUreader]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3302987,00.html



PITTSBURGH (AP) - Authorities say they have been
unable to determine the source of a toxic metal
found in 11 people who died in a rural
Pennsylvania county.

While investigators do not believe foul play is to
blame, preliminary tests have not indicated any
link between the cadmium levels and land or water
contamination. ``It's definitely been a mystery,''
said Indiana County Chief Deputy Coroner Michael
Baker.

The investigation began after Russell Repine died
in March 2002. The death was first ruled a heart
attack, but an autopsy found cadmium poisoning.

Repine had 352 micrograms of cadmium per liter
of blood, Baker said. The U.S. Occupational Safety
and Health Administration sets the cutoff of work
exposure to cadmium at 5 micrograms.

[Syrinx]

1. Cadmium

Isn't that the stuff they use in light meters like photographers use?

[DUreader]

2. Is it also in some white paint?

Dont lick those brushes

[Fovea]

13. yellows and reds

'primarily'...

[celestia671]

3. Batteries too?

For cordless phones and toys?

[Davis_X_Machina]

4. Much more commonly used...

...in rechargable batteries (NiCads) and as an anti-corrosion cladding.

Its use is decreasing, because its danger has been recognized.

Link to EPA (PDF file).

[madfloridian]

5. And it is happening in different areas of the county.

Not in just one area. There seems to be no tie between the victims.

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. Great article here - could make sense why is not all in one spot?

....Incinerators ??

"UNNECESSARY HAZARD #4
HAZARDOUS WASTE INCINERATION
Industries across the globe produce billions of pounds of hazardous waste every year. And each year a large portion of these wastes are burned in incinerators which are unsafe, unnecessary, and unwanted by the public. Hazardous waste incinerators are a major source of persistent bioaccumulative toxins. Thousands of highly toxic chemicals, including dioxins and furans, are emitted during incineration and the ash which is created is heavily contaminated with heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury. And finally, incineration does not solve the problem of waste creation."

MORE here . . . . .

use the "edit" - find on this page - for CADMIUM

lots OF INTERSTING (and scary) stuff in there

[loudnclear]

8. And don't forget the corruption that is throuout the solid waste industry

Organized crime and environmental discrimination and injustice go hand-in hand in this country. Just like those phony drug-sniffing dogs, the government--state, local, and Federal has been sold a bill of goods on solid waste disposal. After gaining huge contracts for solid waste disposal, many companies (tied to unscrupulous crime groups) merely pick up the hazardous materials and dump it in poor and minority communities. There are no checks and the contracts are in many cases given to thug companies patterned after the organized crime families of years ago.
It's really criminal but as long as it's not being dumped in the back yards of the affluent...who is going to care except some of us who have absolutely no power to do anything about it. Meanwhile, our government spends billions on chasing phantom terrorist among us while the environmental terrorism is killing many more than has been reported. In time, though, the underground springs that are the source of water for even the affluent will be contaminated because of the neglect of hazardous waste disposal regulations (or lack thereof.)

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. Cadmium is one of many pollutants that end up in

retention ponds. Which is one of the reasons I'm flabbergasted that houses along retention ponds sell for more than houses that aren't. I think of the $400,000 houses along those ponds and the people who buy them. Imagine what they must say to their visitors: "Hey, look at our toxic cesspool. Ain't it purdy?"

[spinbaby]

9. The mines in that area have a lot of retention ponds

I don't recall that they're very scenic though.

On edit: found a good local link to the story:

http://www.post-gazette.com/localnews/20031018cadmiumlocal2p2.asp

[bleedingheart]

10. I hate those retention pond homes...a fake lake of muck...

ick...

[kodi]

11. cd is found in waste used in cleaning jewelry and other metals

sounds like someone illegaly dumped the solvent and water waste from their cleaning business and the heavy metals found their way into the well water.

a chemical plume should be readily detected and the origin should be found.

the authorities should be testing for heavy metal contamination the well waters in the communities affected.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

12. also in computer monitors along with 4lbs of lead dust in each monitor

also may be poison in food supply...check what they all ate :shrug:

[Robb]

14. Captures neutrons, doesn't it?

Cadmium shields? Something to do with Fermi and nuclear reactions... man, CRS is the worst....

[oneighty]

15. Cadmium

Used to prevent corrosion inside diving cylinders when I was a navy diver. The question as to whether or not it caused lung damage to the divers is asked now and then. Never an answer though.

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