Once associated with lung and prostate cancers the heavy metal cadmium may now have links to doubling the risk of breast cancer. Cadmium, a highly persistent heavy metal, has been categorized as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The main exposure sources to cadmium include food, water and tobacco smoke and it is in batteries. Urine sample levels were measured and studies reported that women in the highest quartile of creatinine-adjusted cadmium level had twice the breast cancer risk of those in the lowest quartile.
Once cadmium is in the body it may act like extra estrogen, which can increase risks for some kinds of breast cancer. Over exposure to cadmium in the environment may increase risks for breast, lung, and prostate cancers and also kidney disease. Smoking and breathing second hand smoke also increases the risks of cadmium exposure.
