Cadmium an Osteopenia danger.

Cadmium exposure causes Osteopenia. It's well known that exposure to high levels of this element has a negative effect on your bones. such exposure can lead to Osteopenia or Osteoporosis.

But now a study from Sweden (published in June 2006) concludes that even low levels of exposure to this toxic element is a problem.

Smoking is a major source of exposure. Second hand smoke is also a risk factor. If you know someone who smokes, do what you can to encourage them to stop. Stopping is possible. Many people have already done so.

Even if you do not smoke you may be are at risk from this potentially toxic element. It is becoming increasingly widespread in our environment and in our food.

Basic questions answered:

• Where is Cadmium found? This pollutant occurs in air, water and soil.
• What causes levels of this pollutant to rise?Levels rise with the natural weathering of minerals, after forest fires, or the eruption of volcanoes.

  Even larger amounts are released by the use of phosphate fertilizers in the growing of agricultural crops. Also fossil fuel [oil, coal] combustion is a source. It is also released in the production of iron, steel and non-ferrous metals as well as in cement production and the incineration of wastes.

• Besides breathing it in, how else can we ingest it? It is found in food due to the uptake of by plants from fertilizers, sewage sludge, manure and atmospheric deposition.

  This is one reason why many people are turning to organic foods or to locally grown foods that they know are not using phosphate fertilizers.

  Cigarette smoking is a major source. Just one pack a day, makes for a daily intake of 2-4 mg each day! That is why anyone with Osteopenia is advised to stop smoking immediately.

  Minimal exposure also arises from drinking water and from the consumption of fish and shell fish.

• Up until now there has been little concern about minimum exposure but the Swedish study found that "...After multivariate adjustment, BMD, parathyroid hormone, and urinary deoxypyridinoline (U-DPD) were adversely associated with concentrations of urinary cadmium (p < 0.05) in all subjects. These associations persisted in the group of never-smokers, which had the lowest cadmium exposure (mainly dietary). And they conclude that even minimum exposure should be of concern for its effects.

• How can I protect myself or my children from this source of bone loss?

  Avoid exposure as much as possible. Do not smoke and explain to your children how smoking can have a negative effect on their bones.

  Avoid incinerator smoke and heavy traffic.

  Buy food that has not been treated with phosphate fertilizers or grown near any of environmental sources listed above. Spending a bit more for Organic produce may be a good bone investment for your children's bones.

If you want a complete list of all the Causes of bone loss goto Causes of Osteopenia

Rread about treatments for Osteopenia caused by Cadmium or other factors