Along with lead, cadmium is to many the very definition of “heavy metal” - and the toxic sort, not the music genre. It is similar to lead in that it has seen widespread usage for many decades with efforts to control its proliferation having been followed in earnest only in the last few years in First World countries. Unfortunately, its use in the Third World continues unabated where it finds its way into the environment to sicken those who are exposed to it on a long term basis.

While the list of nasty ailments credited to cadmium is long it should be said that the worst of its ills are due to microscopic amounts that end up in foodstuffs and drinking water rather than metallic cadmium per se. All the same, should you want to touch your cadmium bar we suggest you wash your hands afterwards for the sake of caution.