Cadmium exposure is associated with chronic effects on which organs and tissues?

• A. Heart
• B. Lungs
• C. Kidney damage, bone weakening
• D. Skin

Answer: (C)

Cadmium tends to accumulate in the body and its chronic toxicity is most evident in the kidney and the skeletal system. In the kidney, cadmium damages the proximal tubular cells, leading to tubular dysfunction and leakage of substances that should be reabsorbed, such as proteins and minerals. This tubular damage sets off disturbances in mineral balance—especially phosphate and calcium—and can impair vitamin D–mediated bone metabolism. Over time, that disruption weakens bone structure, increasing the risk of osteomalacia and fractures. A historical example of this pattern is Itai‑itai disease, where bone pain and fractures were prominent after long-term cadmium exposure.

While inhaled cadmium can harm the lungs in certain high-exposure settings, the most characteristic chronic effects involve the kidney and bones, making those the best-paired organs/tissues to describe cadmium’s long-term impact.