Having skin contact with cadmium is not known to cause health problems, but the following exposures to cadmium can cause serious health problems:
Breathing air that contains high levels of cadmium
Eating food containing relatively high levels of cadmium (eg, shellfish, liver, kidney meats—but highest levels are often found in potatoes and leafy vegetables)
Drinking water contaminated with cadmium
Breathing in cigarette smoke; smoking doubles the average daily intake of cadmium