Login Pro Login Sign Up
Sign Up
Home › Research › Urinalysis: Cadmium, Urine
Urinalysis

Cadmium, Urine

Optimal result: 0 – 1 ug/L
By Healthmatters Editorial Team
Peer-reviewed sources

High levels of cadmium are associated with kidney, heart, GI, nervous system, lung, bone, reproductive tract and liver damage. Exposure to cadmium can cause cancer. Inhaling high amounts over time can also cause lung problems.

Some specific causes of high cadmium might be associated with: 

- A long time history of smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke

- Full-time or part-time work in metal refineries where smelting is done, plastic recycling or electronic recycling operations, battery manufacturers, plastics or solar panel companies, or even in construction.

- Exposure to dust or compost that is high in cadmium

- Living close to or work in a municipal waste facility

- Living close to or work in a nuclear waste facility

- An auto mechanic 

- Someone who has low iron levels

- Spray painting without any type of breathing mask

- Consumption of high cadmium foods on a regular basis: sunflower seeds, soybeans, rice, leafy greens and smokes tobacco. These foods concentrate the cadmium that is found in the environment.

Low cadmium levels are not a health issue.

Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal found in soil, water, and air. Plants may contain high levels; foods that tend to accumulate it include soy, rice, tobacco, sunflower seeds and leafy greens. Health problems result from cadmium exposure.

A urine cadmium test measures cadmium excretion from the body over a 24-hour test both before and after a “provocation” or “detox” compound is ingested. A provocation compound is one that increases the excretion of a substance. EDTA, DMSA, and DMPS are examples of provocation compounds. 

Taking the urine cadmium test before the provocation compound is ingested reveals cadmium in the urine whether or not there are high levels of cadmium in the body. This level may reflect cadmium levels found in air, soil, water, and the environment that have accumulated in the body.

When the provocation compound is ingested, cadmium levels increase in the urine. Urinary cadmium has been found to be an accurate determination of the amount of the heavy metal in the body.

Cadmium is a toxic metal. When accumulated in the body either over time or a short period of time, health issues may result. Cadmium toxicity may affect any of the internal organs, especially the lungs when it is inhaled, and the kidneys and liver.

As with other types of potentially toxic heavy metals, children to up 18 years of age absorb higher amounts of them than adults, according to studies. However, studies are limited on the health problems associated with cadmium accumulation in children. 

Normal Ranges for Cadmium in mcg/urine specimen:

0-15 years old:  Normal ranges not established

Older than 16 years old: 0.0-1.3 mcg/specimen

 

Sources:

  1. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=6 
  2. https://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/8678
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4079252/ 
  4. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/cadmium/
  5. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=46&tid=15 

Organize and understand all your lab results

$15 /month
or $79/year — for your whole history →
Every marker charted over time
Any lab — with custom ranges
Export & share with your doctor
Add unlimited reports — free
★★★★★

“Once I could see all my markers trending together instead of one number in isolation, everything finally made sense.”

Barbara · Member since 2023
Start organizing — $15/mo → See all plans →
Secure checkout via Stripe · GDPR & HIPAA
For Health Professionals Healthmatters Pro Multiple clients’ results in one dashboard. See Pro plans →
Cadmium, Urine
Healthmatters dashboard showing biomarker trend graph

Every lab result you’ve ever had, charted and explained.

Healthmatters is a tracker for your lab results. Upload a report from any lab, any country — every marker charted and explained.

Start with my report →
Beyond Cadmium, Urine — 10,000+ markers explained
One Cadmium, Urine result tells you where you are. Your history tells you where you’re heading. Upload your past lab reports and see this marker — and every marker on them —every marker charted against your own lab’s ranges.
Start with this report →
Healthmatters timeline preview showing biomarker trends over time
Clinical Sources & References

All our content is backed by peer-reviewed studies, academic research, and trusted medical sources. We’re committed to accuracy and transparency — see our editorial policy for details.

Article Review Log
Written by Healthmatters Editorial Team
Healthmatters Lifetime Plan

Pay $250. Track your health forever

One payment. No renewals. Yours for life.

10,000+ biomarkers explained · trends over time

See other plans →
Secure checkout via Stripe · GDPR & HIPAA
We accept results from any lab
LabCorp Quest Diagnostics Genova Diagnostics DUTCH Test Doctor's Data Vibrant America ZRT Laboratory Cyrex Labs + any other lab

What members are saying

★★★★★ 10,000+ happy members
★★★★★

"Watching my numbers move over the years — instead of forgetting last time's results — completely changed how I manage my health."

Daniel
Member since 2022
★★★★★

"Living across several countries made keeping my lab results organized a real challenge. Healthmatters brought my results from the USA, Spain, and Germany together — 20 years of history, with long-term trends instead of scattered reports."

Ben
Member since 2021 · tracks across countries
★★★★★

"Standard lab ranges are too wide for how I practice — 'normal' isn't optimal. I set my own bands, so a client sees yellow before a marker goes officially out of range. That's the conversation I want to be having."

Dr. Alexandra
Functional medicine · 6 yrs on Pro