Surface water also can contain low levels of dissolved cadmium. Cadmium in water tends to sink and accumulate in bottom sediments. Cadmium can enter the body from smoking tobacco, eating and drinking food and water containing cadmium, and inhaling it from the air. People living near sources of cadmium or cadmium-related industries may be exposed in all these ways. The skin does not easily absorb cadmium.
Cigarettes contain cadmium, and smokers inhale cadmium when they smoke.
Breathing secondhand smoke is not believed to be a main source of exposure to cadmium. For people who do not smoke, food is the most common source of cadmium. Fruits and vegetables, especially grains, potatoes, and leafy vegetables like spinach, grown in soils with high levels of cadmium may contain elevated levels of cadmium. Shellfish and organ meats like liver or kidney also contain more cadmium than other foods. If a community or home has extremely soft water, small amounts of cadmium may move from metal water lines into drinking water.