It can enter water from disposal of waste water from households or industries. Fertilizers often have some cadmium in them and fertilizer use causes cadmium to enter the soil. Spills and leaks from hazardous waste sites can also cause cadmium to enter soil or water. Cadmium attached to small particles may get into the air and travel a long way before coming down to earth as dust or in rain or snow. Cadmium does not break down in the environment but can change into different forms.
Most cadmium stays where it enters the environment for a long time.
Some of the cadmium that enters water will bind to soil but some will remain in the water. Cadmium in soil can enter water or be taken up by plants. Fish, plants, and animals take up cadmium from the environment. Exposure Pathways Food and cigarette smoke are the largest potential sources of cadmium exposure for members of the general population. Average cadmium levels in cigarettes range from 1,000 to 3,000 ppb.