Does Berkey Filter Cadmium?
Yes, Berkey Water Filters remove or reduce cadmium as well as other harmful heavy metals. See the third-party testing results.
What is Cadmium?
Cadmium is classified as a heavy metal on the periodic table of elements. It's a naturally found element in the earth's crust. Most often, it's found as a mineral with other oxygen, chlorine, or sulfur. It always occurs with zinc. It's a soft metal; in fact it can usually be cut with a butter knife. In its cleanest form, it is silver with a blue tint. Most rocks and soil contain traces of cadmium, about 25,000 tons are released naturally into the environment each year.
The properties of cadmium lend itself to a multitude of uses including batteries, pigments, metal coatings, and plastics. Cadmium is used in most rechargeable batteries such as cell phones, handheld power tools, laptops, and radios. About 70% of cadmium is used for these rechargeable nicad (nickel and cadmium combined) batteries. Cadmium is also used for the electroplating of steel which prevents steel corrosion and rusting. Cadmium compounds are used for dyes or pigments for paints and plastics. Cadmium sulfide (CdS) produces yellow, orange, or brown colors, while cadmium selenide (CdSe) produces red colors.
Cadmium Exposure Health Concerns
Cadmium is highly toxic. It causes cancer and at certain exposure levels can harm the cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, neurological, reproductive, and respiratory systems. If eaten, cadmium causes vomiting and diarrhea. If inhaled, cadmium damages the lungs and can cause death. Over time it can build up and cause damage to kidneys and make bones weak. Cadmium is found in cigarette smoke. Cadmium compounds can also wreak havoc on bodies.
Harmful exposure can happen in also any sector; however it is more prevalent in manufacturing, construction, and waste management. Cadmium dust from these industries can cause serious health problems. Cadmium is released into the environment from forest fires, volcanoes, and erosion--which can occur naturally or from mining.
Cadmium exposure can also happen through diet; ingesting plants and animals that have been exposed to cadmium. Plants absorb cadmium that's found in soil or irrigation water.
How Does Cadmium Get in Drinking Water?
Water can be contaminated with cadmium in a couple of different ways. Because cadmium naturally occurs in the earth's crust or rocks, water that comes in contact with those rocks will pick up cadmium. It can also be introduced into the water cycle when cadmium is released into the environment from manufacturing discard or improperly disposed batteries (or other cadmium-containing products).
In landfills, when cadmium products are disposed of without care, the cadmium can leach into the ground and will eventually find its way into a water source. That water source may end up in a tap water treatment facility which then ends up in household faucets.
How to Reduce Cadmium From Drinking Water
Berkey Filters removes or reduces up to 99.7% of cadmium from water. The system uses filters made of a unique blend of material that includes coconut shells and charcoal. This granular activated carbon (GAC) filters have tiny pores that use their adsorption and absorption properties to block organic contaminants.
The micropores in the filters are just one part of the filtration process that Berkey Filters use to filter drinking water. The Black Berkey Filters also use an ion exchange process and the force of gravity to create nutritious water. The filters remove odd odors or tastes, including chlorine, without removing essential minerals like iron.
What Else Does Berkey Target?
The list is extensive! Rest assured that that water your family is drinking has over 200 contaminants addressed.
How to Select the Right Size Berkey?
Answer a few questions to find our which Berkey model is best for you!
Can Berkey Change the pH level of Water?
Is your water acidic? basic? neutral? What's good for consumption and how does Berkey affect it?