Things I Won't Work With: Dimethylcadmium (2013)

Cadmium in Everyday Materials

• Multiple commenters note cadmium is less “obscure” than the article suggests.
• Historically and currently seen in: NiCd batteries, CdS photoresistors, cadmium-based pigments in paints and ceramics, anti-corrosion metal plating, certain fasteners in racing/aviation, and some solar cells.
• Several people warn against sanding/drilling old cadmium-coated parts due to inhalation risk.

Toxicity, Exposure Pathways, and Risk Perception

• Repeated reminder: sharing an element does not mean sharing toxicity; compound, dose, and exposure route all matter.
• For cadmium and other heavy metals, inhaled dust or fumes are considered far worse than solid, bound forms.
• Finished cadmium-glazed ceramics and mineral samples are seen as low concern compared to powders and industrial dust.
• Some argue the public (and journalists) often overgeneralize “contains heavy metal → must be extremely dangerous.” Others counter that low-probability but hard-to-detect channels (e.g., dust, collisions, waste handling) still matter.

Cadmium in Food (Chocolate, Plants, Flax)

• A Consumer Reports story on cadmium/lead in dark chocolate is debated.
  • Critics call its methodology and risk framing misleading, lacking clear values, detection limits, and error bars.
  • They note regulatory cadmium limits that are much higher than CR’s “theoretical acceptable level” and point out common dietary sources like lettuce and grains.
  • Others caution against dismissing a long-standing consumer publication without strong evidence.
• Flaxseed is noted as a strong cadmium bioaccumulator; remediation ideas include growing flax on polluted sites, then handling the biomass via burning, pyrolysis, or even textiles (with follow-up concerns about wastewater).

Other Chemistry and Toxicology Threads

• Discussion of highly toxic organometallic methyl compounds (e.g., dimethylmercury) as “worst-case” examples of bioavailable metals; stories of lethal or near-lethal exposures emphasize long, delayed effects and glove penetration.
• Side discussion on methyl/acetyl groups improving bioavailability in medicinal chemistry, and chelation affecting mineral absorption.
• Comparisons to ionizing radiation and nerve agents to contextualize “tiny” quantities.

Lab Culture, Smell/Taste, and Old Practices

• Commenters describe historic and modern use of smell (and historically, even taste) for qualitative identification, now seen as unsafe.
• Anecdotes include recognizing cyanide or sulfur compounds by odor, and solvents that leave persistent smells.

Series and Meta-Discussion

• Many express enjoyment of the “things I won’t work with” series and related safety/horror-story posts, and regret that new entries are rare.