This pollutant attacks the kidneys, weakens bones, and increases the risk of cancer. Its name: cadmium.
A toxic heavy metal, invisible to the naked eye, but very much present around us: in soils, foods, and sometimes even in tap water.
And that is precisely the problem: even though water quality is rigorously controlled in France, the level of cadmium in drinking water is increasingly concerning.
Why? Because this element accumulates in the body and becomes a real danger to health. According to Pierre Souvet, a cardiologist and president of the Association Santé Environnement France, cadmium “would worsen overall mortality”.
So, how can we protect ourselves?
Let’s decode this silent pollutant: its origins, its effects on the body, and the solutions to limit its presence in your glass of water.
Cadmium: an omnipresent contaminant in our daily lives
Cadmium is a naturally occurring element in the Earth’s crust. In minimal quantities, it poses no problem for our bodies. However, human activities have dramatically increased its levels in the environment.
Today, cadmium is everywhere. It is primarily found in agricultural phosphate fertilizers. The rural population is at a higher risk of being affected by the disease. According to analyses by Inrae, these fertilizers are responsible for 60 to 75% of cadmium concentrations in soils. This is compounded by emissions from industrial production, particularly from metallurgy.
Unsurprisingly, through repeated applications, this pollutant infiltrates, accumulates, and eventually rises into our plumbing.
Despite repeated warnings, cadmium is still used in France. Resistant to heat, it is particularly used to manufacture rechargeable batteries, pigments, metal coatings, and alloys. But once released into nature, it never truly disappears: it circulates through plant roots, contaminates, and settles permanently in soils.
The main concern arises from its toxicity and its ability to accumulate in living organisms, ultimately ending up in our food. Classified as “certainly carcinogenic to humans”, cadmium infiltrates our food. It can be found in cereal-based products (especially those intended for children at breakfast), as well as in bread and potatoes (which account for 22% and 12% of the population’s exposure, respectively). But that’s not all: chocolate, certain vegetables, as well as seafood and shellfish are also affected by cadmium. Nothing, or almost nothing, escapes it.
Faced with this list of everyday products, repeated consumption, even in very low doses, becomes concerning for both human health and that of the planet.
Cadmium in water: where does this contamination come from?
If cadmium is particularly present in drinking water in France today, it is no coincidence. This heavy metal infiltrates groundwater and water sources mainly due to human activities.
This contamination is a true “health bomb”, according to experts.
The primary source of cadmium exposure comes from agricultural work. Phosphate fertilizers, widely used to fertilize soils, naturally contain cadmium. Through repeated applications, this toxic product accumulates, then dilutes in rainwater before reaching underground aquifers.
And the figures are not good: the cadmium content in French fertilizers is significantly higher than the European average.
The second culprit: emissions from industrial factories into the environment, particularly those from metallurgy and battery production. By dispersing into the air and wastewater, this concentration contributes to the pollution of rivers and soils.
Even old galvanized steel pipes leach cadmium into the water, ending up in our glasses. A phenomenon similar to that observed for other heavy metals in tap water, such as lead, mercury, arsenic, chromium, and zinc.
One might think that treatment plants manage to eliminate this pollutant, but in reality, only a portion of the cadmium is filtered. Why? Because it easily binds to different particles, making it difficult to completely remove.
As a result: traces of this toxic contaminant persist in drinking water. And in the long term, repeated exposure becomes concerning for health.
💧Read also: Heavy metals and tap water: the invisible danger
Why is cadmium dangerous to health?
Cadmium is a silent poison, recognized as a certain carcinogen for humans. Invisible, it slowly settles inside the body, without causing immediate symptoms until it is too late.
Once absorbed, cadmium circulates in the blood and then settles in the kidneys, liver, and bones, where it can remain for decades.
This gradual accumulation weakens our metabolism: kidney damage, bone fragility, osteoporosis… But also an increased risk of cancers, particularly of the pancreas and lungs. The pancreatic cancer risk is “particularly concerning” due to the levels of heavy metals in the body, emphasizes cardiologist Pierre Souvet, president of the Association Santé Environnement France.
The cardiovascular system and fertility are also affected. Cadmium acts as a hormonal disruptor, altering the production of sex hormones and promoting hypertension. Women are particularly sensitive to it, especially in cases of iron deficiency, which increases its absorption.
The danger of cadmium should not be underestimated! It is more than necessary to reduce exposure and ingestion.
Cadmium in water: strict regulation, but insufficient?
In France, water is strictly controlled to ensure its quality and potability. The European directive 2020/2184 sets a clear limit regarding cadmium: no more than 5 µg/L in water. On paper, this standard is reassuring. But in reality, it is not that simple.
Because even though water is regularly tested by the Regional Health Agencies, this regulation is not enough to fully protect us. Why? Because cadmium does not just contaminate water: it spreads through industrial activities and also infiltrates our plates, sometimes in concerning quantities.
It can be found in cereals, bread, potatoes, certain vegetables, shellfish, and crustaceans, as well as in chocolate. Food algae are particularly at risk. According to analyses, a quarter of them exceed the recommended concentrations.
Today, health authorities have set a tolerable dose of 0.35 µg/kg/day for humans.
However, for children, dietary exposure is even more concerning: nearly 15% of them exceed the indicated weekly standard of 2.5 µg/kg.
And for smokers, it is more than alarming: each cigarette would contain about 2 µg of cadmium.
Another example: a simple 20 g chocolate bar can provide up to 9 µg of cadmium, which is 85% of the maximum rate for a child, and nearly a third for an adult.
The conclusion is clear: even when water meets standards, pollution levels can exceed tolerable thresholds. In short, regulation reduces danger but does not eliminate it.
Reducing cadmium ingestion through water is essential, especially when our diet already brings in much more than we realize.
What are the solutions to protect ourselves from cadmium in water?
Too present in our diet, cadmium must at least be eliminated from our drinking water. Good news: this is entirely possible.
But not with just any system. Classic filter jugs (Brita, Philips, Amazon…) improve taste and retain chlorine, but that’s where it ends. Their effect on heavy metals like cadmium is limited and does not last long. Worse: if poorly maintained, they become a true breeding ground for bacteria, release microplastics, and generate plastic waste with every cartridge change.
In contrast, the Opropre Turquoise under-sink filter stands out for its performance. Its combination of coconut activated carbon and targeted resin allows for the elimination of heavy metal levels (lead, mercury, zinc…), microplastics, nanoplastics, pesticides, and even PFAS, these pollutants that are almost impossible to remove.
And most importantly: it preserves essential minerals, for healthy, high-quality, and beneficial water.
Add to this a returnable, rechargeable, and recyclable cartridge, and you get a sustainable, reliable solution designed for daily use.
With Opropre Turquoise, filtering your tap water becomes a true act of protection for you and your children.
To find out what the best water filter for the home is, discover our comparative article on the different systems for filtering and purifying tap water.
