Cadmium

Found in:

• Some contacts, switches
• Rechargeable nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries, e.g. in laptops
• Used as a stabilizer in some PVC formulations, e.g. wire insulation
• On some circuit boards in plated contacts and switches
• Cadmium sulphide used in older CRTs’ phosphors coating

Impacts:

Highly toxic to plants, animals and humans, causing kidney and bone damage at low levels, heart disease, & hypertension. Known human carcinogen.

Bioaccumulative.