Use Nationally and in Massachusetts

Updated May 2021

Cadmium: Use Nationally and in Massachusetts 

Use in the United States

In the U.S the major use of cadmium compounds is cadmium hydroxide used in the manufacture of nickel-cadmium batteries.²⁰  Other uses include manufacture of pigments (as cadmium selenide and cadmium sulfide), coatings and plating solutions (as cadmium fluoroborate, cadmium iodide, cadmium oxide, and cadmium sulfate), and stabilizers for plastics (as cadmium oxide, cadmium laurate, and cadmium stearate).

Batteries: Nickel cadmium is currently the most widely used cadmium battery, and accounts for nearly all of the cadmium used in batteries.  This amounts to the majority of the total cadmium used in the United States.  Silver cadmium is also used in batteries for aircraft and space applications.

Pigments: Cadmium pigments account for a small percentage of the cadmium used in the United States. Most cadmium pigments are used in plastics applications. Other uses of cadmium pigments include paints, ceramic ware, glass, and decorative coatings for metals, printing inks, and rubber.

Coatings and Plating Solutions: Cadmium coatings are applied to steel products such as aircraft landing gear components, automotive brake parts, fasteners of all types, and springs. In addition, cadmium coatings have been widely used on electrical and electronic components, such as connectors, equipment housings, and switches.  Cadmium usage for coatings and plating solutions in the U.S. has been greatly reduced since the 1960s, and especially in the 1990s, due to restrictions placed on industries by the U.S. EPA for their use of cadmium.²⁰

Between 1991 and 2020, total U.S. Cadmium Import and Exports have declined from 2488 to 193 metric tons. Although this is a 92% reduction in Imports and Exports from the U.S., domestic production and consumption of cadmium have been withheld, since 2011.²¹

New uses for cadmium in the synthesis of ultrathin photovoltaic films comprised of cadmium Selenide (CdSe) and cadmium Telluride (CdTe) nanocrystals are emerging uses.^22,23

Use in Massachusetts

Between 1990 and 2018 Massachusetts companies that are required to report toxic chemical usage under TURA (referred to as “TURA filers”) reported an 81% reduction in the overall use of cadmium and cadmium compounds, even after lowered Higher Hazard Substance (HHS) thresholds brought in new filers beginning in 2008. 

Table 1 summarizes the use of cadmium and cadmium compounds in Massachusetts by industry sector, based on toxics use reduction reporting data from Massachusetts companies.

Table 1: Massachusetts Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds Consumption by Industry Sector (1990-2018)

^aBlank cells indicate that cadmium and cadmium compounds were not reported under by that company for the corresponding year. Note that the HHS reporting threshold for 2018 is 1,000 pounds.
^bUse categories were assigned based on TURI's interpretation of facility-reported information under TURA.
^cReported below the 1,000 pound threshold
Source: Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act data, 2019.

For the purpose of assessing trends, industry sectors were aggregated into six use categories: Custom Compound Resins, Plastics Film and Sheet, Wire and Electronic Devices, Metal Products Manufacturing, Plating and Electroplating, and Electronics Recycling.

Plastics and Resins Manufacture

Uses of cadmium and cadmium compounds in the plastics and resins sectors are associated with stabilizer additives and pigments in plastic and synthetic products.¹⁶ Plastics formulators in Massachusetts, including manufacturers of custom resin formulations, and manufacturers of plastic products such as sheet and film plastic, had eliminated their reportable uses of cadmium by 2003. A new manufacturer of protective resins began reporting in 2008 due to lowered higher hazard substances (HHS) reporting thresholds.

Suitable substitute additives and pigments were identified and used by this industry within 4 years of initial reporting. AlphaGary continued to manufacture custom polymer compounds containing cadmium until 2002. However, it reduced its use of cadmium by over 90% within the first year of reporting.

Wire and Wiring Device Manufacture

American Insulated Wire Corp used plastics containing cadmium compounds in 1990 only. This company, which manufactures electrical and electronic wire, cable and cord set products, serving a variety of markets, continued to manufacture products, but was able to reduce its use of cadmium compounds below the reporting threshold within one year of reporting.

Checon Corporation began reporting cadmium compounds in 2004. Checon supplies electrical contact materials for a variety of applications, including industrial control, electrical switch, wiring device, appliance, and automotive. Two new tape, wire, and button manufacturers began reporting after 2008 due to lowered HHS reporting thresholds.

Metal Products Manufacturing

Cadmium is used in low melting point and brazing alloys with bismuth, lead and tin. Cadmium containing alloys are used as bearings, solders and copper hardeners in fire detection devices, high-speed machinery, automotive components, and nuclear reactor control rods ^1,24 Alloy manufacturing industries in Massachusetts include nonferrous rolling and drawing, primary metal products, and motor vehicle parts and accessories. Products manufactured by companies in Massachusetts within these industry sectors include:

• Silver powder and cadmium oxide bars
• Silver cadmium alloy forming and casting

One new company, making precision metal parts, began reporting in 2008 due to the reporting thresholds. 

Plating and Electroplating

Production processes conducted in the electroplating sector include cadmium electroplating and cadmium cyanide electroplating.

Between 1990 and 2018, cadmium use in electroplating applications decreased by 45% in Massachusetts. This decrease was due primarily to the elimination of cadmium-cyanide electroplating operations at the Texas Instruments facility in Attleboro in 2000. Some plating shops have had success with their supply chains and customers in eliminating cadmium. Four new plating and electroplating filers began reporting after 2008 due to lowered HHS reporting thresholds.

Companies Entering the Reporting Universe

The TURA Administrative Council designated cadmium and cadmium compounds as higher hazard substances under TURA in January 2008, which reduces the reporting threshold for to 1,000 pounds per year. As a result, 10 new TURA filers reported due to the lower reporting threshold and currently there are still 10 filers that are reporting due to the lower threshold (though two of those reported amounts below reporting thresholds).

Inputs and Outputs in Massachusetts

Overall, Massachusetts has experienced an 81% reduction in the use of Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds since 1990.

Figure 1 shows the use of cadmium and cadmium compounds reported under TURA from 1990 to 2018. There has been an 81% reduction in use of cadmium and cadmium compounds, since 1990, even with the addition of new filers under the HHS reporting threshold. Significant reductions in the use of cadmium stabilizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) occurred in the second year of reporting by AlphaGary and American Insulated Wire.

Figure 2 shows the releases of cadmium and cadmium compounds reported under TURA from 1990 to 2018. Releases have reduced by 98% overall, but have increased from their lowest point, before HHS thresholds came into effect.