Rajouri Deaths: What Is Cadmium Toxin And Why It Has Been Linked To 17 Mysterious Deaths In J-K

Rajouri Deaths: The last 48 days saw the death of at least 17 people, including 13 children in Rajouri's Badaal village in Jammu and Kashmir, due to a mysterious illness that haunted the area since 7 December 2024. Now hours after top health officials found a common element in all individuals who died, Union Minister Jitendra Singh told the media that the sickness was caused by cadmium toxin and not because of some virus or bacteria.

The Union Minister stated that cadmium was found in the victims' bodies during the testing at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, according to a report by Jagran.com. However, Singh stated that an inquiry was necessary to determine how cadmium might have entered the victims' bodies.

What Is Cadmium?

Cadmium is a highly toxic metal that can lead to severe health issues when it enters the body. Individuals can be exposed to cadmium through consuming contaminated food, drinking polluted water, or inhaling polluted air. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that cadmium has toxic effects on the kidneys, skeletal system, and respiratory system. It is typically found in the environment at low concentrations and is categorised as a human carcinogen.

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Recycling electronic and electrical waste, toys, jewelry, and plastics containing cadmium can also lead to poisoning. It is currently under investigation whether cadmium entered the bodies of those who died in Badal due to natural or human factors.

Cadmium Toxin Outbreak In Japan

In 1912, Toyama province in Japan experienced a tragic outbreak of cadmium poisoning, resulting in numerous deaths. The disease was known as Itai-Itai in Japan. During that time, river water and soil were contaminated with heavy metals from nearby mines, which in turn polluted the rice fields. As a result, the effects of cadmium poisoning persisted in the population for an extended period.