Fatal cadmium-fume pneumonitis.

A 38-year-old man developed acute respiratory distress several hours after welding cadmium-plated drums without taking precautions against the inhalation of fumes. His respiratory distress worsened over the ensuing three and a half days, and he died. Histological examination of the lungs showed changes of acute cadmium-fume pneumonitis, and chemical analysis of lungs and liver provided confirmatory evidence of considerable absorption of cadmium, of the order previously recorded as causing death. This case is reported so as to renew awareness of this condition, as the cause of the illness was not diagnosed during life.