Cadmium is a metallic element found naturally in the earth's crust. It is typically extracted as a byproduct of mining, smelting, and refining ores like zinc, lead, and copper. Industrially, cadmium is used in batteries, pigments, coatings, and plastics. While its applications have economic benefits, cadmium is a toxic metal with no known essential biological function in humans, making it a significant concern in toxicological studies.
