Friday, June 4, 2010

CADMIUM detected on McDonald Shrek glasses

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     McDonald Corp. is recalling 12 million glasses sold as a promotional tie-in to the latest "Shrek: Forever after 3D"  movie because they contain the toxic metal cadmium. 

Cadmium is a chemical element with the symbol Cd and atomic number 48. The soft, bluish-white metal is chemically similar to the two other metals in group 12, zinc and mercury. Similar to zinc it prefers oxidation state +2 in most of its compounds and similar to mercury it shows a low melting point compared to  transition metals. Cadmium and its congeners are not considered transition metals, in that they do not have partly filled d or f electron shells in the elemental or common oxidation states.Cadmium is a relatively abundant element. Cadmium was discovered in 1817 by Friedrich Stromeyer as an impurity in zinc carbonate.

           Cadmium occurs as a minor component in most zinc ores and therefore is a by-product of zinc production. Cadmium was for a long time used as pigment and for corrosion resistant plating on steel. Cadmium compounds were used to stabilize plastic. With the exception of its use in nickel-cadmium batteries and cadmium telluride solar panels, the use of cadmium is generally decreasing in all other applications. This decrease is due to the high toxicity and carcinogenicity of cadmium and the associated health and environmental concerns. Although cadmium is toxic, one enzyme, a carbonic anhydrase with cadmium as reactive center has been discovered.

         According to the Consumer Product Safely Commission, long-term exposure the Cadmium "can cause adverse health effects." Cadmium has been found on the painted designs of the glasses. CSPC stated that Cadmium is extremely toxic and normally it’s used to produce paint, coatings, and batteries along with other products.

Arc Intentional of Milville in New Jersey manufactured the glasses. Not surprisingly, Shares of McDonalds have fallen nearly 1% to $67.31 on Friday morning’s trading. It’s a relief to know McDonalds is voluntarily recalling these glasses but It’s unclear if the burger giant will offer a refund for them. Good thing CSPC caught this toxic chemical in time

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