Cadmium paints are made with Cadmium sulphide, cadmium-zinc sulphide, cadmium-seleno sulphide, and there are even "Mercadium" variants that have mercury added for greater heat stability. Lithopone (co-preciated with barium sulphate) varieties also exist.

So, the cadmium content cannot be 100%, since at least one atom of sulphur is bonded to each atom of cadmium.

Plus, there is oil in a tube of paint and various other compounds.

One issue with heavy metal paints is solubility. Insoluble molecules tend to be less dangerous than soluble molecules. Some soluble molecules are much more dangerous than others, too. Dimethyl mercury is a lot more dangerous, for instance, than mercuric sulphide (vermilion).

- bill 11-10-2010 6:45 pm




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