Background:
For many years, researchers have evaluated environmental damage caused by heavy metals, including cadmium, as well as health risks in the population exposed to them. Thus the aim of our study was to evaluate cadmium levels in the atmospheric air in 2009, including summer and winter heating season. A comparative analysis was performed using the corresponding data from 2005–2008.

Material and Methods:
In the study, we used the statistical output data of air pollution obtained from particular measurement stations in the Silesian Voivodeship. The measurements were taken in the Provincial Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in Katowice city as a procedure of environmental monitoring. PM10 samples were processed to determine cadmium(Cd) concentration using atomic absorption spectrometry(AAS).

Results:
In 2009, annual average cadmium levels in the atmospheric air were 0.7 ng/m3 – 5.3 ng/m3. The highest level was recorded in Miasteczko Śląskie and the lowest one in Jaworzno. The target level of cadmium (5 mg/m3) in the air for the protection of human health was exceeded within the station – Miasteczko Śląskie. In the other ten measuring stations both in 2009 as well as the time interval 2005–2008 target of cadmium determined annum has not been exceeded. The collected data indicate a seasonal variation of the cadmium concentration in ambient air.

Conclusions:
The levels of air pollution by cadmium in the cities studied Silesia in 2009 and in the years 2005–2008 have remained at a similar level.