The teratogenic effects of subcutaneous injections of cadmium in CD rats were investigated. Injections of 4-12 mg/kg CdCl2 on 4 consecutive days beginning on days 13-16 of gestation resulted in a dose-related rise in the fetal death rate, decrease in fetal weight, and increase in the rate of anomalies. The anomalies included micrognathia, cleft palate, clubfoot, and small lungs. The lung/body weight ratios were significantly reduced in fetuses of animals injected with 8 mg/kg CdCl2 on days 14-17 of gestation. The data indicate that this was a specific retardation and not merely a reflection of differential organ growth rates and overall fetal growth retardation.