Trace and Ultratrace Elements in Plants and Soil
CHAPTER 7
Cadmium
T.
Punshon1,2, A.L. Neal2,3 & B.P. Jackson2
1Rutgers University, USA.
2University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory,
USA.
3University of Georgia, Department of Microbiology, USA
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a trace metal with no known biological function, currently
applied in varying quantities to agricultural soil via phosphatic fertilisers
and sewage sludge. Simultaneously, Cd enters the biosphere as a waste
product from various industrial sources. Exposure of biota to Cd causes
far greater zootoxicity than phytotoxicity; Cd induces toxic biological
effects at lower concentrations than almost any other commonly found element.
Combined with comparatively greater environmental mobility, Cd has a tendency
to move rapidly through food webs. Evidence of its transfer through the
food chain, and the devastating effects on human health stimulate a continuing
review of recent literature, particularly to further an understanding
of trophic transfer and remediation. This chapter focuses on recent advances
made in the study of Cd in soil, microbes and plants in addition to trophic
transfer and novel remedial technologies. The chapter briefly discusses
the history of Cd contamination; its continued application, loading of
Cd into the soil, and soil chemistry. More rigorous discussions of biogeochemistry
can be found in several key review texts and will not be repeated here.
SREL Reprint #2798
Punshon, T., A. L. Neal and B. P. Jackson. 2004. Cadmium. p. 171-208. In Trace and Ultratrace Elements in Plants and Soil, edited by I. Shtangeeva. WIT Press.
