UNEP's activities on cadmium
Cadmium is a non-essential and toxic element for humans mainly affecting kidneys and the skeleton. It is also a carcinogen by inhalation. Cadmium is accumulated in bone and may serve as a source of exposure later in life. Cadmium is used in batteries, paints, plastics and electroplating, among others. It is released to the atmospheric environment from metals production and fossil fuel combustion. Phosphorous fertilizers and sewage sludges are also a major source of environmental releases of cadmium.
Cadmium Factsheet UNEP, December 2022
Cadmium and fertilizer
Cadmium is a non-nutritive metal considered harmful to the environment and to humans, affecting mainly kidney and the skeleton. It is also carcinogen by inhalation. This heavy metal is used in batteries, paints, plastics and electroplating, among others. It is released to the atmospheric environment from metals production and fossil fuel combustion. Cadmium is naturally present in the earth’s crust and oceans, but can also be added to the soil through natural and anthropogenic activities, such as irrigation waters, manure and fertilizers derived from phosphate rock. When the latter are mined, they can release cadmium concentrations of as much as 300mg/kg when they are used in the soil as fertilizers. Cadmium is considered a class one carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The presence of cadmium in the environment, increased by activities such as years of coal and fossil-fuel usage and mining is a serious health hazard, and its monitoring is essential. The accumulation of cadmium in the soil, through the use of fertilizers, can affect crops and ultimately animals and humans. Its known accumulation in the food chain has the potential for causing chronic diseases of the renal, pulmonary, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems. WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have agreed on and implemented safe exposure levels for food in the Codex Alimentarius and the European Food Safety Association is also enforcing a reduction of cadmium exposure since it is becoming increasingly dangerous for certain subpopulations who are exposed to it the most.
Cadmium has been a concern for the EU since the 1970s (Urich, 2019), due to its toxic nature. Despite most levels of cadmium in anthropogenic sources being regulated, their level in fertilizers remains uncontrolled in across the EU. In 2016, the Fertilizer Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 was revised and proposed, with two main goals. The first one was to allow the free movement of all fertilizers, including recycled and mineral fertilizers. The revision also aimed to increasingly adhere to environmental standards in order to minimize negative effects on human health and the environment. Another important component of the regulation was to limit cadmium in fertilizers, which currently does not have any restriction, to first a limit of 60mg/kg P205, lowered at 40mg after three years and ultimately to 20mg after 12 years. The European Parliament adopted the proposal, but lengthened the time frame to 16 years instead of the initial 12. The US also established environmental standards for this heavy metal. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the ceiling for the amount of cadmium that can be applied to land is 85 mg/kg fill material (National Toxicology Program, 2004).
Mandate
Since 2001, UNEP has been mandated to address the environmental and health risk of lead and cadmium, upon advice from the working group on lead and cadmium.
