Environmental Hazards of Cadmium: Past, Present, and Future

By M. T. Hayat, Muhammad Nauman, Nida Nazir, Shafaqat Ali, N. Bangash. Cadmium Toxicity and Tolerance in Plants, 2019

141 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Abstract Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic element that is not required by all living organisms. It poses many environmental threats that can ultimately cause disorders in plants and diseases in human beings. It can accumulate in different organs of the human body due to its persistent nature. Cd is released into the environment through various natural and anthropogenic activities such as mining, smelting, and refining. It is also being used in many other industrial applications, such as plastics, pigments, enamels, ceramics, and steel plating. Cd exposure can be through water, air, and soil, which results in Cd toxicity. Some industrial processes produce Cd as a byproduct. Using emissions control equipment, the emission from the incineration of municipal solid waste can be controlled up to 95%. Cd toxicity can affect bones, the respiratory system, kidneys, reproduction, and can potentially lead to cancer in humans. Low concentrations of cadmium are highly toxic, and carcinogenic to plants. Cd has no part in plants’ growth and other metabolic processes. It is mainly accumulated in the roots, shoots, and edible parts of the plants. Some plants can tolerate a small concentration of Cd, while some show changes in their phenotype, such as a decrease in weight, roots, and shoot lengths. Cytotoxicity, inflammation, and deterioration have also been observed in plants due to Cd toxicity. Different types of food may have different levels of cadmium, such as green leafy vegetables, fish, and meat. So, if the present trend of Cd utilization continues, worse consequences will result. Restoration of Cd-contaminated sites and proper disposal of Cd-containing materials must be followed to prevent Cd toxicity.

Subfields: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, Materials Chemistry, Pollution

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