Cadmium in Fertilizers. Risk to human health and the environment
Louekari, Kimmo; Mäkelä-Kurtto, Ritva; Pasanen, Jaana; Virtanen, Virpi; Sippola, Jouko; Malm, Jukka (2000-12)
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Lataukset:
Louekari, Kimmo
Mäkelä-Kurtto, Ritva
Pasanen, Jaana
Virtanen, Virpi
Sippola, Jouko
Malm, Jukka
maa- ja metsätalousministeriö
12 / 2000
Julkaisusarja:
Publications of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry 4/2000This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:952-453-020-1Tiivistelmä
The aim of this report was to estimate impacts of cadmium in phosphorus fertilizers on a cadmium content and cadmium balance of the cultivated soil, and to assess related human health and environmental risks under Finnish conditions. The assessment was performed by applying, as appropriate, the EU principles on risk assessment of New and Existing Substances, and the guidance document prepared by Environmental Resources Management Limited for the risk assessment of cadmium in fertilizers. The work was carried out on the basis of the available literature and other information relating to the occurrence of cadmium in the environment in Finland, harmful environmental influences of cadmium, as well as its adverse health effects.
Based on the cadmium mass balances hundred-year scenarios were calculated at three different cadmium levels in P-fertilizers:
1) the present Finnish average cadmium level in fertilizers (i.e. 2.5 mg Cd/kg P),
2) the cadmium level corresponding to the national limit (i.e. 50 mg Cd/kg P),
and 3) the cadmium level corresponding to an average European value (138 mg Cd/kg P).
At present, cadmium concentrations in the Finnish cultivated soils pose a risk to soil organisms. Also, the leaching of cadmium from the arable land is causing a risk to the aquatic environment. However, if the use of the low cadmium P-fertilizers will be continued in Finland, it will result in a balance between cadmium inputs and outputs or even in a gradual decrease in the cadmium concentrations of soil, crops and leachates. The use of P-fertilizers containing cadmium at a level of the Finnish national limit value and, especially at a level of the average European content, would increase the risk to the environment.
At present, a part of the elderly population in Finland is at risk from adverse health effects caused by cadmium. These risk groups consist of people whose dietary intake of cadmium has increased by using much of kidneys, liver, mushrooms, or molluscs in their diet, people whose gastrointestinal absorption of cadmium has increased because of deficiency of iron and heavy smokers. In these risk groups, the estimated urinary level of cadmium can be associated with high risk of kidney dysfunction and bone effects. An increase in the cadmium content of P-fertilizers would increase the size of the risk groups considerably.
Based on the cadmium mass balances hundred-year scenarios were calculated at three different cadmium levels in P-fertilizers:
1) the present Finnish average cadmium level in fertilizers (i.e. 2.5 mg Cd/kg P),
2) the cadmium level corresponding to the national limit (i.e. 50 mg Cd/kg P),
and 3) the cadmium level corresponding to an average European value (138 mg Cd/kg P).
At present, cadmium concentrations in the Finnish cultivated soils pose a risk to soil organisms. Also, the leaching of cadmium from the arable land is causing a risk to the aquatic environment. However, if the use of the low cadmium P-fertilizers will be continued in Finland, it will result in a balance between cadmium inputs and outputs or even in a gradual decrease in the cadmium concentrations of soil, crops and leachates. The use of P-fertilizers containing cadmium at a level of the Finnish national limit value and, especially at a level of the average European content, would increase the risk to the environment.
At present, a part of the elderly population in Finland is at risk from adverse health effects caused by cadmium. These risk groups consist of people whose dietary intake of cadmium has increased by using much of kidneys, liver, mushrooms, or molluscs in their diet, people whose gastrointestinal absorption of cadmium has increased because of deficiency of iron and heavy smokers. In these risk groups, the estimated urinary level of cadmium can be associated with high risk of kidney dysfunction and bone effects. An increase in the cadmium content of P-fertilizers would increase the size of the risk groups considerably.