Cadmium
Definition of cadmium:
Cadmium is a heavy metal with symbol Cd and atomic number 48[1].
This is the common definition for cadmium, other definitions can be discussed in the article
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Notes
The main anthropogenic sources are copper and zinc smelting, batteries and fuel combustion. It mostly enters the marine ecosystem through atmospheric loading and riverine discharges[2].
Cadmium is regarded as one of the most toxic metals. It causes sublethal and behavioral effects at lower concentrations than mercury and lead. It's cancerogenic and causes kidney toxicity in vertebrates[3]. In humans it might also lead to skeletal deficiencies and lung damage[4]. Environmental concentrations of 5µg/l have affected the reproduction of copepods, decreased the abundance of isopods and depressed the growth of juvenile plaice. Laboratory LC50 (the concentration at which 50% of the test subjects die) toxic levels for copepods were above 0,34mg/l[2].
Like other heavy metals, cadmium does not have biomagnifying properties. Higher trophic levels accumulate low amounts of cadmium and are able to deal with them efficiently with metallothioneins. Mollusks contain large amounts of cadmium and seem to accumulate them[5].
Case studies
PCB and heavy metals in beached sperm whalesHeavy metal content of mussels in the Western Scheldt estuary
Common starfish can act as a bioindicator for heavy metal pollution
Effects of heavy metals on the sperm quality and the larvae survival of sea urchins
Heavy metals in various Belgian benthic invertebrates
Environmental standards and legislation
Included in the OSPAR list of substances of priority action
Included in the water framework list of priority substances
See also
Cadmium on the ED North Database
OSPAR background document on cadmium
References
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kennish, M. J. (1996): Practical Handbook of Estuarine and Marine Pollution, CRC Press 524 pp
- ↑ Biology of marine birds. Schreiber, E.A. & Burger, J. (Eds). 2002. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. 722 pp.
- ↑ eds.J. Vos, G. Bossart, M. Fournier, and T. O'Shea, 2004; New perspectives: Toxicology and the environment. Toxicology of marine mammals, New York: Taylor & Francis. 643p
- ↑ Clark, R,B., 1999. Marine pollution. Oxford University press, Fourth edition, pp 161
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