Cadmium Accumulation in Plants and Animals of Polluted and Nonpolluted Grasslands

Abstract

Cadmium concentrations in soils, plants, and animals from two sites in southwestern Montana were determined. Primary emphasis was placed upon agriculturally important plants and animals. One of the sites had a history of pollution from a smelter complex, while the second had no history of industrial contamination.Determination of extractable Cd in soils collected at intervals along a line from the smelter to the polluted study site showed that this smelter was probably the source of the high soil Cd levels. Soils, plants, and animals from the polluted study area showed marked elevations in Cd concentrations compared to the nonpolluted site. Average Cd levels in vegetative samples from polluted and nonpolluted areas were: grasses (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. and Stipa comata Trin. & Rupr.), 1.72 and 0.07; alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), 0.83 and 0.06; and barley grain (Hordeum vulgare L.), 0.65 and 0.08 ppm, respectively. Average levels in animal tissues were: cattle liver, 0.34 and 0.06; cattle kidney, 1.67 and 0.22; swine liver, 0.24 and 0.14; swine kidney, 0.99 and 0.39 ppm Cd from the polluted and nonpolluted sites, respectively.

Cadmium Bioavailability, Uptake, Toxicity and Detoxification in Soil-Plant System

“…Industrial emission, animal manures, sewage sludge and phosphate fertilizers are reported to have increased Cd concentrations in agricultural soils (Rao and Kashifuddin 2012). Munshower (1977), for example, reported high Cd levels (29 mg/kg) in Montana up to two km northeast of a Pb-Zn smelter, which decreased with distance and reached near background levels after 24 km. Recently, Shahid et al (2013b) reported high levels of Cd (70.2 mg/kg) within a 40 km 2 area surrounding the Metaleurop smelter near Evin-Malmaison (North of France).…”

Cadmium

“…In the Uni ted States, in Deer Lodge Valley, Montana average Cd concentrations in contaminated (from smelting) vs. noncontaminated areas were: grasses, 1.72 and 0.07; alfalfa, 0.83 and 0.06; and barley grain, 0.65 and 0.08 ppm, respectively (Munshower, 1977). Average levels in animal tissues were: cattle liver, 0.34 and 0.06; cattle kidney, 1.67 and 0.22; swine liver, 0.24 and 0.14; and swine kidney, 0.99 and 0.39 ppm, from contaminated and noncontaminated areas, respectively.…”

Lead contamination in smelting and mining environments and variations in chemical forms and bioavailability

“…However, topsoil metal concentrations are generally found to be at maximum levels in the immediate smelter area with an exponential decrease to near background concentrations over relatively small distances (John, 1971;Wang et al, 1992;Munshower, 1977;Burkitt et al, 1972;Roberts et al, 1974;Lagerwerff et al, 1973;Landrigan et al, 1975;Farago and O'Connell, 1983;Linzon et al, 1976;Keizer et al, 1982;Schmitt et al, 1979). The extent of this rapid fall-off range varies between different studies but is often less than 2-3 km.…”