Cadmium Background Levels in Groundwater in an Area Dominated by Agriculture

Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management
Andreas KubierThomas Pichler

Abstract

Cadmium is a highly toxic trace metal, which can be of geogenic or anthropogenic origin, for example, minerals, phosphate fertilizers, and combustion emissions. Due to its low sorption affinity compared to other heavy metals, Cd is easily mobilized, potentially resulting in elevated Cd concentrations in groundwater. This study assessed background levels of Cd in groundwater related to hydrogeology and hydrogeochemical processes through evaluation of a large hydrogeochemical data set composed of groundwater analyses from 6300 wells in Northwestern Germany. Calculated Cd background levels in groundwater were between 0.01 µg/L in hydrogeological units with mainly reducing conditions and 0.98 µg/L in less reducing groundwater recharge areas. The results showed that groundwater Cd concentrations above 0.5 µg/L (the German threshold value) are not necessarily elevated but could be the regional or ambient background level, depending on the hydrogeological unit. What would be considered as ambient background levels, however, indicated the influence by continuous intensive land use as well as the local geology, which is dominated by glacial deposits. Cadmium concentrations in groundwater were mainly controlled by hydrogeochemical and hy...Continue Reading

References

Mar 1, 1991·The Science of the Total Environment·B J Alloway, A P Jackson
Jul 28, 1999·Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology·D H Nies
Apr 5, 2001·Journal of Environmental Quality·J C SeamanP M Bertsch
Jun 19, 2003·The Science of the Total Environment·W M EdmundsR S Ward
Jun 28, 2003·FEMS Microbiology Reviews·Dietrich H Nies
Mar 29, 2005·Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part A, Toxic/hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering·Zhen-Li HeGuo-Chao Chen
May 14, 2005·The Science of the Total Environment·Clemens Reimann, Robert G Garrett
Jul 5, 2005·The Science of the Total Environment·Clemens ReimannRobert G Garrett
Aug 19, 2009·Environmental Geochemistry and Health·Jilang PanChristian Ihlenfeld
Apr 10, 2012·The Science of the Total Environment·Antonio MolinariAlberto Guadagnini
Apr 15, 2014·The Science of the Total Environment·L Six, E Smolders
May 26, 2015·The Science of the Total Environment·Elliott KellnerAbua Ikem
Jul 15, 2015·The Science of the Total Environment·Tanja LieschNico Goldscheider
Aug 25, 2015·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·Sarvenaz Najafi, Mohsen Jalali
Nov 8, 2015·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·Behzad MehrabiBehrouz Yaghoubi
Dec 3, 2016·Environmental Pollution·Moritz BigalkeArmin Keller
Nov 12, 2017·Water Research·Thomas Riedel, Christine Kübeck
Jun 17, 2018·Environmental Pollution·Emily HepburnMatthew Currell
Jul 8, 2019·The Science of the Total Environment·Andreas Kubier, Thomas Pichler
Jul 1, 2014·Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety·P HajebL Afsah-Hejri

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.