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Cadmium in the atmosphere

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  • Cadmium —a complex environmental problem
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Summary

Cadmium is present naturally in the air mainly as a result of volcanic emissions and release by vegetation. Anthropogenic sources, which overall give rise to emissions one order of magnitude greater than natural sources, are largely primary non-ferrous metals production and waste incineration. Measured concentrations of airborne cadmium are typically < 1 ng m−3 at remote sites, 0.1–10 ng m−3 at rural sites and 1–100 ng m−3 at urban and industrial sites, dependent upon the nature and proximity of local sources. Particle sizes are generally <2 μm, and often considerably smaller, consistent with an anthropogenic source and a long atmospheric life-time. Cadmium deposition to the land occurs with fluxes varying from 0.05 ng cm−2 month−1 in Greenland to circa 1000 ng cm−2 month−1 in the vicinity of major industrial sources. The possible significance of a motor vehicular source of airborne cadmium is also reviewed.

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  1. C. R. Williams

    Present address: British Nuclear Fuels Ltd, Springfields Works, PR4 OXJ, Salwick, Preston, England

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  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, Lancaster, England

    C. R. Williams & R. M. Harrison

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Williams, C.R., Harrison, R.M. Cadmium in the atmosphere. Experientia 40, 29–36 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01959099

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