CADMIUM IN THE FOOD-CHAIN - A REVIEW

Excessive accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in man is associated with vario us toxic effects like renal dysfunction and osteomalacia. It is now ge nerally accepted that environmental sources of Cd are increasing and t his review gives a general pattern of Cd translocation in the human fo od chain. In the aquatic environment Cd can be transferred, without bi omagnification, in aquatic plants, molluscs and crustaceans. The exten t of Cd uptake by plants is hightly positively correlated to Cd soil c oncentrations. Cd retention in tissues of farm animals demonstrates th at the liver and kidneys Cd concentrations are correlated to the envir onmental Cd contamination. Thus, the various potential hazard, like th e sewage sludge amendements, must be evaluated. For the general popula tion, the main exposure to Cd is via food and vegetable products (cere als, bulb crops, leafy vegetables). The results from the french survey s on trace elements in animals tissues demonstrate that cattle and swi ne liver Cd concentrations are lower than 0,5 ppm. These data are comp ared to those obtained in other countries. Dietary intake of Cd in Fra nce is estimated to be lesser than the maximum allowed level (1 mu g/k g b.w./day), but other studies are necessary to estimate the human exp osure.