The presence of heavy metals and other trace elements as contaminants in phosphate rock-based fertilisers has long been known.
These contaminants include cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), lead (Pb). To a greater or lesser extent, these elements may enter the food chain when fertilisers are applied to the soil, and could pose a risk to human health. This first information sheet provides a brief toxprofile on cadmium by the Swiss Center for Applied Human Toxicology, SCAHT, University of Basel (2018).
See also our Explainer Video: Cadmium exposure and human health – SCAHT on the importance to limit Cd in phosphate fertilisers.
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