Therefore volcanic activity is one natural
reason for a temporary increase in environmental cadmium
concentrations. Cadmium is widely used in industrial
processes, e.g.: as an anticorrosive agent, as a
stabilizer in PVC products, as a colour pigment, a neutronabsorber
in nuclear power plants, and in the fabrication of
nickel-cadmium batteries. Phosphate fertilizers also show
a big cadmium load. Although some cadmium-containing
products can be recycled, a large share of the general
cadmium pollution is caused by dumping and incinerating
cadmium-polluted waste [1]. In Scandinavia for example,
cadmium concentration in agricultural soil increases
by 0.2% per year. Total global emission of cadmium
amounts to 7000 t/year