Impact of cadmium in the environment of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Under present conditions, a further increase of environmental pollution due to cadmium must be expected. The resulting effects would be seen particularly in an increase of cadmium concentration in the food chain and would lead to a higher average intake of cadmium by man. This means that the relatively small percentage of the population who are now exposed to the risk of renal malfunction due to cadmium would increase significantly. The subsequent decontamination of an area once it has been polluted is not possible according to our present knowledge. The consequences could include considerable limitation of land use for agriculture. It must, therefore, be considered essential to undertake preventative measures in order to limit the further output of cadmium to a minimum. To achieve this there are many possibilities in the field of reduction and prevention technology, possibilities which are worth examining and considering individually.