Environmental impact of a cadmium atmospheric pollution at Marseille (South France)

Abstract
In 1999, a cadmium atmospheric pollution had been detected at Marseille, south France. Cadmium was emitted by a wire-drawing factory. The Cd atmospheric concentration reached 5000 ng/m ³, 1000 times over the EEC limit value. After the factory closing, cadmium concentration decreased and reached the EEC limit value (5 ng/m ³) one year after. Soils were also polluted by cadmium (to 60 mg/kg). More than fifty percent of the cadmium in soils is contained in the leachable and bioavailable fractions. Concentration in vegetables had also exceeded the authorized values. A study of cadmium concentration in urines of children and adults living around the factory show a higher average concentration for the population (children and adults) in the contaminated zone, compared to a similar population in a non contaminated zone.