Washing of Cadmium(II) from a Contaminated Soil Column

The washing of cadmium (from CdO_(s)) from a soil column employing either an acid solution or EDTA (a strong metal chelator) was examined. For Cd(II) levels of 50 to 1000 mg/kg, the fraction removed was essentially independent of the initial Cd(II) concentration. The most efficient washing of cadmium was achieved using an acid wash solution at pH 2.5. Lower Cd(II) removals were found at lower pH, apparently due to inhibition of CdO_(s) dissolution by constituents released from the soil under highly acidic conditions. EDTA wash solutions were employed at EDTA:cadmium molar ratios ranging from 1:1 to 10:1. Up to 90% removal of total Cd(II) was achieved at the 10:1 ratio after the passage of the first 50?PV of wash solution. Although higher chelate levels enhanced Cd(II) removal, the utilization efficiency of EDTA for cadmium decreased.     

Chromium and cadmium removal from wastewater using duckweed - Lemna gibba L. and ultrastructural deformation due to metal toxicity

Phytoremediation potential of Lemna gibba was evaluated for chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd) under laboratory conditions for variable metal load of 1?mg/l, 3?mg/l, 5mgl, 7?mg/l and 9?mg/l, respectively, for 7 and 15?days of treatment period. Effects of both metals on structural attributes of L. gibba were also analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) study. The metal removal percentage by L. gibba for Cr metal was found in the range of 37.3% to 98.6% and for cadmium it was found within the range of 81.6% to 94.6%. Bio concentration factor (BCF) of L .gibba was observed within the range of 37 to 295 for Cr metal and for Cd metal it ranged from 237 to 1144, which shows that the plant is a hyper accumulator for Cd metal and moderate accumulator for Cr metal. Statistical analysis (Two-way ANOVA) was performed on experimental results to confirm the individual effect of metal concentration and treatment period as well as cumulative effect of both factors together on percentage metal removal and on BCF. Research studies indicated that with the progress of treatment period metal removal percentage increases but increasing metal load during experiment negatively co-relates the metal removal percentage and BCF.     

Optimization of Nitrate and Manganese Removal by Bacterium Pseudomonas sp. H117 in Mixotrophic Condition

Previous study has revealed that Pseudomonas sp. H117 could exhibit excellent performance on autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification in polluted groundwater. However, a novel character of simultaneous denitrification and manganese removal by the bacteria remained to be further explored. In this study, we investigated optimum conditions of nitrate and Mn(II) removal by the strain H117 in mixotrophic condition. Different factors (temperature, initial pH, nitrate concentration, and Mn(II) concentration) were investigated and optimized by response surface methodology (RSM), demonstrating that the highest nitrate removal ratio (100%) in the mixotrophic condition occurred at the temperature of 30.20?°C, pH of 6.90, and Mn(II) concentration of 61.81?mg/l. Meanwhile, the optimal Mn(II) removal (73.34%) conditions were at the temperature of 29.33?°C, pH of 7.22, and nitrate concentration of 20.74?mg/l. Furthermore, microbial development pattern, cellular metabolites, and bioprecipitation were characterized by the excitation emission matrix (EEM), meteorological chromatography analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods, respectively. These results demonstrated that strain H117 can have good adaptability to the environment, thus exhibiting an efficient ability for bioremediation of groundwater polluted by nitrate and Mn(II).     

Relationship of protozoan biomass to phosphate and nitrate removal from activated sludge mixed liquor

The relationship between protozoan biomass concentration and phosphate and nitrate removal was investigated in mixed liquor using three different carbon sources as supplements. The study was carried out using three respective initial biomass concentrations in a shaking flask environment. Samples were taken every 24 h to determine phosphate, nitrate, dissolved oxygen and chemical oxygen demand. The results revealed a direct relationship between decreases in nutrient concentrations and increases in cell densities of the isolates. Between 24 and 96 h, the increases in the protozoan density corresponded to a phosphate decreases from initial ranges of 55.42–57.36 mg/L, 50.27–51.17 mg/L and 50.01–50.83 mg/L to final ranges of 2.46–11.90 mg/L, 0.61–11.80 mg/L and 1.29–13.89 mg/L, in the presence of Aspidisca, Trachelophyllum and Peranema, respectively. Nitrate concentrations were observed to decrease from initial ranges of 23.84–25.90 mg/L, 23.94–25.84 mg/L and 26.12–26.54 mg/L to final ranges of 0.11–6.32 mg/L, 0.16–5.60 mg/L and 0.24–9.04 mg/L, respectively. The study had revealed that an increase in cell density of the test isolates produces a corresponding increase in phosphate and nitrate removal.     

Bio-removal of cadmium by growing deep-sea bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. SCSE709-6

Effective bio-removal of heavy metals is important for water treatment. Although a number of microorganism species demonstrated the ability of living cells to remove cadmium, most of them were tested at fixed concentration of metals, salinity, and temperature. This paper reported a research on the screening and performance of a newly developed deep-sea bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas sp. SCSE709-6, for Cd(II) removal by growing cells under a range of experimental conditions: 0–50 mg/L of Cd(II), 15–30 °C of incubation temperatures, 6.5–8.0 of initial pH, and 1.5–5.0 % of salinity. Study results revealed that Pseudoalteromonas sp. SCSE709-6 could remove more than 96 % of Cd(II) on growth. The Cd(II) bioremoval was in correlation but not in accordance with biomass. As cadmium concentrations increased, the Cd(II) removal by cell adsorption played an increasingly important role compared with that of intracellular accumulation. For the removal mechanism, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that carboxyl, amido and hydroxyl of saccharides, and proteins in the extracellular polymeric substances are the most active groups for Cd(II) absorption. The bacterium reported in this study offers a new microbe strain for Cd(II) bioremediation.     

Sorption of Cu(II) and Cd(II) by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from Aspergillus fumigatus

Sorption of Cu(II) and Cd(II) onto the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by Aspergillus fumigatus was investigated for the initial pH of the solution, EPS concentrations, contact time, NaCl concentration, initial metal ion concentration and the presence of other ions in the solution. The results showed that the adsorption of metal ions was significantly affected by pH, EPS concentrations, initial metal concentration, NaCl concentration and co-ions. The sorption of Cu(II) and Cd(II) increased with increasing pH and initial metal ion concentration but decreased with an increase in the NaCl concentration. The maximum sorption capacities of A. fumigatus EPS calculated from the Langmuir model were 40 mg g⁻¹ EPS and 85.5 mg g⁻¹ EPS for Cu(II) and Cd(II), respectively. The binary metal sorption experiments showed a selective metal binding affinity in the order of Cu(II) > Pb(II) > Cd(II). Both the Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models described the sorption of Cu(II) and Cd(II) by the EPS of A. fumigatus adequately. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed that carboxyl, amide and hydroxyl functional groups were mainly correlated with the sorption of Cu(II) and Cd(II). Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) system analysis revealed that the ion-exchange was an important mechanism involved in the Cu(II) and Cd(II) sorption process taking place on EPS.     

Bioremediation of synthetic high–chemical oxygen demand wastewater using microalgal species Chlorella pyrenoidosa

The microalgal species Chlorella pyrenoidosa was cultivated in synthetic wastewater of initial chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrate, and phosphate concentrations of 5000, 100, and 40 mg/L, respectively. The aim of the study was to find out the tolerance of microalgae to different COD concentrations and the extent of COD degradation at those concentrations. Three dilutions of wastewater (initial COD concentrations 5000, 3000, and 1000 mg/L) and three inoculum sizes (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 g/L) were considered for the study. The experimental parameters such as total organic carbon, total inorganic carbon, COD, optical density, total solids, nitrate, and phosphate were measured on a daily basis. Biodegradation kinetics was determined for all cases using first-order reaction and Monod degradation equations. Optimal results showed that up to 90% reduction in TOC was obtained for 1000 COD wastewater while only 38% reduction in total organic carbon (TOC) was achieved for 5000 COD wastewater. Over 95% reduction in nitrate and nearly 90% removal of phosphate were obtained with the lowest microalgal inoculum concentration (i.e., 0.1 g/L) for all COD dilutions. This study showed that microalgal species C. pyrenoidosa can successfully degrade the organic carbon source (i.e., acetate) with significant removal efficiencies for nitrate and phosphate.     

Removal of cadmium(II) ion from aqueous system by dry biomass, immobilized live and heat-inactivated Oscillatoria sp. H1 isolated from freshwater (Mogan Lake)

Oscillatoria sp. H1 (Cyanobacteria, microalgae) isolated from Mogan Lake was used for the removal of cadmium ions from aqueous solutions as its dry biomass, alive and heat-inactivated immobilized form on Ca-alginate. Particularly, the effect of physicochemical parameters like pH, initial concentration and contact time were investigated. The sorption of Cd(II) ions on the sorbent used was examined for the cadmium concentrations within the range of 25-250 mg/L. The biosorption of Cd(II) increased as the initial concentration of Cd(II) ions increased in the medium up to 100 mg/L. Maximum biosorption capacities for plain alginate beads, dry biomass, immobilized live Oscillatoria sp. H1 and immobilized heat-inactivated Oscillatoria sp. H1 were 21.2, 30.1, 32.2 and 27.5 mg/g, respectively. Biosorption equilibrium was established in about 1 h for the biosorption processes. The biosorption was well described by Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. Maximum adsorption was observed at pH 6.0. The alginate-algae beads could be regenerated using 50 mL of 0.1 mol/L HCl solution with about 85% recovery.     

Production of a Metal-Binding Exopolysaccharide by Paenibacillus jamilae Using Two-Phase Olive-Mill Waste as Fermentation Substrate

The present study investigated the use of two-phase olive mill waste (TPOMW) as substrate for the production of exopolysaccharide (EPS) by the endospore-forming bacilli Paenibacillus jamilae. This microorganism was able to grow and produce EPS in aqueous extracts of TPOMW as a unique source of carbon. The effects of substrate concentration and the addition of inorganic nutrients were investigated. Maximal polymer yield in 100-ml batch-culture experiments (2 g l⁻¹) was obtained in cultures prepared with an aqueous extract of 20% TPOMW (w/v). An inhibitory effect was observed on growth and EPS production when TPOMW concentration was increased. Nutrient supplementation (nitrate, phosphate, and other inorganic nutrients) did not increase yield. Finally, an adsorption experiment of Pb (II), Cd (II), Cu (II), Zn (II), Co (II), and Ni (II) by EPS is reported. Lead was preferentially complexed by the polymer, with a maximal uptake of 230 mg/g EPS.     

Removal of nitrate and phosphorus from hydroponic wastewater using a hybrid denitrification filter (HDF)

A laboratory-scale hybrid-denitrification filter (HDF) was designed by combining a plant material digester and a denitrification filter into a single unit for the removal of nitrate and phosphorus from glasshouse hydroponic wastewater. The carbon to nitrate (C:N) ratio for efficient operation of the HDF was calculated to be 1.93:1 and the COD/BOD₅ ratio was 1.2:1. When the HDF was continuously operated with the plant material replaced every 2 days and 100% internal recirculation of the effluent, a high level of nitrate removal (320–5 mg N/L, >95% removal) combined with a low effluent sBOD₅ concentration (<5 mg/L) was consistently achieved. Moreover, phosphate concentrations in the effluent were maintained below 7.5 mg P/L (>81% reduction). This study demonstrates the potential to combine a digester and a denitrification filter in a single unit to efficiently remove nitrate and phosphate from hydroponic wastewater in a single unit.     

Utilization of Mentha aquatica L. for removal of fecal pathogens and heavy metals from water of Bosna river,Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of Mentha aquatica L. for phytoremediation of water contaminated with heavy metals and fecal pathogens from Bosna river. The water was treated with M. aquatica for 5, 10, and 15 days consecutively after which it was analyzed for the various physicochemical and microbiological parameters.

The initial concentration of cadmium (Cd) ranged from 3.644 to 6.108?µg/l, while lead (Pb) varied between 0.1 and 1.386?µg/l. After treatment, M. aquatica accumulated significant amounts of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) with the highest removal rates of 96.49% for Cd and 45.72% for Pb. Values of several physicochemical parameters were decreased after 15 days treatment period.

All water samples were analyzed for enumeration of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, total coliforms, and fecal coliforms by the membrane filtration. Removal efficiency was greater than 80% for microbiological parameters. The concentration of heavy metals was determined in different plant parts and subsequently, the translocation factor was determined. In M. aquatica plant parts, concentrations of Pb and Cd were increased after 15 days of treatment. Our results demonstrated that M. aquatica could be good candidates for the removal of fecal pathogens and heavy metals present in surface water.     

Composites with alginate beads: A novel design of nano-adsorbents impregnation for large-scale continuous flow wastewater treatment pilots

The sorption capacity of cadmium (Cd (II)) on three new generated nanocomposite beads sodium alginate (SA) based; SA-Clay (SA-C) beads, SA-Phosphate (SA-P) beads, and SA- Activated Charcoal (SA-Ch) beads was investigated in a batch scale, then a continuous flow reactor.The highest adsorption capacity (137 mg/g) was obtained for SA-Ch using 1000 mg/L of initial Cd (II). The isotherm results showed that the adsorption equilibrium is compatible with the Langmuir isotherm and the sorption capacity of SA-Nano-adsorbent beads is very high. The models used for representing kinetic data was given that the removal of Cd (II) be well-fitted by second-order reaction kinetics. For the fixed bed column treatment, the maximum breakthrough times were 30, 38, and 48  h respectively for the SA-C, SA-P, and SA-Ch.According to the obtained results, it was concluded that SA-Nano-adsorbent bead is an excellent designed material as a nanocomposite for cadmium elimination from wastewater in a continuous treatment process.     

Evaluation of Arthrospira platensis extracellular polymeric substances production in photoautotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic conditions

The kinetic study of Arthrospira platensis extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production under different trophic modes??photoautotrophy (100???mol photons m^?2?s^?1), heterotrophy (1.5?g/L glucose), and mixotrophy (100???mol photons m^?2?s^?1 and 1.5?g/L glucose)??was investigated. Under photoautotrophic and heterotrophic conditions, the maximum EPS production 219.61?±?4.73 and 30.30?±?1.97?mg/L, respectively, occurred during the stationary phase. Under a mixotrophic condition, the maximum EPS production (290.50?±?2.21?mg/L) was observed during the early stationary phase. The highest specific EPS productivity (433.62?mg/g per day) was obtained under a photoautotrophic culture. The lowest specific EPS productivity (38.33?mg/g per day) was observed for the heterotrophic culture. The effects of glucose concentration, light intensity, and their interaction in mixotrophic culture on A. platensis EPS production were evaluated by means of 32 factorial design and response surface methodology. This design was carried out with a glucose concentration of 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5?g/L and at light levels of 50, 100, and 150???mol photons m^?2?s^?1. Statistical analysis of the model demonstrated that EPS concentration and EPS yield were mainly influenced by glucose concentration and that conditions optimizing EPS concentration were dissimilar from those optimizing EPS yield. The highest maximum predicted EPS concentration (369.3?mg/L) was found at 150???mol photons m^?2?s^?1 light intensity and 2.4?g/L glucose concentration, while the highest maximum predicted EPS yield (364.3?mg/g) was recorded at 115???mol photons m^?2?s^?1 light intensity and 1.8?g/L glucose concentration.     

Protozoan biomass relation to nutrient and chemical oxygen demand removal in activated sludge mixed liquor

The relationship between biomass concentration to nutrient and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in mixed liquor supplemented with sodium acetate was investigated, using three protozoan isolates and three different initial biomass concentrations (10(1), 10(2) and 10(3) cells/mL). The study was carried out in a shaking flask environment at a shaking speed of 100 rpm for 96 h at 25 degrees C. Aliquot samples were taken periodically for the determination of phosphate, nitrate, COD and dissolved oxygen, using standard methods. The results revealed remarkable phosphate removal of 82-95% at biomass concentration of 10(3)cells/mL. A high nitrate removal of over 87% was observed at all initial biomass concentration in mixed liquor. There was an observed COD increase of over 50% in mixed liquor in at the end of 96-h incubation and this was irrespective of initial biomass concentration used for inoculation. The study shows the trend in nutrient and COD removal at different biomass concentrations of the test isolates in mixed liquor.     

Cadmium(II) Removal by a Hyperaccumulator Fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoma</Emphasis> sp. F2 Isolated from Blende Soil

A cadmium(II)-resistant fungus, strain F2, isolated from blende soil was identified as Phoma sp. by morphological study and internal transcribed spacer sequencing. This strain could accumulate 280 mg of Cd(II)/g dry weight mycelium. In liquid medium containing 163.8 mg Cd(II)/L, 96% of Cd(II) was removed by the actively growing mycelium. In addition, both oven-dried and lyophilized mycelium could effectively adsorb Cd(II). There were removed 91% and 46.2% of Cd(II) from 51.6 mg Cd(II)/L solution by lyophilized biomass and oven-dried biomass respectively. Transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis showed the accumulation of Cd(II) in the mycelium cell walls. Our results demonstrated that Phoma sp. F2 was a hyperaccumulator for the removal of Cd(II) from contaminated soil and water.     

Cadmium removal in a biosorption column

New biosorbent material derived from a ubiquitous brown marine alga Ascophyllum nodosum has been examined in packed-bed flow-through sorption columns. It effectively removed 10 mg/L of cadmium down to 1.5 ppb levels in the effluent, representing 99.985% removal. The experimental methodology used was based on the early Bohart and Adams sorption model, resulting in quantitative determination of the characteristic process parameters which can be used for performance comparison and process design. An average metal loading of the biosorbent (N(0)) determined was 30 mg Cd/g, corresponding closely to that observed for the batch equilibrium metal concentration of 10 mg Cd/L. The critical bed depth (D(min)) for the potable water effluent quality standard (0.005 mgg Cd/L) varied with the column feed flow rate (2.4 to 9.6 L/h . cm(2)) from 20 to 50 cm. The sorption column mass transfer and dispersion coefficients were determined, which are also required for solving the sorption model equations. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Lack of reversal effect of EDTA treatment on cadmium induced renal dysfunction: a fourteen-year follow-up

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on cadmium (Cd) induced renal dysfunction. Seventeen workers (14 males, 3 females) were diagnosed with occupational Cd poisoning in 1986. These individuals had between 7 to 39 years of Cd exposure. From 1986 to 1999, patients received periodic EDTA therapy as part of their follow-up, all at the same hospital. Levels of urinary cadmium (UCd) and urinary beta2-microglobulin (B2M) were measured before and after each annual EDTA treatment period. Renal dysfunction was defined as urinary B2M > 0.8 mg/g Cr (creatinine). In these workers, patients with UCd level higher than 10 microg/g Cr in 1986 had abnormal B2M excretions (> or = 0.8 mg/g Cr) or trended to have abnormal B2M levels during the treatment period. However, in subjects with UCd concentration lower than 10 microg/g Cr in 1986, their urinary B2M excretions either remained normal (< 0.8 mg/g Cr) or returned to normal during the treatment period. The prevalence of renal dysfunction increased during the follow up period regardless of whether UCd levels increased or not, indicating a progressive renal dysfunction despite removal from Cd exposure. Our results suggest that reversibility of renal dysfunction caused by Cd related to the level of Cd exposure at the time of removal from exposure: renal dysfunction could be reversed if initial UCd < 10 microg/g Cr, but was irreversible when UCd > 10 microg/g Cr. Repeated examinations on these 17 Cd exposed workers from 1986 to 1999 also revealed that periodic administration of EDTA had no beneficial effects on chronic Cd-induced renal dysfunction.     

两株多环芳烃降解菌协同对菲-镉污染的去除特性北大核心

【目的】从污染土壤中分离筛选一株多环芳烃降解菌,并探究其与Pseudomonas aeruginosa B6-2构建的混菌体系对菲-镉复合污染的修复效能,以及微生物代谢特性对不同镉浓度赋存的响应特性,以期为复合污染的生物修复提供优良菌株资源及应用技术参考。【方法】采用富集驯化、筛选纯化方法得到一株多环芳烃降解菌,通过生理生化特征和16S rRNA基因序列分析进行鉴定。利用高效液相色谱法和电感耦合等离子体质谱法评估不同镉浓度赋存下各反应体系对菲和镉的去除效能;通过菌体细胞形态的扫描电镜观测及菌株代谢活性检测,探讨镉胁迫对菲生物降解过程的影响机制。【结果】筛选得到一株具有重金属耐受性和多环芳烃高效降解菌SZ-3,经鉴定为节杆菌属;降解菌协同体系(M)具有良好的菲降解效能和抗镉胁迫优势。镉胁迫浓度为0.5、10 mg/L时,M对菲和镉的去除率分别高于85%、80%;镉胁迫浓度为25、50 mg/L时,2种污染物的去除率均大于65%。扫描电镜分析表明,镉胁迫导致菌体表面粗糙且出现不同程度变形,菌体间黏附性和聚集性提高。反应周期内,邻苯二酚1,2-双加氧酶活性与电子传递体系活性随镉浓度增加而降低,两者变化与菲降解速率变化一致。【结论】Arthrobacter sp.SZ-3是一株PAHs高效降解菌,能与Pseudomonas aeruginosa B6-2协同高效修复菲-镉复合污染,随着初始镉胁迫浓度增加,混菌协同对目标污染物去除的优势显著。     

Biosorptive removal of cadmium from contaminated groundwater and industrial effluents

The cadmium removing capacity of a biosorbent Calotropis procera, a perennial wild plant, is reported here. The biomass was found to possess high uptake capacity of Cd(II). Adsorption was pH dependent and the maximum removal was obtained at two different pH i.e. pH 5.0 and 8.0. Maximum biosorption capacity in batch and column mode was found to be 40 and 50.5 mg/g. The adsorption equilibrium (> or =90% removal) was attained within 5 min irrespective of the cadmium ion concentration. Interfering ions viz. Zn(II), As(III), Fe(II), Ni(II) interfered only when their concentration was higher than the equimolar ratio. The Freundlich isotherm best explained the adsorption, yet the monolayer adsorption was also noted at lower concentrations of Cd(II). The FTIR analysis indicates the involvement of hydroxyl (-OH), alkanes (-CH), nitrite (-NO(2)), and carboxyl group (-COO) chelates in metal binding. The complete desorption of the cadmium was achieved by 0.1M H(2)SO(4) and 0.1M HCl. The C. procera based Cd(II) removal technology appears feasible.     

Soil solution dynamics and plant uptake of cadmium and zinc by durum wheat following phosphate fertilization

A growth chamber study was conducted to evaluate the effect of application of phosphate fertilizer on soil solution dynamics of cadmium (Cd) and Cd accumulation in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum). Treatments consisted of three phosphate fertilizer sources containing 3.4, 75.2, and 232 mg Cd kg^?1 applied at three rates (20, 40 and 80 mg P kg^?1) plus a no fertilization control. An unplanted treatment at 40 mg P kg^?1 was included to separate the effects on soil solution Cd dynamics of the crop from that of the fertilizer. Soil solution samples were obtained using soil moisture samplers every 10 days after germination. The experimental results indicated that plant biomass significantly increased with P application rates and decreased with increased Cd concentration in the phosphate fertilizers. Total cadmium concentration in soil solution was not consistently affected by phosphate fertilization rate and fertilizer sources, and therefore Cd concentration in the fertilizer. Application of phosphate fertilizer, however, increased the concentration and accumulation of Cd and shoot Cd/Zn ratio, and decreased shoot Zn concentration in durum wheat. Phosphate sources had a marginally significant effect (P?=?0.05) on shoot Cd concentration and did not affect Cd accumulation in durum wheat. Concentration of Cd in soil solution was unrelated to Cd concentration in durum wheat. These results suggest that the immediate increase in Cd concentration and Cd accumulation in durum wheat with phosphate application is due more to competition between Zn and Cd for absorption into plants, enhanced root to shoot translocation and enhanced root development, than to a direct addition effect from Cd contained in phosphate fertilizer. In the short term, application of phosphate fertilizers can increase Cd concentration in the crops, regardless of the Cd concentration of the fertilizer. An optimal P fertilization, possibly in combination with Zn application, may offer an important strategy for decreasing Cd concentration and accumulation in crops.