4.2 Health Impacts of Cadmium on Animals
Cadmium is toxic to all animal species and is accumulated in the kidney and to a
lesser extent in the liver. Alsberg and Schwartze (1919) and Schwartze and Alsberg
(1923) reported various morphological changes in organs of a variety of vertebrates
including birds and dogs and mentioned that Cd intoxication can lead to kidney,
bone, and pulmonary damage. Cadmium exposure has been associated with nephrotoxicity, osteoporosis, neurotoxicity, carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, teratogenicity,
and endocrine and reproductive effects (EFSA 2009). In ruminants high blood Cd
concentrations have been reported in areas of high Cd exposure (Lane et al. 2015).
Powell et al. (1964) reported that in ruminants, administration of a high dose of Cd
(640 mg/kg) displayed severe sign of Cd toxicity. These included rough coat hair,
dry scaly skin, dehydration, mouth lesions, shrunken scaly scrotum, sore and
enlarged joints, and some atrophy of hind limb muscles. In rats mild testicular
changes were seen after oral administration of 50 mg of cadmium per kg of body
weight for 15 months (Krajnc 1987). Waalkes and Rehm (1994) concluded that
cadmium given orally to rats caused tumors of the prostate, testis, and hematopoietic
system. Manifestation of toxicity varies considerably, as depending on dose and time
of exposure, species, gender, and environmental and nutritional factors. Subsequently, large differences exist between the effects of a single exposure to a high
concentration of cadmium and chronic exposures to lower doses.
4.3 Toxicity of Cadmium in Plants
4.3.1 Effect of Cd on Growth and Development
Cd toxicity results in inhibition of lateral root development, browning, rolling and
twisting of main root and reduced stem elongation (Yadav 2010; Rascio and NavariIzzo 2011). Alteration in chloroplast ultrastructure, low contents of chlorophylls, and
reduced photosynthetic activity has been observed in plants due to cd exposure (Liu
et al. 2010; Miyadate et al. 2011). Treatment of rice seedlings with Cd led to
inhibition of root growth and alterations in their morphogenesis (Rascio et al.
2008). Acute poisoning in roots of pea plant caused very rapid disorder in mitosis,
resulting in unusual number of nucleus populations in the differentiated roots, even
after 24 h of treatment (Fusconi et al. 2006, 2007). Seth et al. (2008) reported the
inhibition of mitotic index, induction of chromosome aberration, mitotic aberrations,
and micronucleus formation after 24 h of treatment with Cd in Allium cepa. In
addition, damage to the DNA in root cap cells has been found.
15 Cadmium as an Environmental Pollutant: Ecotoxicological Effects, Health. . .
367
Cadmium is toxic to all animal species and is accumulated in the kidney and to a
lesser extent in the liver. Alsberg and Schwartze (1919) and Schwartze and Alsberg
(1923) reported various morphological changes in organs of a variety of vertebrates
including birds and dogs and mentioned that Cd intoxication can lead to kidney,
bone, and pulmonary damage. Cadmium exposure has been associated with nephrotoxicity, osteoporosis, neurotoxicity, carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, teratogenicity,
and endocrine and reproductive effects (EFSA 2009). In ruminants high blood Cd
concentrations have been reported in areas of high Cd exposure (Lane et al. 2015).
Powell et al. (1964) reported that in ruminants, administration of a high dose of Cd
(640 mg/kg) displayed severe sign of Cd toxicity. These included rough coat hair,
dry scaly skin, dehydration, mouth lesions, shrunken scaly scrotum, sore and
enlarged joints, and some atrophy of hind limb muscles. In rats mild testicular
changes were seen after oral administration of 50 mg of cadmium per kg of body
weight for 15 months (Krajnc 1987). Waalkes and Rehm (1994) concluded that
cadmium given orally to rats caused tumors of the prostate, testis, and hematopoietic
system. Manifestation of toxicity varies considerably, as depending on dose and time
of exposure, species, gender, and environmental and nutritional factors. Subsequently, large differences exist between the effects of a single exposure to a high
concentration of cadmium and chronic exposures to lower doses.
4.3 Toxicity of Cadmium in Plants
4.3.1 Effect of Cd on Growth and Development
Cd toxicity results in inhibition of lateral root development, browning, rolling and
twisting of main root and reduced stem elongation (Yadav 2010; Rascio and NavariIzzo 2011). Alteration in chloroplast ultrastructure, low contents of chlorophylls, and
reduced photosynthetic activity has been observed in plants due to cd exposure (Liu
et al. 2010; Miyadate et al. 2011). Treatment of rice seedlings with Cd led to
inhibition of root growth and alterations in their morphogenesis (Rascio et al.
2008). Acute poisoning in roots of pea plant caused very rapid disorder in mitosis,
resulting in unusual number of nucleus populations in the differentiated roots, even
after 24 h of treatment (Fusconi et al. 2006, 2007). Seth et al. (2008) reported the
inhibition of mitotic index, induction of chromosome aberration, mitotic aberrations,
and micronucleus formation after 24 h of treatment with Cd in Allium cepa. In
addition, damage to the DNA in root cap cells has been found.
15 Cadmium as an Environmental Pollutant: Ecotoxicological Effects, Health. . .
367