Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026
05:21
The Effect of Ultraviolet Radiation on the Chemical Bath Deposition of Bisthiourea Cadmium Chloride Crystals and the Subsequent CdS Obtention
Published on: August 30, 2018
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Cadmium Isotopes Reveal Dominant Atmospheric Deposition Pathways in Agroecosystems
Ruizhi Xia1,2, Xiaowei Xu1, Zhen Zeng1
1State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
Environmental Science & Technology
|January 30, 2026
Summary
Atmospheric cadmium (Cd) deposition significantly impacts agriculture. Stable isotopes reveal dry deposition influences soil Cd, with foliar uptake contributing substantially to crops like rice.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Agricultural Science
- Geochemistry
Background:
- Atmospheric cadmium (Cd) deposition presents risks to agricultural ecosystems and food safety.
- Quantifying Cd transport and contribution in soil-crop systems is challenging.
- Understanding deposition mechanisms is crucial for risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the biogeochemistry of atmospheric Cd deposition in agroecosystems.
- To quantitatively trace Cd pathways and sources using stable isotope analysis.
- To assess the bioavailability and plant uptake of atmospheric Cd.
Main Methods:
- Two-year field open-top chamber (OTC) and greenhouse experiments.
- Stable isotope analysis to track Cd origins and transformations.
- Isotope mixing model with greenhouse-derived fractionation factors for source apportionment.
Main Results:
- Newly deposited Cd ages rapidly in soils; bioavailability depends on deposition type (dry vs. wet).
- Dry deposition primarily governs the isotopic signature of soil bioavailable Cd.
- Atmospheric deposition contributes 29-65% to soil bioavailable Cd; foliar uptake exceeds root uptake for rice and pak choi.
Conclusions:
- Cadmium isotopes are effective tools for distinguishing Cd pathways and sources.
- Foliar uptake of atmospheric Cd is a significant pathway for crop contamination.
- This study provides a refined approach for quantitative source apportionment in agroecosystems.
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