Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Managing cadmium in agricultural systems

Mike J. McLaughlin, Erik Smolders, Fang‐Jie Zhao, Cynthia A. Grant, Daniela Montalvo

Advances in agronomy · 2020

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Summary

This 2020 international narrative review synthesises the mechanisms governing cadmium bioavailability and soil–plant transfer across diverse soil types, climates and crop species. The authors evaluate evidence-based agronomic mitigation strategies—including soil amendments, varietal selection and management practices—to reduce cadmium accumulation in food crops, addressing a persistent food safety challenge in intensive and developing agricultural contexts where dietary cadmium exposure poses human health risk.

UK applicability

The review's findings on soil-plant cadmium transfer and agronomic mitigation are relevant to UK arable and horticultural systems, where soil pH, organic matter content and crop selection influence cadmium uptake. UK producers and regulators may benefit from the synthesised evidence on amendment strategies and varietal selection to manage food safety compliance.

Key measures

Cadmium bioavailability; soil–plant cadmium transfer; cadmium concentration in food crops; effectiveness of agronomic mitigation interventions

Outcomes reported

The review synthesises mechanisms of cadmium bioavailability and soil–plant transfer across diverse soil types, climates and crop species. It evaluates evidence-based agronomic mitigation strategies including soil amendments, varietal selection and management practices to reduce cadmium accumulation in food crops.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Pesticides, contaminants & food safety
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Mixed farming
DOI
10.1016/bs.agron.2020.10.004
Catalogue ID
SNmov5l1jb-rtrwp5

Topic tags

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