Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) fluxes and sinks in Sweden have been analyzed. Emphasis was focused on landfills since they contain large amounts of Cd and constitute one of the biggest potential environmental future risks. Today, the Cd content of Sweden is reduced because of large export of Cd in zinc (Zn) concentrate (approximately 800 Mg Cd yr⁻¹). Another large anthropogenic flow is the import of various secondary and consumer goods (approximately 100 Mg Cd yr⁻¹). Today, the atmospheric deposition (16 Mg Cd yr⁻¹) is nearly the same as diffuse consumption emissions (14 Mg Cd yr⁻¹). Other anthropogenic discharges, such as industrial emissions to air and water, leachate from landfills, waste and storm water, have been reduced approximately one order of magnitude, since the late 1960s and early 1970s. The use of Cd and Cd-contaminated primary goods (ores, metal concentrate, scrap etc.) have resulted in two large sinks within the Swedish society, one short-term sink (Cd in serviceable products) and one long-term sink (Cd accumulated in landfills). Since Cd outflows from existing landfills are much smaller than the inflows, the stored Cd is increased rapidly. Presently, these emissions are small on a regional scale, but the effects may be severe on the immediate surroundings.

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