How does cadmium get into the environment?
Volcanoes and forest fires increase the amount of cadmium in the environment. Larger amounts of cadmium are released from human activities such using phosphate fertilisers, burning coal, making iron, steel and cement and disposing household waste. Cadmium may enter water and soil in waste from industries or waste disposal plants, or from leaching from landfill sites. It may also leach into water supplies from pipes.
