Cadmium

Chemical Groups: Inorganic, Metals

Also Known As:

CASRN: 7440-43-9

Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life

Freshwater

Short Term Concentration (µg/L) Equation

The short-term benchmark concentration of 1.0 µg·L-1  is for waters of 50 mg CaCO3·L-1 hardness.

The short-term benchmark for cadmium is related to water hardness (as CaCO3):

When the water hardness is 0 to < 5.3 mg/L, the short-term benchmark is 0.11 μg/L

At hardness ≥ 5.3 to ≤ 360 mg/L, the short-term benchmark is calculated using this equation (see calculator below)

Short-term benchmark (μg/L) = 10{1.016(log[hardness]) – 1.71 }

At hardness > 360 mg/L, the short-term benchmark is 7.7 μg/L

Enter water hardness here:
mg/L CaCO3

Calculated cadmium short-term benchmark:
μg/L

Long Term Concentration (µg/L) Equation

The CWQG for cadmium (i.e. long-term guideline) of 0.09 µg·L-1 is for waters of 50 mg CaCO3·L-1 hardness.

The CWQG for cadmium is related to water hardness (as CaCO3):

When the water hardness is > 0 to < 17 mg/L, the CWQG is 0.04 μg/L

At hardness ≥ 17 to ≤ 280 mg/L, the CWQG is calculated using this equation (see calculator below)

CWQG (μg/L) = 10{0.83(log[hardness]) – 2.46 }

At hardness > 280 mg/L, the CWQG is 0.37 μg/L

Enter water hardness here:
mg/L CaCO3

Calculated cadmium guideline:
μg/L

Date 2014

Marine

Short Term Concentration (µg/L) NRG

Long Term Concentration (µg/L) 0.12

This value was not assessed as part of the present update; value is from CCME (1996).

Date 2014

Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Agriculture

Irrigation

Concentration (µg/L) 5.1

Guideline values slightly modified from CCREM 1987 + Appendixes due to re-evaluation of the significant figures.

Guideline is crop specific (see fact sheet)

Date 1996

Livestock

Concentration (µg/L) 80

Date 1996

Sediment Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life

Freshwater

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) ISQG 600

Guideline % ≤ ISQG ISQG < % < PEL % ≥ PEL
Cadmium 11 12 47

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) PEL 3500

Guideline % ≤ ISQG ISQG < % < PEL % ≥ PEL
Cadmium 11 12 47

Date 1997

Marine

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) ISQG 700

Guideline % ≤ ISQG ISQG < % < PEL % ≥ PEL
Cadmium 6 20 71

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) PEL 4200

Guideline % ≤ ISQG ISQG < % < PEL % ≥ PEL
Cadmium 6 20 71

Date 1997

Soil Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Agricultural 1.4

Data are sufficient and adequate to calculate a Soil Quality Guideline for Human Health (SQGHH) and a Soil Quality Guideline for Environmental Health (SQGE). Therefore the soil quality guideline is the lower of the two and represents a fully integrated de novo guideline for this land use, derived in accordance with the soil protocol (CCME 1996;2006). The corresponding interim soil quality criterion (CCME 1991) is superseded by the soil quality guideline.

For guidelines derived prior to 2004, differentiation between soil texture (coarse/fine) is not applicable.

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Residential/ parkland 10

The soil-plant-human pathway was not considered in the guideline derivation. If produce gardens are present or planned, a site-specific objective must be derived to take into account the bioaccumulation potential (e.g., adopt the agricultural guideline as objective). The off-site migration check should be recalculated accordingly.

For guidelines derived prior to 2004, differentiation between soil texture (coarse/fine) is not applicable.

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Commercial 22

Data are sufficient and adequate to calculate a Soil Quality Guideline for Human Health (SQGHH) and a Soil Quality Guideline for Environmental Health (SQGE). Therefore the soil quality guideline is the lower of the two and represents a fully integrated de novo guideline for this land use, derived in accordance with the soil protocol (CCME 1996;2006). The corresponding interim soil quality criterion (CCME 1991) is superseded by the soil quality guideline.

For guidelines derived prior to 2004, differentiation between soil texture (coarse/fine) is not applicable.

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Industrial 22

Data are sufficient and adequate to calculate a Soil Quality Guideline for Human Health (SQGHH) and a Soil Quality Guideline for Environmental Health (SQGE). Therefore the soil quality guideline is the lower of the two and represents a fully integrated de novo guideline for this land use, derived in accordance with the soil protocol (CCME 1996;2006). The corresponding interim soil quality criterion (CCME 1991) is superseded by the soil quality guideline.

For guidelines derived prior to 2004, differentiation between soil texture (coarse/fine) is not applicable.

Date 1999

Tissue Residue Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Widlife Consumer of Aquatic Biota

Concentration (µg/L) No data

Date No data

Groundwater Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health

(Coarse Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Agricultural/Residential No data

(Coarse Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Commercial/Industrial No data

(Fine Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Agricultural/Residential No data

(Fine Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Commercial/Industrial No data

Date No data

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