Complete fertilizer contaminated with uranium and cadmium

NDR: Commercial fertilizer contaminated with uranium and cadmium

11/09/2011

According to samples from the NDR magazine „market“ All varieties of whole fertilizer were still contaminated with the toxic heavy metals uranium and cadmium. In tests, a laboratory commissioned by the television program examined a total of five fertilizer products. All funds were mixed with uranium and the harmful cadmium. So far, there is a veritable loophole, because no limits are provided by law. Both heavy metals are considered to be extremely harmful to humans.

According to reports by Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), toxic heavy metals such as uranium or cadmium are still present in commercial fertilizers. This has a random inspection of the consumer magazine „market“ determined. In all five samples of whole fertilizer, the highly toxic metals were detected in different concentrations. Next Monday, the TV magazine wants to report more about the individual relationships. For the consumer, it is not possible to determine if the fertilizers are free of such heavy metals. According to the official fertilizer law, the manufacturers do not have to provide information about the mentioned ingredients.

Uranium usually enters the fertilizer via so-called phosphates, since these bind primarily to heavy metals. For years, environmentalists and consumer initiatives denounce the metal pollution in whole fertilizer. Nevertheless, in 2005, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment came to the conclusion that due to the then existing scientific evidence no „identify significant health risks to humans from uranium in food and feed“ to let. Nevertheless, environmentalists warn of a potential health risk and therefore urge a precautionary legal minimization of metals. Recent research is currently not funded on this issue.

Uranium and cadmium in the fertilizer endangers the health of future generations
The president of the International Center for Fertilizers, Prof. Ewald Schnug told the NDR: „There are no limits and no requirements or regulations“. The black-yellow federal government rejects the creation of a limit, because the previous scientific findings were insufficient. For Schnug it is incomprehensible why the Federal Ministry of Agriculture does not intervene immediately. Above all, the metal pollution is a great risk for future generations, says the professor. For once uranium is in the ground, it also accumulates. For example, drinking water is already so heavily contaminated with uranium in many regions that eating it is already irresponsible to health. Therefore, in November of this year, a uranium directive for drinking water was created. When this comes into force, many wells have to close. „This does not solve the problem in any way“, admonishes the expert.

On request, the Federal Ministry of Economics rejected further limits for fertilizers in trade. A spokesman said you can see „no significant health risk from uranium in food and feed“. The manufacturers also see no need for action and rely on currently valid legal situation. As one manufacturer wrote on request: "In cooperation with the Agricultural Industry Association, we are currently investigating uranium pollution in our raw material sources, but there are still no conclusive results." A disappointing and barely meaningful answer.

Heavy metals damage the kidney and promote cancer
Cadmium and its compounds are generally classified as highly toxic and harmful to health. Scientific studies have in the past repeatedly alleged that cadmium is carcinogenic to humans. According to the scientist Andrea Koschinsky of the Jacobs University in Bremen, uranium in the fertilizer is not dangerous because of the radioactive radiation. Uranium has a poison effect on the kidney and is probably possible carcinogenic. The fertilizers contain phosphates containing uranium. "Most phosphates were formed in the ocean a long time ago, and the seawater contains relatively much uranium."

Small request to the Federal Government brought no all-clear
Because the federal government is currently unable to act, the faction has „Alliance 90 / The Greens“ started a small request for uranium content in drinking and groundwater. But the answer can not reassure consumers. A spokesman for the NDR magazine: „It gives the impression that the federal government does not know what uranium from fertilizers in soil, plants and people can do“. Rather, you probably want to know nothing about the problem. Further research seems to be undesirable despite fabulous scientific institutes. So you can probably substantiate the non-behavior with old studies. The program will air on Monday at 20:15. (Sb)

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Picture: Michael Ottersbach