Signal Fertiliser cadmium linked to osteoporosis in EU countries

Summary

The report finds that pollutants can contaminate food and threaten human health. As an example, it cites research associating cadmium exposure from fertilisers with a higher incidence of osteoporosis in several EU countries. The report explains that long exposure to pollutants at low levels can still lead to accumulation in the body and is an important risk factor for many diseases. Soil pollution reduces fertility and crop yields, costing the UK 1.2 billion pounds a year. The report judges that the effects of long-term exposure to complex pollutant mixtures are not yet fully understood. It also expects that novel chemical mixtures could affect hormone functions and create new health problems.