Cadmium in European topsoils metadata

Cadmium distribution in EU topsoils

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EUSO

Cadmiun (Cd) is a naturally occurring element that can accumulate in the soil through the application of fertilisers containing cadmium and as a waste of industrial processes. Cadmium inputs in the soil have increased significantly (+50 %) during the 20th century as a result of the application of fertilisers and sewage sludge, and also due to local contamination (e.g. waste dumping, mining) and industrial emissions (e.g. zinc smelters). Using the 21,682 soil samples from the LUCAS soil survey, the JRC aimed to estimate the spatial distribution of the concentration of Cd in the European Union (EU) and UK topsoil. Applying an ensemble of machine learning models supported by a variety of environmental descriptors, they created maps of Cd distribution at a resolution of 100 m. The ensemble approach included five models and increased the prediction accuracy to R2 of 0.45 (an increase of 0.1 compared to best single model performance). The approach used resulted in a high predictive power for the general Cd distribution, while also identifying hotspots of Cd contamination. Natural factors influencing Cd levels include soil properties (pH, clay), topography, soil erosion, and leaching. As anthropogenic factors, we identified phosphorus inputs to agricultural lands as the most important for Cd levels. The application of the EU Fertiliser Directive should further limit Cd inputs and potentially the Cd content in soils.

esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu

Continental - Europe

Raster

100 m (100 x 100 m pixel)

2023-??-??

2009-??-??

2009-??-??

LICENCE AGREEMENT FOR USE OF THE “LUCAS_SOIL” DATA

Cadmium

Up to 20 cm

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Ballabio, C., Jones, A. and Panagos, P., 2024. [Cadmium in topsoils of the European Union–An analysis based on LUCAS topsoil database] (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723073382). Science of The Total Environment, 912: 168710.