Cadmium Releases to Water
Cadmium (Cd) is a naturally occurring metal used in batteries and in electroplating to protect other metals from corrosion. Cadmium can be released directly to water in wastewater from human activities like sewage treatment, production of pulp and paper, and processing of metals.
Exposure to Cd can be hazardous to both humans and wildlife. Cadmium is listed as toxic[1] according to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999).
In 2010, 2670 kilograms (kg) of cadmium was released to water, a decrease of 14% or 543 kg from the 2009 level and 46% or 2 275 kg lower than in 2003, the baseline year of our time series.
Non-ferrous foundries and one wastewater treatment plant contributed the most to the decrease observed between 2009 and 2010. Almost 80% of the drop in Cd releases between 2003 and 2010 is attributed to wastewater treatment plants.
Cadmium release to water, Canada, 2003 to 2010
Note: The indicator includes only the releases from facilities that reported to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI).
Source: Environment Canada (2012) National Pollutant Release Inventory.
Sources of cadmium releases to water
Water, sewage and other systems released 45% (1 213 kg) of the total cadmium released (2 670 kg) to water in 2010. The second largest proportion of the national release came from pulp, paper and paperboard mills, representing 26% (705 kg) of the total. The non-ferrous production and processing (excluding aluminum) industry ranked third, releasing 12% (321 kg) of total cadmium releases.
Cadmium release to water by source, Canada, 2010
Note: The indicator includes only the releases reported to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) from facilities that are required to report based on the NPRI reporting criteria for Cd to water. Categories follow the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), except “Other Sources,” which represents a group of sources for which releases are not individually mentioned in this chart.
Source: Environment Canada (2012) National Pollutant Release Inventory.
Cadmium releases to water by province and territory
Facilities in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec accounted for most of the cadmium released to water in 2010. They represented 31%, 27% and 26% (831 kg, 730 kg and 704 kg), respectively, of the reported national total (2 670 kg). Wastewater treatment plants were responsible for releasing the majority of the Cd in these provinces. The non-ferrous production and processing sector was also an important source of Cd release to water in British Columbia, while in Quebec, the foundries were the other important source. The pulp, paper and paperboard mills sector was also a major source of Cd releases in both British Columbia and Quebec.
Cadmium release to water by province and territory, Canada, 2010
Note: The indicator includes only the releases reported to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) from facilities that are required to report based on the NPRI reporting criteria for Cd to water. No facilities in Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, or Yukon Territory reported releases of Cd to the NPRI in 2010.
Source: Environment Canada (2012) National Pollutant Release Inventory.
Related indicators
Other information
[1] Section 64 of CEPA 1999 defines a substance as toxic if it is entering or may enter the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that: a) Have or may have an immediate or long-term harmful effect on the environment or its biological diversity; b) Constitute or may constitute a danger to the environment on which life depends; or c) Constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health.
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