Illuminating Silhouettes: A Scientific Essay Regarding Cadmium Cycle

Illuminating Silhouettes: A Scientific Essay regarding the Cadmium Cycle Cadmium is a naturally occurring non-degradable [2] metallic element relatively abundant in the earth’s crust [3][4][9] and is known for its acute toxicity, even in low concentrations, to almost all forms of life [2][3][7][10], especially mammals as they have no apparent use of it [3]. It’s a human carcinogen [7] (i.e., promotes carcinogenesis – formation of cancer cells in human physiology) primarily targeting the lungs, kidneys [5][7][10][11], and bones [2][3] which is why for more than five decades, extensive studies regarding the biochemical basis for Cd’s toxicity [6][9] and its mobility in the environment [3] have been conducted to minimize human exposure to Cd. In 2015, a group of high school student-researchers from Calamba, Laguna, confirmed Cd bioaccumulation in the soft tissues of freshwater Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea), locally known as Tulya, through Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) conducted at the Analytic Service Laboratory (ASL) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) [4]. Their research was a probable extension of Dr. Victorio Molina’s health risk assessment (the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects) of the bioaccumulation of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), Cd, chromium (Cr), and arsenic (As)