Can I Have Some Cadmium With That?!

Cadmium is a transition metal in the periodic table labeled as Cd with the atomic number of 48. In the periodic table, it lies in group 12 between zinc and mercury Its appearance is a white silver metallic metal, with the same type of qualities as the metal Zinc. However, unlike Zinc cadmium and solutions of its compounds are toxic. It was discovered by Friedrich Strohmeyer , a German chemist, in 1817 while studying zinc compounds. He named the metal after the Latin word for calamine, because Strohmeyer found it in the zinc compound. Strohmeyer also noted how the impure pieces with calamine in them changed color when heated but those with pure calamine didn't. Even though cadmium is highly toxic, the British Pharmaceutical Codex from 1907 tells us that the cadmium iodide was used as medicine to fix enlarged joints, scrofulous glands, and chilblains, whatever those are!

Cadmium has a lot of unique characteristics. They have a great resistance to corrosion, good electrical conductance, a low melting point and is noted for its resistance to chemicals and high temperatures. Cadmium is known to be used in electroplating, which is when they coat metal by making use of an electric current. It is also used in black and white television phosphors, as well as, in the green and blue phosphors of color television tubes. It also makes salts of organic acids are used as catalysts in the generation of a wide variety of organic products. Don't we love organic!?

Cadmium waste streams from the industries mainly end up in soils. Because of regulations only little cadmium now enters the water through disposal of wastewater from households or industries. Earthworms and other essential living things in the soil are sensitive to cadmium poisoning. They can die from very low concentrations . When cadmium concentrations in soils are high they can influence soil processes of microorganisms and threaten the whole soil cycle of life. =(

Cadmium is an occupational hazard from industrial processes such as metal plating and the making of cadmium batteries, pigments, plastics, and other synthetics. Inhalation, the most primary way of exposure, of cadmium fumes can result in metal fume fever but may progress to chemical pneumonitis,pulmonary edema, and death. Cadmium is also a potential environmental hazard, human exposures to cadmium is primarily the result of the burning of fossil fuels and municipal wastes.Cadmium is considered a carcinogen, which over a longer period of time of exposure can cause cancer. Tobacco smoking is the most important single source of cadmium exposure in the general population. It has been estimated that about 10% of the cadmium content of a cigarette is inhaled through smoking.
Be Safe Stay Clear of Cadmium!

What's Cookin in the Community Garden?

The American Community Garden Association (ACGA) defines community garden as any piece of land gardened by a group of people. The definition is quite broad but it can be urban, suburban or even rural. There can be all kinds of things planted there, flowers or vegetables are okay. There can be one great plot for the collective group or many individual plots. There are also situations where land is just there for the taking and if someone wants to plant they can do just that. 

As I researched I found out there are so many benefits from having a community garden. The first and most important is that it can improve the quality of life for all individuals involved with the garden. It also gives the chance to create and stimulate economic opportunities and development. There are so many positives about community gardens, that I'm surprised there isn't more advocacy for them. For example, my high school had a community garden back in Texas but other than that I didn't know of many. Which is quite odd for one of the biggest cities in the nation. Not to say there aren't any in the city of Houston, just not any that I was aware of. I just feel as if in such big areas community gardens could produce very positive results for the population.

I was curious to see how many community gardens were in the Macon,GA area and to my surprise I came up with 5; three within the city of Macon, another in Milledgeville and one more in Thomaston. This actually made me one to join one and make a plot of my own. Especially after our class visit. Smelling and seeing those fresh crops just gave me this good and wholesome feeling.

This video explains and shows how great a community garden can be!