Cadmium uptake by radishes from soil contaminated with nickel-cadmium batteries: toxicity and safety considerations.

The objective of this investigation was twofold: (1) to determine the contamination of soil by cadmium (Cd) from commonly used nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries utilized in electronic devices and (2) to determine the uptake of Cd in common garden radishes. Under normal controlled conditions, the study utilized depleted batteries; new, undamaged batteries; and new, damaged batteries. The data revealed that the contamination of the soil by Cd was significantly greater in the presence of new, damaged batteries than in the presence of the new, undamaged batteries or depleted batteries.