Cadmium. This is the name of the heavy metal that Moroccan phosphate contains. “Fertilizer manufacturers buy phosphate in Morocco, where the cadmium content is higher than in Florida or Saudi Arabia, a country with which a free trade agreement has been signed, which saves them 40 euros in costs customs per tonne imported,” reveals the journalists’ investigation. Cadmium is also found in breads, cereals, pasta, fruits, vegetables, plants, etc. due to the pollution of sites and soils, “due to industrial growth since the end of the 19th century” , further reveals the investigation broadcast in Forbidden Zone on M6.
Read:Phosphate: Abdelmadjid Tebboune makes accusations against Morocco
Described as a poison, this heavy metal is stored in the kidneys or liver. Those who consume it run the risk of contracting neurological diseases, such as lead poisoning, and of being affected by cancer. Cadmium can also act as an endocrine disruptor. In France, 47% of adults and 18% of children have cadmium levels above the threshold recommended by ANSES, according to Santé Publique France, making France the most affected Western country.
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To get rid of it, it is recommended to favor organic foods and products rich in fiber. These reduce the absorption of cadmium from the intestine. Iron, which is found in red meat, fish, legumes and all types of nuts, would also limit the storage of cadmium in the body. The big job falls to the State which should ensure the reduction of the levels of cadmium currently authorized in phosphate (from 60 to 20 grams per tonne). It should also decontaminate the soil with healthy soil.
