Cadmium status of some soils and sewage sludge in Red river delta of Vietnam

This paper reports the total cadmium content in Fluvisol, Acrisol and in some other soils in traditional rural handicraft production village in Red river delta. The analytical results showed that the average Cd contents were 0.93 and 0.45 mg/kg soil for Fluvisol and Acrisol, respectively. The Cd content in Acrisol was below the critical standard, whereas the Cd content of some Fluvisol samples exceeded the critical level. The difference in Cd content between these two types of soil groups was considered to be due to the difference in the extent of anthropogenic impact on those soils. On the other hand the extent of the Cd contamination of soils was more serious in peri-urban area of Red river delta that have been affected by discharge from traditional rural handicraft production villages. The present research showed that the Cd content of some soils and sediments in the traditional rural handicraft area is approaching the critical level and it has already been exceeded by some soils.