Ann: GENERAL: CRP: Chatham Rock advises ultra low

• Release Date: 16/01/13 18:51
• Summary: GENERAL: CRP: Chatham Rock advises ultra low cadmium levels
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CRP
16/01/2013 16:51
GENERAL

REL: 1651 HRS Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited

GENERAL: CRP: Chatham Rock advises ultra low cadmium levels

16 January 2013

Likely low cadmium rock phosphate source available in NZ

Cadmium levels in Chatham Rise rock phosphate are among the lowest in the
world, according to Chatham Rock Phosphate Ltd managing director Chris
Castle.

Mr Castle said the rock, located on the Chatham Rise seabed showed an average
of 2.2 parts per million (expressed as mg/kg of P) from a range of samples
gathered by CRP in 2012 from 11 separate locations. The lowest value was 1.3
parts per million with a high of 5.3 parts per million.

This compares with the voluntary limit of 280 parts per million that New
Zealand fertiliser companies observe at present for manufactured
superphosphate, a limit that is often approached by rock imported from
overseas

"The tests we have conducted show our rock phosphate has among the lowest
cadmium levels known.  This will be good news for farmers who choose to use
our product (either as superphosphate or as direct application rock) when we
start production in 2015 and ultimately it will be good for New Zealand food
consumers."

Cadmium is a naturally occurring heavy metal found in New Zealand soils.
Excessive levels of cadmium in food can have implications for human health
and excessive levels of cadmium in soils can restrict land-use.

The Ministry for Primary Industries is managing the gradual build up of
cadmium in New Zealand soils through the cadmium contained in imported
phosphate. The cadmium control programme follows research that shows cadmium
levels have gradually increased over decades.

The programme recommends farmers and growers work closely with their advisers
to determine the most cost effective, efficient and appropriate fertiliser
application and land management options.  Since the mid-1990s New Zealand
fertiliser manufacturers have blended their high-cadmium phosphate rock with
sources lower in cadmium.

Mr Castle said low cadmium levels are one of the environmental benefits of
developing a local phosphate resource. Providing CRP rock phosphate for New
Zealand would also reduce New Zealand's carbon footprint through lower
transport costs, and benefit the country's balance of payments and foreign
exchange exposure.  When used as a direct application source of fertiliser,
rock phosphate also dramatically reduces soil leaching into waterways.

Cadmium can cause kidney failure and has been statistically associated with
an increased risk of cancer and can also cause bone damage. Food is the
dominant source of human exposure in the non-smoking population.

A Stuff website report says the build-up of cadmium levels in sheep made MPI
ban the export of some offal from animals older than 2-1/2 years.  Testing
showed up to 28 percent of sheep kidneys and 20 percent of cattle kidneys
sampled between 1989 and 1991 exceeded the maximum residue levels allowed in
New Zealand meat of 1 mg per kg.

Health guidelines for soil contamination at the time had a maximum level of
3mg/kg of soil. The natural average level of cadmium in NZ soils is
0.16mg/kg, but when farmland is taken into account, the average is more than
double that, 0.35mg/kg, and soils on farms which have had a lot of super
phosphate, such as dairy farms, can have as much as 2.52mg/kg.

Dairying areas with high fertiliser use tend to have the highest average
contamination, including Taranaki (0.66mg/kg), Waikato (0.60mg/kg) and the
Bay of Plenty (0.52mg/kg).

For more information contact Chris Castle on 021 55 82 85 or
[email protected] or check out www.rockphosphate.co.nz
End CA:00232084 For:CRP    Type:GENERAL    Time:2013-01-16 16:51:18