scholarly journals Monitoring of DDT in Agricultural Soils under Organic Farming in Poland and the Risk of Crop Contamination

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 916-929
Author(s):  
Eligio Malusá ◽  
Małgorzata Tartanus ◽  
Witold Danelski ◽  
Artur Miszczak ◽  
Ewelina Szustakowska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Agricultural Soil ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Organic Products ◽  
Contamination Of Soils

Abstract The analysis of 142 agricultural soil samples collected in organic farms across Poland with the intent to evaluate the level of DDT contamination resulted in more than 80% of the soils containing DDT. The ΣDDT (sum of all metabolites and isomers) concentration ranged between 0.005 and 0.383 mg/kg ΣDDT, with an average value of 0.064 mg/kg ΣDDT. However, the majority of plant samples collected from the crops growing on the sampled soils did not contain detectable DDT residues. The high DDT pollution levels detected in samples from four voivodeships (regions) among those monitored have been hypothesised to be linked to horticultural productions occurring to the sampled fields and typical of those regions, particularly in big-sized farms, during the period of DDT application, as well as the number of pesticides landfills present in these voivodeships. The elaboration of the o,p′-DDT/p,p′-DDT and DDT/(DDE + DDD) ratios to appraise the source or the period of contamination suggested that the contamination originated from past use of DDT rather than from impurities of more recent applications of other formulated substances. Such outcome thus suggests that the risk of contamination of organic products is likely derived from general environmental pollution levels rather than from the use of unauthorised substances in organic farming productions. Data from a trial with artificial contamination of soils indicated that using the DDT/(DDE + DDD) ratio in the presence of a low level of contamination could be less reliable than in highly contaminated soils.

Organic farming in Austria

1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian R. Vogl ◽  
Jürgen Hess
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Meat Products ◽  
Brand Names ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Organic Movement ◽  
Organic Products ◽  
Organic Farmers ◽  
Present Decade

AbstractDuring the present decade, Austria has experienced a dramatic increase in organic farming among those countries that comprise the European Union (EU). For example, in 1992, approximately 2,000 farms were practicing organic, ecological, or biodynamic farming methods. By 1997 the number of certified organic farms plus those in transition from conventional farming had increased 10-fold to some 20,000 farms. This represents almost 9% of the total farms in Austria and an area of 345,375 ha, or 10% of the total cultivated farmland. The largest concentration of organic farms is in regions with a high proportion of alpine grassland or pastures. Approximately 50% of the organic farms range in size from 5 to 15 ha. The strong organic movement in Austria can be attributed to a) government subsidies which provide incentives to organic farmers and b) widespread acceptance of organic products and their brand names by large food chains and supermarkets. More than 60% of organic farmers are affiliated with associations and organizations that provide advisory and support services in marketing activities. Certification of organic farms and food processors is conducted by seven monitoring bodies according to EU regulation No. 2092/91, which guarantees legallybinding standards of food safety and quality to EU consumers, and according to the Austrian Alimentari Codex. Since January 1998, all monitoring/certifying bodies in Austria must verify accreditation according to regulation European Norm 45011. The major supermarket chain offers a variety of organic dairy and meat products, as well as organic ice cream, pizza, vegetables, fruits, baby foods, and bread. The current domestic wholesale value of organic products marketed from Austrian farms is approximately 170 million US$ annually. Unfortunately, funding for support of scientific research and extension to enhance organic farming and marketing has not kept pace with the increasing number of organic farms and farmers. Additional funding is essential to ensure the sustainable development of the organic movement and the organic market.

Spatial Distribution and Evaluation of Cadmium in Agricultural Soils Based on GIS: A Case Study of Chaoyang City in China

2012 ◽  
Vol 518-523 ◽  
pp. 2806-2811
Author(s):  
Wen Juan Jia ◽  
Ying Yan ◽  
Ying Su ◽  
Ming Da Liu
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Agricultural Soil ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Geoaccumulation Index ◽  
Pollution Index ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Soil Environment ◽  
Index Method

To identify the concentration and spatial distribution of cadmium (Cd) in agricultural soils, 207 soil samples were collected from Chaoyang and analyzed based on pollution index methods and GIS. The concentration of Cd in the soils of Chaoyang ranged from 0.030 to 0.687 mg/kg, with an average concentration of 0.246 mg/kg. The evaluated results of Cd in agricultural soils of Chaoyang shows that the pollution excess rate is 2.90%, the total agricultural soil environment of Cd was still clean, but some areas were accumulated by Cd. The differences between two evaluated methods indicate that evaluated criteria had a direct impact on the evaluation results, compared to integrated pollution index, the Geoaccumulation index method was more accurate and objective.

scholarly journals Financial health of agricultural enterprises in the organic farming sector

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (7) ◽  
pp. 91-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Brožová
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Financial Indicators ◽  
Financial Health ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Agricultural Enterprises ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Organic Farm ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Legal Entities

The present research was aimed at evaluating the economic performance of organic farm enterprises (legal entities) in the Czech Republic on the basis of their production base and financial health. The evaluation was carried out by means of specific financial indicators. The results recorded in the organic farming sector were confronted with those of the conventional agriculture. It stemmed from the analysis that conventionally farming legal entities, as opposed to the organically farming ones, tend to have higher average assets per hectare of farmland. Secondly, as for the structure of assets, fixed assets prevail substantially over current assets. Organic farms, on the contrary, have a significantly higher average value of external financial resources per hectare of farmland. In order to evaluate the financial health of organic farms, their economic results were used; firstly in absolute value (including per hectare calculation) and then within the individual ratios. The analysis showed that 84.4 % farms of the sample were profitable as long as subsidies were included in the yields. While excluding subsidies from the calculations, an overwhelming majority of enterprises (95.3 %) recorded a loss. Comparing the per hectare economic results, higher average profit rates were recorded for organic farms. Furthermore, financial health of the enterprises was analyzed by means of selected indicator ratios. Concrete results, including the respective commentaries, can be found in the present paper too.

Evaluation of agricultural soil radiotoxic element pollution around a lignite-burning thermal power plant

2019 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Şeref Turhan
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Thermal Power Plant ◽  
Agricultural Soil ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Pollution Index ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Pollution Indices ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Lignite Coal

Abstract Lignite coal is a major and an essential domestic energy source in Turkey. Many environmental problems and human health hazards may arise during lignite coal exploitation, combustion, and waste (fly and bottom ash and slag) disposal. In addition, lignite-burning power plants can be significant contributors to deposition of radiotoxic elements and/or toxic heavy metals on soil and water. The concentrations of thorium (Th) and uranium (U) in a 140 agricultural soil samples collected from the vicinity of a lignite-burning thermal power plant (LBTPP), located in Kangal district of Sivas province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, were determined using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The concentrations of Th and U varied from 2.9 to 12.7 μg g−1 with an average value of 5.8 μg g−1 and 0.3–12.3 μg g−1 with an average value of 1.5 μg g−1, respectively. The radiotoxic elements pollution in agricultural soils was evaluated using pollution indices such as geo-accumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factors (EF), pollution index (PI) and Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI). The average value of Igeo, EF and PI estimated for Th and U were found as −1.8, 1.2 and 0.44 and −1.7, 1.7 and 0.58, respectively. The results indicated that the soils around Kangal LBTPP were practically unpolluted to low polluted with Th and U. The NIPI values varied from 0.3 to 4.0 with an average value of 0.6. The evaluation result of NIPI revealed that 86 % of total soil samples were non-polluted.

Risk Implications of Heavy Metal Contamination in Agricultural Soil and Crop Productivity

2018 ◽  
pp. 238-258
Author(s):  
Archana ◽  
Ajai Kumar Jaitly
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Metal Contamination ◽  
Agricultural Soil ◽  
Heavy Metal Contamination ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Cobalt Chromium ◽  
Lead Nickel

Heavy metals especially lead, nickel, cadmium, copper, cobalt, chromium and mercury are more toxic and chief contaminants of the environment. Agricultural soils in many parts of the world are slightly to moderately polluted with heavy metals due to increase in geologic and anthropogenic activities (use of phosphate fertilizers, sewage sludge application, dust from smelters, industrial waste). Plants growing on these contaminated soils showed toxicity symptoms that results in reduce growth and activity which declined the productivity and posing threats to agro-ecosystems. They put plants under stress and affect their physiology. In this chapter, we have summarized the effects of heavy metals on plants including both symptoms and productivity.

scholarly journals Contamination Assessment of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soil, in the Liwa Area (UAE)

Toxics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed A. Al-Taani ◽  
Yousef Nazzal ◽  
Fares M. Howari ◽  
Jibran Iqbal ◽  
Nadine Bou Orm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Ecological Risk ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Pollution Load Index ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Contamination Assessment ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Metal Levels

The Liwa area is a primary food production area in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and has intensively been used for agriculture. This study investigates the pollution levels with heavy metals in agricultural soils from the Liwa area. Thirty-two soil samples were analyzed for Mn, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, Cd, Co, and As. Results revealed that heavy metal levels varied in the ranges 220.02–311.21, 42.39–66.92, 43.43–71.55, 32.86–52.12, 10.29–21.70, 2.83–8.84, 0.46–0.69, 0.03–0.37 mg/kg for Mn, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, Cd, Co, and As, respectively. All samples presented low As concentrations with an average of 0.01 mg/kg. The variations in bulk metal contents in the soil samples were related to multiple sources, including agrochemicals, atmospheric dust containing heavy metals, and traffic-related metals. Enrichment factor analysis indicates that Cd, Ni, Zn, and Cr were highly enriched in soils, and they could originate from non-crustal sources. Based on the geo-accumulation index (Igeo), the soil samples appeared uncontaminated with Mn, Cr, Zn, Pb, Co, As, Cu, uncontaminated to moderately contaminated with Ni and moderately contaminated with Cd. The contamination factors suggest low contamination, except for Ni, which showed moderate contamination. The average pollution load index (PLI) revealed unpolluted to low pollution of all soil samples. The ecological risk assessment (PERI) showed that all heavy metals posed a low risk, except for Cd which exhibited a high ecological risk.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Heavy Metals Contamination in Agricultural Soils

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyoti Rani ◽  
Sudesh Chaudhary ◽  
Tripti Agarwal
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Agricultural Soil ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Contamination Factor ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
National Capital Region ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Heavy Metals Contamination ◽  
Irrigated Soils

Abstract The present study was conducted to assess heavy metals contamination in agricultural soils in the National Capital Region, Delhi. A total of 84 soil samples were collected from selected agricultural areas located near industries, national highways, state highways, Yamuna floodplain, residential complexes, and wastewater irrigated soils. Heavy metal concentrations (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn), pH, and organic carbon (%) were analyzed in the collected soil samples. The average value of pH and organic carbon in the soil samples collected were 7.79±0.49 and 0.53±0.17 percent. Average concentrations of heavy metals in soils were found to be in the order of Fe> Al>Mn> Zn> Ni>Cr> Cu>Pb> Co> Cd with value as 14916.92 mg kg -1 , 13538.87 mg kg -1 , 277.16 mg kg -1 , 74.53 mg kg -1 , 35.34 mg kg -1 , 33.68 mg kg -1 , 22.94 mg kg -1 , 18.45 mg kg -1 , 1.88 mg kg -1 , and 0.92 mg kg -1 . A very high concentration of Fe (6640.09-32650.23 mg kg -1 ), Al (5631-27209.99 mg kg -1 ), Mn (73.8-735.72 mg kg -1 ), Zn (16.45-221.88 mg kg -1 ), Ni (7.63-192.63 mg kg -1 ), and Cr (9.65-127.21 mg kg -1 ) were recorded in agricultural soil samples. The average concentrations of Mn, Ni, and Zn in the soil samples were several times higher than their concentration in Indian natural background soils. A significant potential ecological risk has been noticed in nearly all the agricultural soil samples except for the samples collected nearby residential areas. The contamination factor has shown that most of the soil samples were moderately contaminated with Mn, Ni, Fe, and Cr and some soil samples were considerably to strongly contaminated with Cd, Zn, Pb, and Ni. Wastewater irrigated soils showed a moderate to a strong degree of accumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Ni, and Zn).

scholarly journals Content of fluorine in soils in the vicinity of aluminium plant in Podgorica

2002 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Srdjan Blagojevic ◽  
Miodrag Jakovljevic ◽  
Mirjana Radulovic
Keyword(s):  
Major Part ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Alluvial Soil ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Potentiometric Method ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Insoluble Compounds ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Aluminium Plant

The purpose of this paper was to determine whether soils, located in the vicinity of the aluminium plant in Podgorica, are polluted with fluorine. For this purpose 60 soil samples (26 of brown and 34 of alluvial soil) were collected from two depths (0 to 20 and 20 to 40 cm). Total and available fluorine were determined by potentiometric method, after necessary preparations of soil samples for the analysis. It was found that in almost all soil samples the content of total fluorine was above 300 mg/kg - maximum permissible value for the content of this element in agricultural soils. Highest values were found on locations southwards of the aluminium plant. However, the content of available fluorine (soluble in water) in the soil samples is very low (average value is 0.70 mg/kg) indicating that major part of deposited fluorine had transformed itself into insoluble compounds like CaF2.

scholarly journals Information on the Distribution of Cadmium in Agricultural Land in the Middle of the Serayu Watershed

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Poniman Poniman ◽  
Anik Hidayah ◽  
Sukarjo Sukarjo
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Grid Method ◽  
Threshold Value ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Trade Relations ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Trust In Management ◽  
Poor Management

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that is prohibited in food products. In the long term, consumption of food containing Cd can cause cancer (it is a direct carcinogen in humans). Poor management of the Serayu watershed has resulted in pollution of the surrounding land. Meanwhile, trust in management must be built within the framework of trade in the Industrial Era 4.0, which is developing continuously in world trade relations. This study aimed to obtain information on the distribution of Cd in agricultural soils in the middle of the Serayu watershed in March-August 2017. A total of 220 soil samples were taken using the GRID method, and the analysis of Cd concentration was determined by atomic absorption spectrofotometry (AAS). The results showed that Cd was detected in 142 soil samples in the range of 1.0-<1.5 mg kg−1 and detected in the range of 0.5-<1.0 mg kg−1 in 78 soil samples. The results were non-normally distributed with a clustered distribution pattern. The average value of the distribution of Cd in agricultural land in the middle of Serayu watershed was 1.21 mg kg−1, and the highest Cd concentration was 2.18 mg kg−1. The Cd concentration in the middle of the Serayu watershed is classified within the safe category because the concentration is still below the critical Cd threshold value of 3-8 mg kg−1. Keywords: agricultural land, cadmium, distribution, the middle of Serayu watershed

scholarly journals LC-HRMS screening of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in impregnated paper samples and contaminated soils

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Bugsel ◽  
Rebecca Bauer ◽  
Florian Herrmann ◽  
Martin E. Maier ◽  
Christian Zwiener
Keyword(s):  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Transformation Products ◽  
Carbon Chain ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Paper Sludge ◽  
Chain Lengths

AbstractHigh per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substance (PFAS) concentrations have been detected in agricultural soils in Southwest Germany. Discharges of PFAS-contaminated paper sludge and compost are suspected to be the cause of the contamination. Perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) have been detected also in groundwater, drinking water, and plants in this area. Recently, previously unknown compounds have been identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Major contaminants were polyfluorinated dialkylated phosphate esters (diPAPs) and N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide ethanol–based phosphate diester (diSAmPAP). In this study, HRMS screening for PFAS was applied to 14 soil samples from the contaminated area and 14 impregnated paper samples which were from a similar period than the contamination. The paper samples were characterized by diPAPs (from 4:2/6:2 to 12:2/12:2), fluorotelomer mercapto alkyl phosphates (FTMAPs; 6:2/6:2 to 10:2/10:2), and diSAmPAP. In soil samples, diPAPs and their transformation products (TPs) were the major contaminants, but also FTMAPs, diSAmPAP, and their TPs occurred. The distribution patterns of the carbon chain lengths of the precursor PFAS in soil samples were shown to resemble those in paper samples. This supports the hypothesis that paper sludge is a major source of contamination. The presence of major degradation products like PFCAs, FTSAs, or PFOS and their distribution of carbon chain lengths indicate the activity of biotic or abiotic degradation processes and selective leaching processes from the upper soil horizons. Graphical abstract

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