Prof Laura Carter | Emerging Contaminant Pollution Across UK Agricultural Soils скачать в хорошем качестве

Prof Laura Carter | Emerging Contaminant Pollution Across UK Agricultural Soils

During this talk Professor Laura Carter, School of Geography, University of Leeds discussed how the application of organic wastes, such as animal manures and biosolids, to agricultural soils is a common practice across the UK. While this practice enhances soil fertility, it also introduces a range of emerging contaminants into terrestrial ecosystems. These contaminants pose significant environmental and human health concerns, including their potential translocation to aquatic systems and uptake into arable crops destined for human consumption. Professor Laura Carter, Professor of Environmental Chemistry at the University of Leeds, presented findings from a groundbreaking study addressing this issue. In 2022, 16 farms (30 fields) across the UK were sampled to investigate the extent of organic contaminants in agricultural soils. The results revealed over 300 organic contaminants, including pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, fungicides, and veterinary medicines. Soils treated with biosolids exhibited higher contamination levels compared to those treated with conventional animal manures, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive risk evaluations. With a projected increase in biosolid use as part of sustainability goals, the session delved into the long-term implications of persistent chemical contaminants in soils and their potential impact on the food chain. Welcome and introductions from the Chair, followed by a 20-minute webinar presented by Prof Laura Carter, and 10 minutes for Q&A.