Soil ecotoxicological screening (tier 1) for a diffuse-contaminated drainage area surrounding a lacustrine ecosystem in the Centre of Portugal

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

da Silva, MB (Author) Other; Abrantes, N (Author) Other; Patinha, C (Author) Other; da Silva, EF (Author) Other; Marques, JC (Author) Other; Goncalves, F (Author) Other; Ruth Pereira (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Soils and Sediments

Vol. 18

Pages: 189-204

ISSN: 1439-0108

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 4 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00M-VW7

DOI: 10.1007/s11368-017-1735-z

Abstract (EN): This study presents a different approach for the application of the Dutch Risk Assessment Framework for contaminated sites, to areas undergoing diffuse pollution from agriculture activities. This approach aims to reduce the costs of tier 1, by using the ecotoxicological line of evidence (EcotoxLoE) to select the soils for chemical analysis of potential contaminants and subsequently for an integrated evaluation of risks by combining both the chemical (ChemLoE) and the EcotoxLoE. A battery of cost-effective and time-effective standard bioassays was applied, considering soil habitat function (whole soil approach-MicrotoxA (R) test and avoidance assays with Folsomia candida) and soil retention function (elutriate approach-growth inhibition test with Raphidocelis subcapitata) for evaluating a vast array of samples collected in the study area. After a preliminary calculation of risks based on ecotoxicological data, samples displaying a moderate risk were screened for chemical analysis of the most used pesticides in the area, as well as for total metal concentrations after extraction following standard methods. For these samples, risks based on the ChemLoE and integrated risks were calculated. The ChemLoE confirmed the evaluation made by the EcotoxLoE and reduced the level of risk (< 0.5) for the samples formerly presenting a moderate risk. Given the sensitivity of the ecotoxicological assays to the mixture of contaminants potentially found in soils, the approach proved to be a good strategy for the application of the ERA framework, in particular of tier 1, on a routine basis, to areas under diffuse pollution. Since in these areas a more intense sampling is required, it can contribute to reducing the costs of the ChemLoE that can make the application of the ERA framework prohibitive.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 16