Environmental Effects from Contamination of Agricultural Soils via Spraying and Dust Application to Crops and Animals

Abstract

Salinity from spraying may be important with crop cultivation and pasture for grazing. Soil guidelines can indicate salinity build up in soil. Effects on cultivated crops and soil cumulative contaminant loading limit trigger values are generally available for salinity, heavy metals and pesticides (kg/ha) for long-term application of irrigation water to soil. In addition, metal levels in meat from livestock and fowl species can be compared against food standard guidelines. The air quality guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO), European Commission (EC) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) are based on studies of health effects undertaken globally. However, little detail exists on effects of air particulates on terrestrial animals. Animals breathe air and may ingest deposited particles on soil surface or via ingestion of grass or other plants. Soil contamination guidelines are well developed for the ecological health case but may require extensive assessment for soil and the native/wild species that are not characterized. The German metal deposition guidelines (TA Luft) are useful in this case. In contrast to native/wild species, domestic animal effects from soil contamination and particularly pasture grazing by cattle, sheep, pigs and fowl are well understood. Such guidelines provide a basis for developing site specific criteria for spray deposition to farm land. Particle dispersion and deposition for prediction of environmental effects from spraying using risk assessment can be developed. Guidelines for air particulates and fall out may be relevant to assess if spraying is significant to humans or animals but limitations of guidelines for contaminants can occur. Risk-based assessment for environmental management of spray dispersion and deposition of agricultural wastewater can be undertaken as such contaminants may be significant if they are dispersed at sufficiently high concentrations.