Food supply and composition data can be combined to estimate micronutrient intakes and deficiency risks among populations. These estimates can be improved by using local crop composition data that can capture environmental influences including soil type. This study aimed to provide spatially resolved crop composition data for Malawi, where information is currently limited. Six hundred and fifty-two plant samples, representing 97 edible food items, were sampled from >150 sites in Malawi between 2011 and 2013. Samples were analysed by ICP-MS for up to 58 elements, including the essential minerals calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn). Maize grain Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Se and Zn concentrations were greater from plants grown on calcareous soils than those from the more widespread low-pH soils. Leafy vegetables from calcareous soils had elevated leaf Ca, Cu, Fe and Se concentrations, but lower Zn concentrations. Several foods were found to accumulate high levels of Se, including the leaves of Moringa, a crop not previously been reported in East African food composition data sets. New estimates of national dietary mineral supplies were obtained for non-calcareous and calcareous soils. High risks of Ca (100%), Se (100%) and Zn (57%) dietary deficiencies are likely on non-calcareous soils. Deficiency risks on calcareous soils are high for Ca (97%), but lower for Se (34%) and Zn (31%). Risks of Cu, Fe and Mg deficiencies appear to be low on the basis of dietary supply levels.
CO 2 capture and geological storage offers an option for reducing man-made greenhouse gas emissions. But one major concern related to geological CO 2 storage is the possibility of leakage from the reservoir and subsequent effects on the environment, which cannot completely be excluded. This study aims at investigating the environmental impact of CO 2 release from reservoirs into near surface terrestrial environments. To understand the effect of CO 2 leakage on such an ecosystem, detailed knowledge on the abundance and diversity of plants and microorganisms is essential. Therefore, an ecosystem study has been conducted within the Network of Excellence "CO 2 GeoNet" on a natural CO 2 vent at the Laacher See, Germany. Near surface CO 2 conditions and CO 2 fluxes of the venting area were described by means of conventional soil gas measurement equipment, and brought up the difference between the CO 2 anomalies and their surroundings. A comparison of the soil columns between control sites and the centre of the venting area showed a small but significant change in the soil pH below 10 cm. The botanical survey revealed some remarkable vegetation changes like the investigation of important soil microbial communities showed significant differences between the CO 2 -rich sites (up to 90% and more of soil gas), medium CO 2 sites (~20%), and control locations with background CO 2 concentrations. The ecosystem appears to be adapted to the different conditions through species substitution or adaptation, showing a shift towards anaerobic and acidotolerant to acidophilic species under elevated CO 2 concentrations. At the end, this ongoing study should identify possible candidates in the botanical and microbial kingdoms, whose presence or absence provide easily detectable indicators for the leakage of CO 2 from deep reservoirs into near surface terrestrial ecosystems.
The RISCS (Research into Impacts and Safety in Carbon Storage) project is investigating potential environmental impacts of CO2 leakage. At ASGARD (Artificial Soil Gassing and Response Detection), a fully-replicated facility for controlled injection of CO2 into soil, investigations have been carried out to determine the effects of elevated soil CO2 on crops, soil microbiology, soil flux and soil CO2 concentration
New methods for the monitoring of CO2 near the ground surface at geological CO2 storage sites have been tested over areas of natural CO2 emission. Mobile open path laser measurements and ground-surface portable infrared measurements show great promise for rapid assessment of large areas. Such techniques would help to focus more detailed investigations needed to verify the extent and source of the gas being emitted. It is envisaged that they would be used in conjunction with established field and laboratory techniques and continuous monitoring methods as part of an overall monitoring strategy for a CO2 storage site. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
BGS 102, a guidance material for bioaccessible arsenic (As) and lead (Pb), was produced during validation of the in vitro Unified Bioaccessibility Method (UBM). This paper reports a compilation of reproducible bioaccessible guidance values for fifty-five additional elements in BGS 102, providing guidance for analysts to broaden the scope of UBM analyses for a wider range of elements based on data collected over an average of 60 separate analytical batches per element. Data are presented in categories for both gastric (STOM) and gastrointestinal (STOM+INT) extraction phases, where reproducibility, measured as relative standard deviation (RSD) was; ≤10% RSD for 27 elements (Mg,
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