Results of the second national forest soil inventory in Germany - Interpretation of level and stock profiles for PCDD/F and PCB in terms of vegetation and humus type

Pandelova, Marchela; Henkelmann, Bernhard; Bussian, Bernd M.; Schramm, Karl‐Werner

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.246

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…PCDD/Fs congeners are not detected in this sludge. The soil contains 43 ng/kg of OCDD, which is comparable to other forest soils in Germany [233]. Other congeners might be present, though in lower concentrations than the EQLs reported.…”

Section: Chemical Composition and Pcdd/f In Biomass Sludge And Soilsupporting

confidence: 50%

Insights into PCDD/Fs and PAHs in Biomass Boilers Envisaging Risks of Ash Use as Fertilizers

Lopes

Proença

2020

Applied Sciences

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Since ashes are a possible source of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) contamination, their application in soils must be subject to more study and control. In this scope, feed residual forest biomasses and biomass ashes, collected along one year in four biomass power stations, were characterized mainly for their polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) contents. The biomasses present concerning levels of Cl (0.04–0.28%) that may lead to PCDD/Fs formation. The biomasses also contain OCDD (29–260 ng/kg) and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD (35 ng/kg) that may contribute to increased Toxic Equivalents (TEQs) of ashes, possibly involving dichlorination and ash enrichment mechanisms. While the World Health Organization (WHO)2005-TEQs in bottom ashes (14–20 ng TEQ/kg) reaches the proposed limit (20 ng TEQ/kg) for ash use as fertilizers, in fly ashes (35–1139 ng TEQ/kg) the limit is exceeded. PAHs are below 0.02 mg/kg in bottom ashes and 1.5–2.5 mg/kg in fly ashes, complying with the proposed limit of 6 mg/kg. As bottom and fly ash streams may contain different ash flows, a clear definition of ash mixes is required. Correlations between unburned carbon (C), PAHs and PCDD/Fs were not found, which highlights the need for compulsory PCDD/Fs analysis in ashes, independently of their origin, burnout degree or levels of other contaminants. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of handling non-detected values, which showed more impact for TEQs values close to the proposed regulatory limit of PCDD/Fs. These findings highlight the need to define reporting protocols of analytical results for risk assessments and conformity evaluation.

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Section: Chemical Composition and Pcdd/f In Biomass Sludge And Soilsupporting

confidence: 50%

Insights into PCDD/Fs and PAHs in Biomass Boilers Envisaging Risks of Ash Use as Fertilizers

Lopes

Proença

2020

Applied Sciences

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“…We did some analyses on the available data provided by the author and found that there is a significant correlation between total organic carbon and PCDD/Fs WHO-TEQ. Pandelova et al (2018) also suggested that the PCDD/Fs load in German forests was predominantly a result of atmospheric fluxes and this proposition is supported by the congener pattern found in their samples. A study by Le et al (2019) show that surface soil (0-10 cm) was highly contaminated with PCDD/Fs.…”

Section: Sources Of Dioxins In Related Samplesmentioning

confidence: 69%

Dioxins in peat and its formation: An overview

Mohamed

Majid

Leong

et al. 2020

Cogent Environmental Science

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Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans collectively named dioxins, have long been investigated in numerous ways in their formation and presence in diverse types of matrices, e.g.,, air, soil, food, milk, and tissue, and their effects on human health among others. In the 1970s and 1980s, dioxins and other hazardous pollutants were found to be excessive in the environment prompting a global concern on its restriction and elimination. By year 2000, curbed industrial releases had remarkably lowered dioxin emission. However, dioxin emission continued to be a hazard from non-industrial sources such as forest fires, domestic combustion, and vehicles. In South East Asia, frequent peat fires may have leadingly contributed to the dioxins level in the environment. The objective of this review is to compile related data on dioxins in peats and to theorize the possible source and their formation.

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“…Therefore, for deer—similar to cattle and sheep—the soil next to the feed can serve as a relevant PCDD/F and PCB exposure pathway. In addition, forest soils, especially in populated areas, have a higher PCDD/F and PCB content than grasslands due to the adsorption of pollutants via leaves and transfer to the topsoil [ 60 ]. PCDD/F and dl-PCB levels in liver of deer and wild boar in central Europe are generally high and are elevated in some meat [ 17 , 61 , 62 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reviewing the relevance of dioxin and PCB sources for food from animal origin and the need for their inventory, control and management

et al. 2018

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BackgroundIn the past, cases of PCDD/F and PCB contamination exceeding limits in food from animal origin (eggs, meat or milk) were mainly caused by industrially produced feed. But in the last decade, exceedances of EU limit values were discovered more frequently for PCDD/Fs or dioxin-like(dl)-PCBs from free range chicken, sheep, and beef, often in the absence of any known contamination source.ResultsThe German Environment Agency initiated a project to elucidate the entry of PCBs and PCDD/Fs in food related to environmental contamination. This paper summarizes the most important findings. Food products from farm animals sensitive to dioxin/PCB exposure—suckling calves and laying hens housed outdoor—can exceed EU maximum levels at soil concentrations that have previously been considered as safe. Maximum permitted levels can already be exceeded in beef/veal when soil is contaminated around 5 ng PCB-TEQ/kg dry matter (dm). For eggs/broiler, this can occur at a concentration of PCDD/Fs in soil below 5 ng PCDD/F–PCB-TEQ/kg dm. Egg consumers—especially young children—can easily exceed health-based guidance values (TDI). The soil–chicken egg exposure pathway is probably the most sensitive route for human exposure to both dl-PCBs and PCDD/Fs from soil and needs to be considered for soil guidelines. The study also found that calves from suckler cow herds are most prone to the impacts of dl-PCB contamination due to the excretion/accumulation via milk. PCB (and PCDD/F) intake for free-range cattle stems from feed and soil. Daily dl-PCB intake for suckler cow herds must in average be less than 2 ng PCB-TEQ/day. This translates to a maximum concentration in grass of 0.2 ng PCB-TEQ/kg dm which is less than 1/6 of the current EU maximum permitted level. This review compiles sources for PCDD/Fs and PCBs relevant to environmental contamination in respect to food safety. It also includes considerations on assessment of emerging POPs.ConclusionsThe major sources of PCDD/F and dl-PCB contamination of food of animal origin in Germany are (1) soils contaminated from past PCB and PCDD/F releases; (2) PCBs emitted from buildings and constructions; (3) PCBs present at farms. Impacted areas need to be assessed with respect to potential contamination of food-producing animals. Livestock management techniques can reduce exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs. Further research and regulatory action are needed to overcome gaps. Control and reduction measures are recommended for emission sources and new listed and emerging POPs to ensure food safety.

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Results of the second national forest soil inventory in Germany - Interpretation of level and stock profiles for PCDD/F and PCB in terms of vegetation and humus type

Cited by 11 publications

References 38 publications

Insights into PCDD/Fs and PAHs in Biomass Boilers Envisaging Risks of Ash Use as Fertilizers

Insights into PCDD/Fs and PAHs in Biomass Boilers Envisaging Risks of Ash Use as Fertilizers

Dioxins in peat and its formation: An overview

Reviewing the relevance of dioxin and PCB sources for food from animal origin and the need for their inventory, control and management

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