Description
Title: Effects of urban contaminants and reclaimed materials on soil functions.Abstract:
Protecting soils and securing their ecological functions is a prerequisite for sustainable development. Occurrence of both historic and new potentially hazardous substances in urban soil poses a potential risk to sustaining soil ecosystems, and impacts should be taken into account not least with the introduction of – on first glance – environmentally friendly alternatives such as reclaimed construction materials and “natural” chemicals. The scope of this study was to develop a test method for contaminant impact on soil functions by simulating the potential impact of reclaimed material (recycled asphalt) with against background values elevated PAH-concentrations (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons). The method was jointly developed to assess the repeated exposure of a common herbicide used in urban gardens (active substance: Pelargonic Acid). At the heart of the experiment were common earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris), which carry out invaluable tasks in soil: they provide for soil structure, water infiltration, aeration, and influence organic matter dynamics. The setup consisted of 20 mesocosms, with 4 kg of natural clayey till soil mixed with sand and gravel, or asphalt, and five earthworms per mesocosm. Endpoints for detecting impact on earthworms were survival rate, biomass and activity. Additionally, soil respiration and soil biomass, as well as decomposition rate measured with the “Tea bag index” were evaluated against controls. Results from the experiments verify the suitability of the method and potential impact of reclaimed asphalt on soil health at PAH concentrations generally accepted in contaminated areas in Sweden. The results enable a better understanding of potential impacts of reclaimed materials and chemicals used in urban soils, and, in the long run, enable a more accurate reflection of environmental risks posed by reclaimed materials than today’s soil risk assessments allow.
| Period | 2023 Oct 9 → 2023 Oct 13 |
|---|---|
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Santa Margherita di Pula, Sardinia, ItalyShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |
UKÄ subject classification
- Environmental Sciences
- Soil Science
- Ecology
- Environmental Management
- Bioremediation