Projects / Programmes
Assessment of the biological availability of organic and inorganic pollutants in soil with in vitro and in vivo tests as a measure of soil remediation efficiency
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.03.02 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
Soil and micro-climate |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B410 |
Biomedical sciences |
Soil science, agricultural hydrology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.05 |
Natural Sciences |
Earth and related Environmental sciences |
soil pollution, metals, PCBs, soil remediation, bioavailability, soil quality
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
26538 |
PhD Metka Udovič |
Plant production |
Head |
2010 - 2012 |
57 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Pollutants are present in soil in different chemical forms, of which only a share is biologically available for organisms and poses a threath to them. With soil remediation with leaching with chelating agents/acids/surfactants we are able to remove from the soil only the bioavailable share of pollutants (bioavailability stripping). With soil remediation with stabilization we alter the chemical forms of pollutants, making them less bioavailable (bioavailability reduction). The aim of the proposed project is to set up a simplified in vitro test based on the results of in vivo accumulation tests with indicator invertebrate and plant species for the assessment of the bioavailability of metals and PCBs in soil i) as measure of soil pollution and risk for the environment; ii) as measure of soil remediation effectivity; iii) as base for the identification of the most suitable remediation technique for a detremined soil type or pollution type.
Soil pollution negatively affects soil functionality and quality, consequantly also its agricultural potential. The aim of the proposed project is to study the effect of i) soil remediation with stabilization with different additives; ii) soil remediation with leaching with chelating agents/acids/surfactants, on soil quality and functionality, as assessed by i) enzymatic activity assays; ii) a standardized avoidance test. Basing on the results, the most adequate remediation method will be chosen for different soil types, types of pollution and soil agricultural usage.
After the re-introduction of remediated soils into the environment, environmental biotic and abiotic factors affect their characteristics and the reminder biologically non-available pollutants in soil. The aim of the proposed project is to study the effect i) of biotic environmental factors; ii) abiotic environmental factors, on soil characteristics and on the chemical characteristics of th ereminder pollutants in soil. The results will provide valuable information for a better understanding of post-remediation processes in soil, which will enable future optimization of the remediation methods for a long-lasting remediation effectiveness.
Significance for science
The topics of the project research is still poorly understood and new. So far the soil remediation studies have neglected the fate of the remediated soil afetr its re-introduction in the environment. The resarch design proposed in this project is a novel holistic approach to the problematic of polluted soils, from the assessment of soil pollution to the monitoring of the fate of remediated soil in time. One of the most important characteristics of this approach is the use of soil organisms for soil pollution assessment and for the assessment of the effectivity of soil remediation. Moreover, the most appropriate remediation approach is choosen on basis of its impact on soil quality and functionality. So far the results showed the need for a similar approach, since they clearly indicate that the approach used so far (based on chemical extractions solely) does not provide enough informations on the impact of the remediation on soil functionality and can lead to erroneous assessments of the remediation efficiency.
Significance for the country
The contaminated sites in Slovenia are localized and can be therefore remediated with more controlled systems in an optimized approach. The results presented here are the basic tools for a holistic approach to soil remediation. The possibility of re-using polluted soil fro vegetable and crop production is of cultural and scoial importance in areas such as Mežica Valley. The remediation approach we are optimizing in this project will decrease the environmental risk posed by the polluted soil, but also improve the quality of the soil, allowing thus people to safely grow plants for their consumption. The research group established a connecton with the European research group BARGE, which is developing a bioeccassibility test for the new EU legislation on soil contamination. This collaboration is extremely important for Slovenia, as we are directly involved in the buil-up of the EU legislation on soil protection.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
