Bioassays with Higher Plants

Potential hazards caused by the introduction of toxic components (especially heavy metals) with contaminated compost are revealed very often. These typical impurities are covered by the analytical quality control of most of the national regulations in Europe and will lead to a classification as second or third quality and to a limited use of the compost. These national standards are dealing with well-known contaminants that may derive from typical biowaste and are focussing on heavy metals and a handful of halogenated or aromatic hydrocarbons. The inclusion of bioassays with higher plants in some standards is more to determine the maturity of the compost than with the appearance of ecotoxic effects caused by anything other than the chemicals being determined. 

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