Biogeochemical standards

In Chapter 9 we have considered the application of biogeochemical approaches for the assessment of human health. This chapter deals with the application of a biogeochemical concept of critical loads forwarding the impact-oriented reduction of pollutant inputs to the terrestrial and aquatie ecosystems. 

CRITICAL LOAD AS BIOGEOCHEMICAL STANDARDS FOR ACID-FORMING CHEMICAL SPECIES 

In spite of almost global attraction of the critical load concept, the quantitative assessment of critical load values as biogeochemical standards has been accomplished with some uncertainties. The phrase significant harmful effects in the definition of critical load is of course susceptible to interpretation, depending on the kind of effects considered and the amount of harm accepted (de Vries and Bakker, 1998a, 1998b). Regarding the effects considered in terrestrial ecosystems, a distinction can be made in effects on  

In aquatic ecosystems, it is necessary to consider the whole biogeochemical structure of these communities and a distinction can be made accounting for the diversity of food webs  

The possible impact of a certain load on soil and surface water quality can be estimated by determining  

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It is also known that the level of pollution may be also estimated using critical loads of pollutants as biogeochemical standards (see Chapter 3 for more details). 

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