Soil protection review

The Soil Protection Review was introduced to try and reduce soil degradation. Fanners are required to record their current and potential soil problems as well as assessing soil types and erosion risks on their land. Suitable land management... 

As part of compliance needed to claim their Single Payments, farmers are also required to complete soil protection reviews (SMR 1), manure and nutrient management plans (SMR 4) and comply with GAEC 19 (no spread zones). These are designed to help farmers to meet the NVZ regulations in a manageable way. 

NCRP, Recommended Screening Limits for Contaminated Surface Soil and Review of Factors Relevant to Site-Specific Studies, Report 129, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Bethesda, MD, 1999. 

Sanborn JK, Francis BM, Metcalf KL. 1977. The degradation of selected pesticides in soil A review of published literature. Cincinnati, OH U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA 600/9-77-022. 

EPA. 1982b. Retention and transformation of selected pesticides and phosphoms in soil- water systems A critical review. Athens, GA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA-600/S3-82/060. 

Recent reviews have focused on the role of mycorrhizal fungi in the uptake of heavy metals from polluted soils and their transfer to the plant (123). Several experimental data provide clear evidence that both ectomycorrhizal and ericoid fungi protect their host against these metals (123-125). The position with regard to the AM fungi is less clear (123). 

While numerous factors have been determined to impact CF14 emissions from rice cultivation, due to a general lack of field data, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEP A) currently uses a single emissions factor for all non-California-grown, primary rice crops [4]. Therefore, the purpose of this review is two-fold (i) discuss the factors known to control CH4 production in the soil and transport to the atmosphere from rice cultivation and (ii) summarize the historic and recent research conducted on CF14 emissions from rice production in the temperate United States. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1984, Review of Inplace Treatment Techniques for Contaminated Surface Soils, Vol. I Technical Evaluation, EPA-540/2-84-003a. 

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1993, Behavior and Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds in Soil A Literature Review. Office of Research and Development, EPA/600/R-93/140. 

In Denmark, health-based quality criteria are set for chemical substances in soil, drinking water, and ambient air according to principles laid down in a guidance document from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (D-EPA 2006). The principles laid down in the guidance document are based on an extensive review addressing the hazard assessment of chemicals, including application of assessment factors (Nielsen et al. 2005). 

Protocols for preparing six environmental sample types prior to the Ames Salmonella assay were proposed at a recent panel discussion sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the U.S. Army. Air particles, soil-sediment, and solid waste are extracted with dichloromethane, concentrated, and solvent exchanged into dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Organics in water and waste water are absorbed onto XAD columns, then eluted with hexane-acetone, solvent reduced, and exchanged into DM SO. Nonaqueous liquids are assayed directly and as concentrates before they are solvent exchanged to DMSO. If bacterial toxicity or lack of dose response is observed in the Ames assay of extracts, the extracts are fractionated prior to solvent exchange. These are interim methods and have not been subjected to policy review of the USEPA or the U.S. Army. 

As reviewed by Alexander (1985) and Morris Pritchard (1994), many studies suggest that bioavailability represents one of the most important factors influencing PAH biodegradability in the environment. This is because PAHs, especially the HMW, hydrophobic compounds, possess intrinsically low water solubilities and therefore tend to partition onto soil mineral surfaces and to sorb tightly to available organic materials (Hites et al., 1977 Means et al., 1980 Weber etal., 1993). When PAHs are adsorbed in this way they become physically unavailable to resident microorganisms and are therefore protected from microbial catalysis. 

ATSDR concludes that the action level of 1 ppb (TEQ) for dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, when coupled to a site-specific context of evaluation for the range > 50 ppt (0.05 ppb) to < 1 ppb TEQs in residential soil, is protective of public health and continues to represent a level at which consideration t health action to interdict exposure, including cleanup, should occur. This conclusion is based on ATSDR s review and evaluation of... 

This review provides information related to the methods which are currently most suitable for the remediation of contaminated soils and water. The development of a deeper understanding of the physical and chemical processes involved in the degradation of contaminants will facilitate the establishment of more cost-effective and efficient remedial action plans that are protective of human health and the environment. 

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