Predicting the fate of non-ionic organic chemicals entering agricultural soils following sewage sludge application

Simon R. Wild, Angus J. Beck and Kevin C. Jones

A simple assessment procedure employing octanol:water partition coefficients, Henry’s constants and compound half-lives was used to predict the environmental fate and behaviour of non-ionic organic chemicals in sewage sludge-amended soil. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorinated benzenes (CBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were screened for their potential for soil sorption, leaching, volatilisation, plant root uptake and translocation, and plant foliar uptake and accumulation in animal tissues following ingestion. Compounds and processes that should be targeted for further experimental investigation were identified. Livestock ingestion of compounds introduced into sludge amended pastureland, followed by consumption of meat and/or dairy products, is the pathway most likely to increase human exposure to sludge-introduced PCDD/Fs and PCBs. The CBs are the most mobile in the environment of those compounds considered, having the potential to volatilise and accumulate in both crop plants and grazing livestock. PAHs with four or more benzene rings are persistent in soils and merit research on food chain transfers.

3 (3) 1995

Updated: 09-Jun-2005