PROJECT No. 10
 
Immission Stress Summary of Agrarian Ecosystem by Selected Preferred Organic Pollutants
December 2002
 
 

 
ABSTRACT:
 
Increasing extent and severity of anthropological activities cause legally the growing risk of penetration of harmful chemical agents into all environmental constituents. Worsening of ecosystem led not only to the progressive identification and characterization of present contaminants (incl. determination of forms occurred), but also was included into larger projects concerned on systematic monitoring of transfers and modifications of contaminants in non-biotic and biotic environment. Obtained data should be, of course, utilized in the legislative field (risks management).

From historical point of view, we paid attention mainly to the toxic constituents and various inorganic anions, for which more or less reliable techniques of analysis were developed. In last decades, new methods of analysis and their development provided more intimate study of organic contaminants, not only as primary compounds but also their degradation products, which often show toxic effects on the very low concentration levels. Monitoring of organic contaminants, especially persistent organic-chloride compounds, was established in former Czechoslovakia in 80īs of last century. The attention was paid mainly to the contamination of potable water and foods. The question on contamination extent of food chain and other biotic matrix was open until 90īs, when relevant projects of monitoring started.

During selecting of contaminants, which are subsequently involved in the program of monitoring, following criteria are considered:

  • Toxic or gene-toxic effects,
  • Persistence or long-term existence in environmental constituents,
  • Bio-accumulating potential,
  • Extent of its penetration into environment,
  • Control by the national and international legislation.

In the scope of monitoring activities for evaluation of agrarian ecosystem burden (besides non-biotic constituent, such as water, soil and atmosphere) are under examination also plant and animal materials, which represent following groups:

  a) Agricultural products and other components of human food chain,
  b) Plant and animal matrixes, considered as bio-indicators.

While bio-indicators can suggest the burden stage caused by particular ecosystem constituent in the region, and combined with other data (relate to the atmosphere, water and soil contamination and transport mechanisms), examination of agricultural crops provides data associated with potential exposure of human being by harmful substances in the diet.

Final report is very comprehensive. This project deals with monitoring of environment contamination by preferred pollutants, characterization of monitored contaminants of terrestrial ecosystem and evaluation of agrarian ecosystem.
 

 
 
COPYRIGHT©2003 SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON PHYTOSANITARY AND ENVIRONMENT