Research Publications (Food Safety)

Abstract Biochar is a promising candidate for the sustainable remediation of soils, especially those contaminated with cationic heavy metals, because of its liming effect and tunable surface functionality. Despite its potential, prior studies have highlighted biochar's limitations in immobilizing soil oxyanions, such as arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb), particularly in the short term.

Abstract The utilization of the thin film gradient diffusion technique has been on the rise for appraising the efficacy of soil cadmium (Cd). Nonetheless, in contrast to conventional methodologies employed to gauge the efficacy of soil Cd, there exists a dearth of adequate research concerning whether the technique of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) can furnish a more precise and all‐encompassing evaluation of soil Cd effectiveness in soil passivation and remediation procedures.

Abstract Cheap and widely available calcium‐based materials have gained popularity for remediating cadmium‐contaminated soils, but their potential to address cadmium (Cd) toxicity in acidic soils remains deeply understudied. The current study investigated the effects of calcined oyster shells (COS) and dolomite (DM), applied at a rate of 30 g kg‐1, on Cd availability and its accumulation in spinach plants in acidic Cd‐contaminated soils (Cd concentration: 4.42 mg kg‐1).

Soil Use and Management, Accepted Article. For the past few years, the production of safe crops in Cd-contaminated soil has attracted more and more attention, and the intercropping of wheat and herbaceous plants has gradually become an effective way. However, how the physicochemical and metabolic processes due to the intercropping change Cd availability are still unclear.

Soil Use and Management, Accepted Article. Ecological restoration refers to the gradual recovery of damaged ecosystems by utilizing their self-recovery capacity and artificial measures. It is considered as an effective technique to alleviate heavy metal pollution in open-pit mining soils. However, little is known about the stability of heavy metals and soil bacterial responses in artificially restored soil-plant systems.

Soil Use and Management, Accepted Article. The accumulation of heavy metals like cadmium (Cd) and metalloids like arsenic (As) in plants can do harm to human health through the food chain, especially through the rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Soil Use and Management, Volume 37, Issue 4, Page 906-920, October 2021.

Soil Use and Management, Accepted Article. Management of heavy metal contaminated soil under drought and other harsh hydrological conditions is critical for protecting soil ecosystem services.

Soil Use and Management, Accepted Article. Heavy metals and metalloids can accumulate in soil, with potentially toxic effects to human health and ecosystems, threatening the sustainable use and management of soil resources.

Heavy metals in ecosystems affect human health through the web chain. Castellon province is home to the largest ceramic production hub in Spain, with 94 % of the country's total production Agricultural soils in the vicinity of the ceramic hub were reported to contain potentially toxic elements (Pb, Cr, Ni and Cd) in 2008 and have since been subject to repeated amendment with biosolids (sewage sludge).

The Contamination agricultural soils and food by cadmium(cd) is one of the major concerns of the world. The field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of silicon (Si) fertilizer on bioavailability and accumulation of Cd in soil, Cd chemical fractions, dynamic changes of soil pH, available Cd content and Cd content of various parts of rice plants.

Biochar has various ecological effects on heavy‐metal‐contaminated soils. Biochar can passivate the activity of heavy metals and improve environmental conditions for microbial growth. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to explore the diversity of microbes in red soil under cadmium (Cd) stress following the application of wheat straw biochar.

Tropical peatlands are unique and globally important ecosystems for carbon storage, that are generally considered nutrient poor. However, different nutrient and heavy metal concentrations in these complex ecosystems and their interactions with carbon emissions are largely unknown.

This study focused on the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of soils from different grasslands in the Budapest area. Our aim was to assess the influence of anthropogenic activities on these soils by comparing three types of site: urban, green‐urban, and non‐urban. From these sites, a total of 72 topsoil samples were collected and analyzed. The results indicated that many properties of soils varied greatly between the different types of site.

Accidental flowback water spills can cause serious soil pollution. Nickel (Ni) is one of the common heavy metal components in the flowback water. However, the behavior and mechanism of Ni in flowback water in dolomite‐derived laterite soil is poorly understood. In this study, laterite soils were selected from a Cambrian dolomite strata in China.Column experiments and synthetic flowback water were used to investigate the mobilization of Ni.

The unsustainable use of phosphate‐based fertilizers can lead to the depletion of accessible phosphorous reserves and cause environmental problems. As well as finding new phosphate supplies, we ought to be prioritizing sustainable phosphate‐based fertilizers. By adopting microbial, physical and chemical modifications, low‐solubility phosphate minerals could be used in an efficient way for nutrient supply and heavy metal immobilization.

This study focused on the effects of biochar (BC) application on soil chemical properties and mobilization of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in the paddy soil. BC was applied at the rate of 0, 10, 20 and 40 t ha‐1, respectively. BC application caused significant increase in soil organic carbon contents (SOC), pH, nitrate nitrogen (NO3‐‐N), and available phosphorus contents (AP) in the top and subsurface soil, while SOC contents in the subsurface soil decreased with increasing rate of BC.

The likelihood of co‐selection for antibiotic resistance induced by heavy metals is a potential threat to human health, however direct evidence of heavy metal induced co‐selection of antibiotic resistance is lacking in soil. By using a metagenomic sequencing approach, zinc (Zn) driven co‐selection of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soil was investigated through a microcosm experiment where Zn salts were added at different levels.