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Dioxin Like Compounds Bulk Deposition on Corn ( Zea mais ) and Alfa Alfa ( Medicago sativa ): Modelled Levels on Derived Silage and Hay and Their Relevance for Dairy Production
Author(s) -
Brambilla Gianfranco,
De Filippis Stefania Paola,
Esposito Vittorio,
Settimo Gaetano
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
clean – soil, air, water
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1863-0669
pISSN - 1863-0650
DOI - 10.1002/clen.201100566
Subject(s) - silage , hay , hectare , environmental science , dairy farming , contamination , dairy cattle , biomass (ecology) , agronomy , milk production , zoology , agriculture , biology , ecology
Dioxin‐like compounds from regular, occasional or fugitive airborne sources of emission may fall out on fodders close to be harvested for silage and hay production. In this way, a prolonged long‐term intake of contaminated forages in dairy animals may be envisaged, able to determine a rise of the background contamination in milk. We simulated different risk scenarios taking into account the inventoried bulk dry depositions in rural areas of the aforesaid contaminants, silage and hay biomass production per hectare, forages regimen in dairy animals, and the congeners carry‐over rate (COR) from forages to milk. Considering atmospheric depositions >10 pg I‐TE m −2 day −1 and accounting for a 30% COR, dairy milk could rise up to the PCDD/F level of 3 pg WHO 1998 ‐TE g −1 fat. The modelling indicates that in rural areas bulk emissions should be selectively minimised, accounting for the calendar of the different agricultural practices, because of their potential impact on the fodders. Since environmental factors play a non‐negligible role in food production, a stronger harmonisation between I‐TE and WHO 1998–2005 ‐TE scales with respect to dioxin‐like polychlorobiphenyl congeners inclusion is envisaged. This will allow the prevention of the human indirect exposure to such contaminants when released in the air.