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The adhesion to leaf surfaces of heavy metals from sewage sludge applied to grassland
Author(s) -
Klessa D. A.,
DesiraButtigieg A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-2743.1992.tb00905.x
Subject(s) - grassland , sewage sludge , heavy metals , environmental science , agronomy , sewage , environmental engineering , environmental chemistry , chemistry , biology
. When sewage sludge is surface‐applied to grassland, herbage may become contaminated with heavy metals from adhering solids, posing a risk to the health of grazing livestock and possibly increasing the entry of heavy metals into food products. A field trial examined factors influencing sludge adhesion to leaf surfaces and changes in the concentration of heavy metals in herbage over time. Metals differed in their persistence on leaves. The time required for metal concentrations in herbage to reach background levels depended on herbage growth, the dry solid content of sludges, their rate of application and the height of the grass when the sludge was applied. The implications of the results for the length of a safe no‐grazing period following sludge application are discussed in the context of UK and EC legislation governing sludge use on agricultural land.