Uptake of radionuclides and stable elements from paddy soil to rice: a review

The critical paths for radionuclides and the critical foods in Asian countries differ from those in Western countries because agricultural products and diets are different. Consequently, safety assessments for Asian countries must consider rice as a critical food. As most rice is produced under flooded conditions, the uptake of radionuclides by rice is affected by soil conditions. In this report, we summarize radionuclide and stable element soil-to-plant transfer factors (TFs) for rice. Field observation results for fallout ¹³⁷Cs and stable Cs TFs indicated that while fallout ¹³⁷Cs had higher TF than stable Cs over several decades, the GM (geometric mean) values were similar with the GM of TF value for ¹³⁷Cs being 3.6 × 10⁻³ and that for stable Cs being 2.5 × 10⁻³. Although there are some limitations to the use of TF for stable elements under some circumstances, these values can be used to evaluate long-term transfer of long-lived radionuclides in the environment. The compiled data showed that TF values were higher in brown rice than in white rice because distribution patterns for elements were different in the bran and white parts of rice grains.     

Dithizone-functionalized C18 online solid-phase extraction-HPLC-ICP-MS for speciation of ultra-trace organic and inorganic mercury in cereals and environmental samples

A simple and efficient dithizone-functionalized solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure, online coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, was developed for the first time for enrichment and determination of ultra-trace mercury (Hg) species (inorganic divalent Hg (Hg(II)), methylmercury (CH₃Hg(II)) and ethylmercury (C₂H₅Hg(II)) in cereals and environmental samples. In the proposed method, functionalization of the commercial C₁₈ column with dithizone, enrichment, and elution of the above Hg species can be completed online with the developed SPE device. A simple solution of 2-mercaptoethanol (1% (V/V)) could be used as an eluent for both the SPE and HPLC separation of Hg species, significantly simplifying the method and instrumentation. The online SPE method was optimized by varying dithizone dose, 2-mercaptoethanol concentration, and sample volume. In addition, the effect of pH, coexisting interfering ions, and salt effect on the enrichment was also discussed. Under the optimized conditions, the detection limits of Hg species for 5 mL water sample were 0.15 ng/L for Hg(II), 0.07 ng/L for CH₃Hg(II), and 0.04 ng/L for C₂H₅Hg(II) with recoveries in the range of 85%–100%. The developed dithizone-functionalized C₁₈ SPE column can be reused after a single functionalization, which significantly simplifies the enrichment step. Moreover, the stability of Hg species enriched on the SPE column demonstrated its suitability for field sampling of Hg species for later laboratory analysis. This environment-friendly method offers a robust tool to detect ultra-trace Hg species in cereals and environmental samples.     

Environmental and economic assessment of biomass sourcing from extensively cultivated buffer strips along water bodies

Buffer strips represent oblong land elements along water bodies playing an important role for the water quality management of the surface water. In the policy context buffer strips are referred to as land with defined farming restrictions aiming at protecting the water course. In the current EU agricultural policy framework the majority of the decisions regarding subsidy schemes for buffer strips is taken on the member country level, which results in great differences between the EU members with regard to this water protection measure. If incentives for farmers for establishing and maintaining buffer strips are in place, they are usually linked to the harvest ban on the buffer strip. Such protection model can be endangered by volatile and rising prices for agricultural products. However, buffer strip can represent a valuable source of different ecosystem services, including biomass provision. If harvesting under certain restrictions would be allowed, the biomass could generate additional revenue that might contribute to securing buffer strips existence and consequently maintaining their protection function.This study aimed at assessing the costs and environmental consequences of biomass mobilizing from buffer strips. It dealt with different scenarios of biomass sourcing from extensively cultivated buffer strips in the Netherlands. In 12 scenarios, the cultivation of grass or cereal mixes (including multiple harvesting or perennial cultivation) for different valorisation chains (ensiling or fodder & bedding) was assessed. Both total net cultivation costs as well as the hectare based environmental performance (using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology) were evaluated. Additionally, the environmental impact of electricity production through anaerobic digestion of biomass from buffer strips was compared with the impact from digestion of classic grass silage and the impact profile of Dutch electricity mix.The results indicate ensiling as the scenario generating more net costs and higher environmental impacts as compared to fodder & bedding. In the latter, the cereal cultivation represents a better solution from economic perspective, while grass shows lower environmental impacts. Moreover, optimizing grass cultivation through switching to perennial mode contributes to strong improvements of the economic performance and contributes to additional reduction of environmental impacts, and consequently delivers the best environmental and economic solution. Moreover, the comparison with the Dutch electricity mix shows that biomass from buffer strips, if used in anaerobic digestion, can, in terms of environmental performance, compete with classic silages and contribute to reduced environmental damage.     

Which regional features of Danish agriculture favour the corn bunting in the contemporary farming landscape?

Corn buntings Miliaria calandra were abundant throughout arable agricultural landscapes in Europe, but have catastrophically declined since the mid 1970s with changes in farming practice and now give serious conservation cause for concern. Corn buntings declined in Denmark during 1976–1993, but (almost unique in Europe) have since increased (by up to 11% per annum) in some areas without specific conservation recovery actions. Based on breeding bird surveys in the mid 1990s, highest corn bunting densities occurred on mixed agriculture in west Denmark (Jylland); the species was rarer or absent in regions of highest arable land cover. Corn bunting density and extent of rotational and permanent grassland were correlated, but not with spring sown barley (all known to constitute important corn bunting winter habitat). The extent of spring barley rapidly declined in Denmark during the 1980s, but since 1990, most counties have since shown 2–3% annual increases in this crop, except in Nordjylland, where high densities of corn buntings have remained stable. Elsewhere in Jylland, corn buntings have increased in counties supporting highest densities during the mid 1990s, contrasting stable or declining trends in south and east Denmark where densities were originally lower. After dramatic decreases everywhere in Denmark, corn buntings retain highest breeding densities associated with mixed agriculture, especially where grassland and spring sown barley remained in greatest extent. Although purely based on land use correlation and bird surveillance, these results show an association between mixed farming and favourable conservation status of a species now red-listed throughout much of Europe. Further investigations of habitat use at small spatial scales and throughout the annual cycle are urgently required to better enlighten specific recommendations for wider applicability of guidelines for corn bunting recovery actions elsewhere.     

The Incidence of Fungi and Mycotoxins in South Africa Wheat and Wheat-Based Products

This investigation was undertaken to survey the fungal and mycotoxin contamination of South African wheat ranging from that growing in the field to processed wheat products. Samples of wheat were taken from various growing areas in South Africa and screened for fungi and mycotoxins, using a range of methodologies, including chromatography, immunoaffinity/fluorimetry, and cytotoxicity testing. Similar samples were taken from supermarkets and retail outlets in South Africa and analyzed in a similar manner. The result showed that a range of fungi and mycotoxins could be detected in wheat in all these sample types. The major fungal contaminants were Fusarium spp. and their attendant mycotoxins, in particular deoxynivalenol, which is in keeping with the observations made in the rest of the world. An interesting observation was that samples of wheat taken from the field with heavy Fusarium contamination were contaminated with fumonisin B₁, which is not normally associated with this crop. Of more concern were the low but persistent levels of mycotoxins and fungi in wheat-based products sold directly to the public.     

Foliar transfer into the biosphere: review of translocation factors to cereal grains

A review of the published literature about foliar transfer radionuclides to cereal grains was carried out with a special interest for translocation factors. Translocation describes the distribution of radionuclides within the plant after foliar deposition and radionuclide absorption onto the surface of leaves. It mainly depends on elements and the plant growth stage. The collected data were derived from both in-field and greenhouse experiments. They were analysed in order to select those coming from a contamination simulating a sprinkling irrigation or a rain. The data set contains 307 values. For each radionuclide the translocation factor values were sorted according to 5 characteristic stages of the cereal vegetative cycle: leaf development-tillering, stem elongation, earing-flowering, grain growth and ripening. Wheat, barley and rye have been treated together, independently of rice. For mobile elements such as cesium, the translocation factor is maximum when the contamination occurred at the earing-flowering stage. For less mobile elements such as strontium this maximum occurred for a foliar contamination at the grain growth stage. This review enabled us to propose the most probable value as well as the range of variation of translocation factors for some radionuclides according to the cereal vegetative cycle. Moreover, from these results, a radionuclide classification is proposed according to three mobility groups.