Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management
Soils are a precious resource consistently placed under several threats and urgently in need of p... more Soils are a precious resource consistently placed under several threats and urgently in need of protection within a regulatory framework at the European level. Soils are central to the provision of environmental services as well as human existence on earth. The need to protect soil has been identified by several recent European strategies and fortunately, a specific European regulation for soil protection is on the way—the European Soil Monitoring Law (formerly: Soil Health Law). However, efforts need to ensure that the upcoming Soil Monitoring Law closes gaps between existing regulations for chemicals and acknowledges current European strategies for environmental protection and sustainability. This brief communication started from a fruitful discussion among SETAC Global Soils Interest Group members on a recent public consultation on the newly proposed Soil Monitoring Law of the European Commission and highlights critical points focusing on the chemical pollution of soils. We empha...
Resumen del trabajo presentado al Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Europ... more Resumen del trabajo presentado al Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Europe 27th Annual Meeting, celebrado en Bruselas (Belgica) del 7 al 11 de mayo de 2017.
Advances in science, technology & innovation, 2018
Ecological risk assessment of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) in the EU faces new and interestin... more Ecological risk assessment of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) in the EU faces new and interesting challenges, and the soil compartment is no exception.
Abstract Soil compaction is an often-recorded characteristic of degraded soils, and—along with so... more Abstract Soil compaction is an often-recorded characteristic of degraded soils, and—along with soil sealing and contamination—frequently found in urban habitats. Knowledge about the impact of soil degradation on the ecosystem functioning in urban environments is limited, although urbanization is the major ongoing land use change worldwide. Since urban soils are a potential habitat for soil animals, and burrowing soil fauna exerts a profound impact on the structure and functioning of soils, we studied the impact of increased bulk densities on the ability of Enchytraeus albidus (Enchytraeidae: Oligochaeta) to penetrate compacted soils. Moreover, it was our aim to characterize the influence of the worms on the mobilization of nutrients in urban soils. E. albidus was able to enter compacted sandy loamy soil columns with a bulk density of up to approx. 1.4 g cm −3 , but only up to approx. 1.0 g cm −3 in pure sandy soil columns. Soil compaction increased the amounts of water-extractable sodium (7.5%) and magnesium (13.4%) compared to the non-compacted soil. Presence of E. albidus in the non-compacted soil resulted in higher water-extractable concentrations of sodium (17.4%), potassium (16.8%), calcium (11.3%), magnesium (13.2%), dissolved organic carbon (DOC, 14.5%) and nitrate (20.4%) in soil extracts. In the compacted soil, however, the enhanced nutrient availability due to the activity of the enchytraeids was less pronounced than in the non-compacted soil. Although the concentrations of DOC (13.5%), nitrate (15.6%), calcium (5.8%) and magnesium (4.0%) were significantly higher in the presence of E. albidus than in the columns without animals, the performance of the animals was partly impaired. This was most likely due to the higher penetration resistance of the compacted soils. The degree of compaction investigated in this study was relatively low-chosen to allow for the colonization of the soils by E. albidus . We conclude that the observed negative effects of increased bulk densities on the activity of soil enchytraeids can occur in any more frequented city park, thereby decreasing turnover rates and the supply of soil nutrients in urban ecosystems.
Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management
The European environmental risk assessment (ERA) of plant protection products follows a tiered ap... more The European environmental risk assessment (ERA) of plant protection products follows a tiered approach. The approach for soil invertebrates currently consists of two steps, starting with a Tier 1 assessment based on reproduction toxicity tests with earthworms, springtails, and predatory mites. In case an unacceptable risk is identified at Tier 1, field studies can be conducted as a higher‐tier option. For soil invertebrates, intermediate tiers are not implemented. Hence, there is limited possibility to include additional information for the ERA to address specific concerns when the Tier 1 fails, as an alternative to, for example, a field study. Calibrated intermediate‐tier approaches could help to address risks for soil invertebrates with less time and resources but also with sufficient certainty. A multistakeholder workshop was held on 2–4 March 2022 to discuss potential intermediate‐tier options, focusing on four possible areas: (1) natural soil testing, (2) single‐species tests ...
Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management
Soils are a precious resource consistently placed under several threats and urgently in need of p... more Soils are a precious resource consistently placed under several threats and urgently in need of protection within a regulatory framework at the European level. Soils are central to the provision of environmental services as well as human existence on earth. The need to protect soil has been identified by several recent European strategies and fortunately, a specific European regulation for soil protection is on the way—the European Soil Monitoring Law (formerly: Soil Health Law). However, efforts need to ensure that the upcoming Soil Monitoring Law closes gaps between existing regulations for chemicals and acknowledges current European strategies for environmental protection and sustainability. This brief communication started from a fruitful discussion among SETAC Global Soils Interest Group members on a recent public consultation on the newly proposed Soil Monitoring Law of the European Commission and highlights critical points focusing on the chemical pollution of soils. We empha...
Resumen del trabajo presentado al Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Europ... more Resumen del trabajo presentado al Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Europe 27th Annual Meeting, celebrado en Bruselas (Belgica) del 7 al 11 de mayo de 2017.
Advances in science, technology & innovation, 2018
Ecological risk assessment of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) in the EU faces new and interestin... more Ecological risk assessment of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) in the EU faces new and interesting challenges, and the soil compartment is no exception.
Abstract Soil compaction is an often-recorded characteristic of degraded soils, and—along with so... more Abstract Soil compaction is an often-recorded characteristic of degraded soils, and—along with soil sealing and contamination—frequently found in urban habitats. Knowledge about the impact of soil degradation on the ecosystem functioning in urban environments is limited, although urbanization is the major ongoing land use change worldwide. Since urban soils are a potential habitat for soil animals, and burrowing soil fauna exerts a profound impact on the structure and functioning of soils, we studied the impact of increased bulk densities on the ability of Enchytraeus albidus (Enchytraeidae: Oligochaeta) to penetrate compacted soils. Moreover, it was our aim to characterize the influence of the worms on the mobilization of nutrients in urban soils. E. albidus was able to enter compacted sandy loamy soil columns with a bulk density of up to approx. 1.4 g cm −3 , but only up to approx. 1.0 g cm −3 in pure sandy soil columns. Soil compaction increased the amounts of water-extractable sodium (7.5%) and magnesium (13.4%) compared to the non-compacted soil. Presence of E. albidus in the non-compacted soil resulted in higher water-extractable concentrations of sodium (17.4%), potassium (16.8%), calcium (11.3%), magnesium (13.2%), dissolved organic carbon (DOC, 14.5%) and nitrate (20.4%) in soil extracts. In the compacted soil, however, the enhanced nutrient availability due to the activity of the enchytraeids was less pronounced than in the non-compacted soil. Although the concentrations of DOC (13.5%), nitrate (15.6%), calcium (5.8%) and magnesium (4.0%) were significantly higher in the presence of E. albidus than in the columns without animals, the performance of the animals was partly impaired. This was most likely due to the higher penetration resistance of the compacted soils. The degree of compaction investigated in this study was relatively low-chosen to allow for the colonization of the soils by E. albidus . We conclude that the observed negative effects of increased bulk densities on the activity of soil enchytraeids can occur in any more frequented city park, thereby decreasing turnover rates and the supply of soil nutrients in urban ecosystems.
Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management
The European environmental risk assessment (ERA) of plant protection products follows a tiered ap... more The European environmental risk assessment (ERA) of plant protection products follows a tiered approach. The approach for soil invertebrates currently consists of two steps, starting with a Tier 1 assessment based on reproduction toxicity tests with earthworms, springtails, and predatory mites. In case an unacceptable risk is identified at Tier 1, field studies can be conducted as a higher‐tier option. For soil invertebrates, intermediate tiers are not implemented. Hence, there is limited possibility to include additional information for the ERA to address specific concerns when the Tier 1 fails, as an alternative to, for example, a field study. Calibrated intermediate‐tier approaches could help to address risks for soil invertebrates with less time and resources but also with sufficient certainty. A multistakeholder workshop was held on 2–4 March 2022 to discuss potential intermediate‐tier options, focusing on four possible areas: (1) natural soil testing, (2) single‐species tests ...
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