Soil quality. Method for testing effects of soil contaminants on the feeding activity of soil dwelling organisms. Bait-lamina test

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Soil Contaminants ◽  
Testing Effects

When Vacant Lots Become Urban Gardens: Characterizing the Perceived and Actual Food Safety Concerns of Urban Agriculture in Ohio

2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (11) ◽  
pp. 2070-2080 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHELLE L. KAISER ◽  
MICHELE L. WILLIAMS ◽  
NICHOLAS BASTA ◽  
MICHELLE HAND ◽  
SARAH HUBER
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Urban Agriculture ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Soils ◽  
Fresh Produce ◽  
Urban Gardens ◽  
Soil Contaminants ◽  
Improve Access

This study was intended to characterize the perceived risks of urban agriculture by residents of four low-income neighborhoods in which the potential exists for further urban agriculture development and to provide data to support whether any chemical hazards and foodborne pathogens as potential food safety hazards were present. Sixty-seven residents participated in focus groups related to environmental health, food security, and urban gardening. In addition, soils from six locations were tested. Residents expressed interest in the development of urban gardens to improve access to healthy, fresh produce, but they had concerns about soil quality. Soils were contaminated with lead (Pb), zinc, cadmium (Cd), and copper, but not arsenic or chromium. Results from our study suggest paint was the main source of soil contamination. Detectable polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels in urban soils were well below levels of concern. These urban soils will require further management to reduce Pb and possibly Cd bioavailability to decrease the potential for uptake into food crops. Although the number of locations in this study is limited, results suggest lower levels of soil contaminants at well-established gardens. Soil tillage associated with long-term gardening could have diluted the soil metal contaminants by mixing the contaminants with clean soil. Also, lower PAH levels in long-term gardening could be due to enhanced microbial activity and PAH degradation, dilution, or both due to mixing, similar to metals. No foodborne pathogen targets were detected by PCR from any of the soils. Residents expressed the need for clearness regarding soil quality and gardening practices in their neighborhoods to consume food grown in these urban areas. Results from this study suggest long-term gardening has the potential to reduce soil contaminants and their potential threat to food quality and human health and to improve access to fresh produce in low-income urban communities.

scholarly journals Microarthropods and vegetation as biological indicators of soil quality studied in the poor sandy stand at former military sites

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwona Gruss ◽  
Jacek Twardowski ◽  
Diana Nebeská ◽  
Josef Trögl ◽  
Tatyana Stefanovska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Vegetation Indices ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Close Relation ◽  
Biological Indicators ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Index Decomposition

Biota play major roles in soil function and are highly sensitive to any disturbances including land degradations. The objective of research was to evaluate the effectiveness of different methods used to determine soil quality in sandy soil, in particular to compare the microarthropod and vegetation indices. The following soil fauna indices were used: Collembola and Acari abundance, QBS-ar index, decomposition rate, feeding activity. The Ellenberg index was used as a vegetation indicator, in which the response to pH, nutrients, and moisture was analysed. We based on an experiment conducted at a former military site in the Czech Republic. Soil quality was determined at two sites which differ slightly in nutrient content. Collembola abundance, feeding activity, and QBS-ar index were highly sensitive to minor differences in nutrients. In the group of vegetation indices, only the response to pH was significant. All analysed indices showed better biological quality in soils with higher nutrient content. Collembola were positively correlated with all vegetation indicators, which may indicate a close relation of springtails to certain plant species or similar habitat requirements. Finally, we indicate the usefulness of biological indicators for monitoring the quality of soil, which can be adopted when making various decisions concerning land use.

Partial characterization and post-feeding activity of midgut aminopeptidase in the human body louse,Pediculus humanus humanus

1998 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 382-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
James O. Ochanda ◽  
Eva A. C. Oduor ◽  
Rachel Galun ◽  
Mabel O. Imbuga ◽  
Kosta Y. Mumcuoglu
Keyword(s):  
Human Body ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Partial Characterization ◽  
Body Louse ◽  
Pediculus Humanus ◽  
Post Feeding ◽  
Human Body Louse
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