Effects of compost addition and irrigation water quality on the movement of contaminants in soil

What is it about?

We performed experiments to evaluate the effect of compost addition soil, together with different water qualities (freshwater or reclaimed wastewater), on the movement of organic contaminants. The contaminants reach the environment through irrigation with reclaimed wastewater and compost which originates from wastewater treatment plants, and may eventually reach the food chain if they are uptaken by plants. In addition, contaminants might migrate through the soil to groundwater reservoirs or rivers and lakes. Our experiments show that adding compost may help retaining the contaminants, while different irrigation water qualities may facilitate their faster transport. We discuss the different mechanisms responsible for retention or enhanced transport, with relation to the chemical structure of the contaminant.

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Why is it important?

Many pollutants are frequently introduced to the environment, and although some are present in small concentrations in the carrying medium (either wastewater or compost), over time they might accumulate. In addition, the use of organic amendments (e.g. compost) is a common practice, and irrigation with wastewater is becoming more acceptable, especially in semi-arid regions. Therefore, it is very important to obtain basic understanding of the impact of such practices on pollutant distribution and behavior, in order to obtain the correct assessment on their hazardous potential.

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