Transfer of organic and inorganic pollutants in the food chain after spreading of residual-origin fertilizing materials on grasslands

Abstract

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the transfer of inorganic and organic pollutants to livestock through ingestion of soil, plants, water or contaminated soil fauna, following spreading of residual-origin fertilizing materials (MAFOR) on grasslands. In the course of such an assessment the amounts of pollutants ingested, the fraction of pollutants to be extracted from the matrix and their fate in the body need to be considered. Field studies aiming at evaluating the pollutant transfer from MAFOR to livestock remain scarce. They are mainly based on sewage sludge application in grasslands and they do not allow estimating the impact of other forms of MAFOR. Taking into account the available knowledge on pollutants transfer to animal products, it appears that organic pollutants are more strongly absorbed and transferred than Trace Metals (TM). Mainly non metabolized pollutants significantly accumulate in animal products: organic pollutants generally concentrate in fatty tissues and products while TM are preferentially found in offal. However, a serious lack of knowledge about the behavior of emerging organic contaminants (brominated perfluorocarbons, phthalates, paraffin) or certain TM (vanadium, thallium) has to be noted. Overall, a significant transfer of organic and inorganic pollutants to animal products, following the application of residual-origin fertilizing materials on grasslands, cannot be excluded.