Cadmium-hazard mapping using a general linear regression model (Irr-Cad) for rapid risk assessment.

Research undertaken over the last 40 years has identified the irrefutable relationship between the long-term consumption of cadmium (Cd)-contaminated rice and human Cd disease. In order to protect public health and livelihood security, the ability to accurately and rapidly determine spatial Cd contamination is of high priority. During 2001-2004, a General Linear Regression Model Irr-Cad was developed to predict the spatial distribution of soil Cd in a Cd/Zn co-contaminated cascading irrigated rice-based system in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand (Longitude E 98 degrees 59'-E 98 degrees 63' and Latitude N 16 degrees 67'-16 degrees 66'). The results indicate that Irr-Cad accounted for 98% of the variance in mean Field Order total soil Cd. Preliminary validation indicated that Irr-Cad 'predicted' mean Field Order total soil Cd, was significantly (p < 0.001) correlated (R (2) = 0.92) with 'observed' mean Field Order total soil Cd values. Field Order is determined by a given field's proximity to primary outlets from in-field irrigation channels and subsequent inter-field irrigation flows. This in turn determines Field Order in Irrigation Sequence (Field Order(IS)). Mean Field Order total soil Cd represents the mean total soil Cd (aqua regia-digested) for a given Field Order(IS). In 2004-2005, Irr-Cad was utilized to evaluate the spatial distribution of total soil Cd in a 'high-risk' area of Mae Sot District. Secondary validation on six randomly selected field groups verified that Irr-Cad predicted mean Field Order total soil Cd and was significantly (p < 0.001) correlated with the observed mean Field Order total soil Cd with R (2) values ranging from 0.89 to 0.97. The practical applicability of Irr-Cad is in its minimal input requirements, namely the classification of fields in terms of Field Order(IS), strategic sampling of all primary fields and laboratory based determination of total soil Cd (T-Cd(P)) and the use of a weighed coefficient for Cd (Coeff(W)). The use of primary fields as the basis for Irr-Cad is also an important practical consideration due to their inherent ease of identification and vital role in the classification of fields in terms of Field Order(IS). The inclusion of mean field order soil pH (1:5(water)) to the Irr-Cad model accounted for over 79% of the variation in mean Field Order bio-available (DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid)-extractable) soil Cd. Rice is the staple food of countries of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (includes Vietnam, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Thailand and Yunnan Province, China). These countries also have actively and historically mined Zn, Pb, and Cu deposits where Cd is likely to be a potential hazard if un-controlled discharge/runoff enters areas of rice cultivation. As such, it is envisaged that the Irr-Cad model could be applied for Cd hazard assessment and effectively form the basis of intervention options and policy decisions to protect public health, livelihoods, and export security.

Nitrogen leaching from soil treated with sludge.

The amount of sludge generated from urban centers is increasing more and more, so wastewater treatment plants are being constructed. Recycling of sludge by application to agricultural land can alleviate the disposal pressure, and, at the same time, utilize the plant nutrients in the waste. Organic nitrogen in sludge is mineralized to inorganic forms such as nitrate and ammonium that can be taken up by plants. The inorganic forms of nitrogen, especially nitrates, can easily be leached because of its negative charge. Not only do nitrates cause eutrophication, but, at high concentration in drinking water, can also cause chemical suffocation disease in babies. This work is meant to quantify nitrate and ammonium nitrogen leached from soil treated with sludge. In order to obtain information on the composition of leachate from sludge, Kandiustults and a lysimeter study were used. Municipal and industrial sludge were applied to completely random design plots at different rates: 125, 250 and 375 kg N/ha. Each control lysimeter was treated with chemical fertilizer (N-P2O5-K2O: 20-10-10) at the rate of 125 kg N/ha. After the Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea L.) was planted in each lysimeter, leachate was collected every week and analyzed for NO3- and NH4+. The experiment was conducted at Kasetsart University, Bangkhen Campus, Bangkok, Thailand. Average nitrogen leach in the form of NO3- was 25 times more concentrated than the NH4+. Nitrate concentrations in the leachate exceeded the drinking water standard. Nitrate and ammonium leaching were measured to be between 1.50-3.00% and 0.03-0.14% of the total treated nitrogen, respectively. Total nitrogen losses found in this study were 44.88%, 77.24% and 77.91% of the total nitrogen applied by chemical fertilizer, Huay Kwang sludge and Bangpa In sludge, respectively.