US EPA

1381882 

Technical Report 

Correction of PREVIEWS 98817910. Heavy metal contaminants in inorganic and organic fertilizers. Correction of publication year from 1996 

Mortvedt, JJ 

1995 

BIOSIS/96/36024 

43 

1-3 

1-3 

eng 

BIOSIS COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. Commercial phosphate (P) fertilizers contain small amounts of heavy-metal contaminants which were minor constituents in phosphate rock (PR). Animal manures and sewage sludges (biosolids) are the main organic fertilizers and the latter also may contain heavy-metal contaminants. Heavy metals in biosolids may be found in the inorganic form or may be organically complexed, which could affect their chemical reactions in soil. These heavy metals may accumulate in soil with repeated fertilizer applications. Cadmium (Cd) is the heavy metal of most concern because it may affect human health. Other heavy metals of possible significance are arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and vanadium (V). Some countries have set tolerance limits on heavy-metal additions to soil because their long-term effects are unknown. These limits usually are set for the tillage layer (surface 20-30 cm) of soil where most root activity occurs. Controls on heavy-metal concent 

General Biology-Institutions; Biochemical Studies-General; Biochemical Studies-Minerals; Nutrition-Minerals; Digestive System-General; Toxicology-Environmental and Industrial Toxicology; Public Health: Environmental Health-Sewage Disposal and Sanitary Measures; Public Health: Environmental Health-Air; Plant Physiology; Agronomy-General; Soil Science-Physics and Chemistry (1970- ); Soil Science-Fertility and Applied Studies (1970- ); Angiospermae