Abstract
The use of seaweed fertilisers in sports green maintenance has become a common practice across the globe due to its image as an “eco-friendly” alternative to chemical fertilisers. The aim of this study was to characterise the risk of human exposure to arsenic (As), via dermal absorption, from golfing activities on a private golf course in the UK, where As contaminated seaweed fertiliser (~ 100 mg/kg d.wt.) is applied. This was fulfilled by, 1) determining As concentrations in shallow soils with GIS geo-statistical analysis, 2) measuring As concentrations from an on-site borehole groundwater well, and (3) developing a risk assessment calculation for golfing activities based on field and questionnaire data. Total As concentrations in shallow soils were less than the UK threshold for domestic soils, however, frequent and sustained dermal contact between site-users and surface soil attributed to a maximum carcinogenic risk value of 2.75 × 10− 4, which is in the upper limit of the acceptable risk range. Arsenic concentrations in underlying groundwater exceeded the WHO's permissible drinking water standard, demonstrating the risk of groundwater contamination following the application of seaweed fertiliser to golf course soils. This is the first risk study on dermal As absorption via the application of a seaweed fertiliser.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 252-259 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Science of the Total Environment |
Volume | 482-483 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 19 Mar 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 01 Jun 2014 |
Keywords
- Arsenic, seaweed fertiliser, golf course, soil, groundwater, risk characterisation.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Chemistry
- Pollution
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Environmental Engineering
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Distribution of arsenic and risk assessment of activities on a golf course fertilised with arsenic-containing Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Impacts
-
Treatment Systems for Safer Drinking Water
Phillips, D. (Participant)
Impact: Health Impact, Environmental Impact, Quality of Life Impact, Economic Impact