e-infrastructure Roadmap for Open Science in Agriculture

A bibliometric study

The e-ROSA project seeks to build a shared vision of a future sustainable e-infrastructure for research and education in agriculture in order to promote Open Science in this field and as such contribute to addressing related societal challenges. In order to achieve this goal, e-ROSA’s first objective is to bring together the relevant scientific communities and stakeholders and engage them in the process of coelaboration of an ambitious, practical roadmap that provides the basis for the design and implementation of such an e-infrastructure in the years to come.

This website highlights the results of a bibliometric analysis conducted at a global scale in order to identify key scientists and associated research performing organisations (e.g. public research institutes, universities, Research & Development departments of private companies) that work in the field of agricultural data sources and services. If you have any comment or feedback on the bibliometric study, please use the online form.

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Title

Contamination by persistent chemical pesticides in livestock production systems

en
Abstract

The impact of persistent organic pesticides represents one of the major environmental problems as reported in several studies and reflected in some mandatory actions at the inter-governmental level. In particular, isomers of Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), like many others Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs), are of human health and environmental concern due to their persistence in the biosphere. In industrialised countries, Lindane (the T-isomer of HCH with insecticide effects) has been widely used in the past. As a consequence, large quantities of HCH isomers without insecticide effects (alpha-, beta-, delta- and epsilon), discarded during the purification of Lindane, have been disposed for years into dumps around industrial sites. Nowadays, such uncontrolled disposal practices imply a great risk of environmental contamination, possibly threatening animals and humans by food chains transfer and bio-accumulation. In 2005, dairy cow farms in the Province of Rome (Italy) were threatened due to environmental contamination of the Sacco River by HCHs. As a case study, all components of the dairy cow production system undergoing agro-environmental pollution crisis, were investigated with the aim to analyze the main critical points. Five dairy farms were involved in the research. Data regarding the contamination by HCHs of soils, forages, bovine milk and blood serum are reported. Soil and forage samples (mainly maize, alfalfa and ryegrass) were taken in different places near the Sacco River, on the basis on irrigation practiced and flooding conditions. All samples were analyzed by Gas Cromatography using an Electron Capture Detector. Soil contamination by HCHs was found higher nearby than away the river (p < 0.01) with a great incidence of outflow risk (p < 0.01), while no differences were observed on the basis of irrigation practices. In alfalfa samples higher concentration of HCHs than in ryegrass were detected, with a greater plant/soil apparent partition factor. Differences in milk contamination by beta-HCH among dairy farms (p < 0.01) and sampling time were found (p < 0.05). In many cases, the beta-HCH content of milk resulted above the EU limit (0.003 mg beta-HCH/kg), posing serious hazard for human consumption due to chronic toxicity of that isomer. Differences in milk beta-HCH concentration were found related to lactating phase and parity. A linear regression between blood serum and milk beta-HCH concentration was observed (r(2) = 0.919, p < 0,05). Furthermore, beta-HCH as a trace was detected in blood sera when milk levels fell below the analytical limits, indicating the usefulness of blood serum HCH content as an early indicator of animal exposure. Results obtained from the case study highlighted the needing for further researches at wider level, due to the strong impact of persistent organic pesticides on rural environment and human food chain.

en
Year
2008
en
Country
  • IT
Organization
  • Univ_Tuscia (IT)
Data keywords
    en
    Agriculture keywords
    • farming
    • livestock
    • agroenvironmental
    • farm
    en
    Data topic
      en
      SO
      IMPACT OF POLLUTION ON ANIMAL PRODUCTS
      Document type

      Inappropriate format for Document type, expected simple value but got array, please use list format

      Institutions 10 co-publis
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        e-ROSA - e-infrastructure Roadmap for Open Science in Agriculture has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 730988.
        Disclaimer: The sole responsibility of the material published in this website lies with the authors. The European Union is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.