2s2: A strategy to determine the fate of active chemical compounds in soil; applied to antimicrobially active substances

Abstract

Chemical contaminants end up in agricultural soils after manure application as a result of disease treatment in animal husbandry (e.g. veterinary drugs), crop production (e.g. biocides) or through irrigation using contaminated surface water (e.g. biotoxins). When further implementing the concepts of a circular biobased economy, other waste streams might also contribute to soil exposure. Therefore, data on the fate of chemical substances in the environment is mandatory input for risk assessment in perspective of a more circular biobased economy. Such fate studies include a persistence study to determine a half-life value and a mobility study. It is recognized that not only the native substance should be considered, but that also degradation products should be included that might exert a similar effect as the native substance.