Summary
This long-term field study evaluated the risk of silver accumulation and transfer to the terrestrial food chain following two decades of sewage sludge amendment to agricultural land. The findings suggest that despite the historical use of silver in industry and recent increases in nano-silver application, the transfer of silver to food crops remains limited, indicating a low food safety risk from this exposure pathway.
UK applicability
Given that sewage sludge application to agricultural land is a regulated practice in the United Kingdom, these findings are relevant to UK agricultural policy and the sustainability of biosolids management. However, application would benefit from validation under UK soil and climatic conditions.
Key measures
Silver concentrations in soil and crop tissues; bioavailability of silver in soil; transfer factors from soil to food crops
Outcomes reported
The study assessed the bioavailability and transfer of silver (Ag) from soil to food crops following 20 years of repeated sewage sludge field applications. The research examined whether silver from both conventional industrial sources and emerging nano-silver sources posed a food chain contamination risk.
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