| 1. |
- Stern, S., et al.
(författare)
-
Sustainable development of food production : A case study on scenarios for pig production
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Ambio. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 34:42099, s. 402-407
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To study future, sustainable production systems, a stepwise method was used to create three future scenarios for pig production based on different sustainability goals. The first scenario focused on animal welfare and the natural behavior of the animals. The second targeted low impacts on the environment and the efficient use of natural resources. The third scenario aimed at product quality and safety. Each scenario fulfilled different aspects of sustainability, but there were goal conflicts because no scenario fulfilled all sustainability goals. The scenarios were then parameterized. The environmental impact was calculated using the life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, and the economic cost was calculated from the same data set. The cost per kilo of pork was highest for the animal welfare scenario and similar for the other two scenarios. The environmental scenario had the lowest environmental impact, and the product-quality scenario the highest. The results are discussed based on different future priorities. © Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences 2005.
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
- Olsson, Ing-Marie, et al.
(författare)
-
Cadmium in food production systems: A health risk for sensitive population groups
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Ambio: a Journal of Human Environment. - 0044-7447. ; 34:4-5, s. 344-351
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper gives an overview of the cadmium (Cd) situation in agricultural systems and human exposure in Sweden. Cadmium levels in agricultural soils (the plow layer) increase by 0.03% to 0.05% per year. Feed can give substantial contributions of Cd to local agricultural systems. Effects on human kidney function are indicated by some measurements already at today's exposure levels. If food products reach the maximum permissible levels given by the European Union, 10% to 25% of the Swedish population will be exposed to Cd levels above the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI 7 mu g Cd kg(-1) body weight). Sensitive groups in the population are individuals with low iron status (mainly women) and kidney disorders. Recent studies indicate that Cd plays a role in osteoporosis and that further research is needed to clarify if Cd is neurotoxic in early developmental stages. Firm actions have to be taken in order to stop a further increase of Cd in agricultural soils. Suggestions for prevention and measures are given in this paper.
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
- Ringqvist, L., et al.
(författare)
-
Poorly humified peat as an adsorbent for metals in wastewater
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Water Research. - 0043-1354 .- 1879-2448. ; 36:9, s. 2394-2404
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Metal adsorption and surface charge determinations were performed previously on well-characterised Sphagnum and Carex peat samples. The aim of this investigation was to determine metal adsorption from complex wastewaters onto these peat samples and compare it to the adsorption onto peat granules, clinoptilolite, glauconite and a flue dust from steel production. A sulphide mine leachate, a landfill leachate and a laundry wastewater were chosen, giving a variation in pH, ionic strength, total organic carbon and concentrations of metals. Metal adsorption was determined in batch and column experiments. The wastewater composition was of great importance for metal removal efficiency, mainly due to the difference in dominating metal species. In the sulphide mine leachate, containing free metal ions, a high metal adsorption was observed onto both peat and inorganic adsorbents. In the landfill leachate the metals formed carbonate and organic complexes and a low metal removal was achieved. Contrary to the leachates, the laundry wastewater contained suspended particles. The high amount of metals removed, 80% of the Cu and 30-60% of the Zn concentration, was probably withdrawn bound to the particle fraction. The highest removal of metal ions was obtained in the sulphide mine leachate with Carex peat, removing 97-99% of the Zn and 85-100% of the Cu content. The Sphagnum peat sample removed 37-77% of the Zn and 80-100% of the Cu content. The differences found between Sphagnum and Carex peat were attributed to the original chemistry of the plant material and the habitat conditions at the time of peat formation. Generally, the combination of glauconite or clinoptilolite with the peat samples in column experiments gave a minor improvement in metal removal.
|
|
