Assessment of pollution of agricultural land and crops by heavy metals and other inorganic contaminants

Project ID:

LWR1/1994/957

Collaborating Countries:

Malaysia, Thailand

Commissioned Organisation:

CSIRO Division of Land and Water, Australia

Project Leader

Dr Mike McLaughlin
Phone: 08 8303 8433
Fax: 08 8303 8565
Email: Mike.McLaughlin@csiro.au

Collaborating Institutions:

Department of Agriculture, Thailand
Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Malaysia

Project Budget:

$87,274

Project Duration:

01/01/1997 - 31/12/1997

ACIAR Research Program Manager

Dr Ian Willett

Project Background and Objectives

There is growing concern about contamination of agricultural soils and crops. Residues in traded food commodities are monitored and there have been instances of commodities being banned as a result of contaminant concentrations. This small project aims to define the extent and severity of inorganic contaminants on soil and crops in Malaysia and Thailand. The main objectives are to develop baseline data for toxic metal concentrations in soils and crops and develop expert analytical techniques to allow monitoring of contaminant levels. Key elements to be studied are arsenic, boron, cadmium, copper, chromium, fluorine, mercury, lead and zinc. In addition, the project aims to determine if contamination of soils by agricultural and industrial activities is likely to have an impact on soil quality and future productivity, and also to determine if the contamination of agricultural foodstuffs can be related to pollutant concentrations in soils.

Project Outcomes

Outcomes for this project are currently being prepared