Effects of river flooding on PCDD/F and PCB levels in cows' milk, soil, and grass

Lake, Iain R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4407-5357, Foxall, Christopher D., Lovett, Andrew A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0554-9273, Fernandes, Alwyn, Dowding, Alan, White, Shaun and Rose, Martin (2005) Effects of river flooding on PCDD/F and PCB levels in cows' milk, soil, and grass. Environmental Science & Technology, 39 (23). pp. 9033-9038. ISSN 0013-936X

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Abstract

This paper presents the results of a study examining whether the flooding of pasture by rivers gives rise to higher PCDD/F and PCB concentrations in cows' milk. Over 180 milk, soil, and grass samples, taken from 38 farms across 3 different river systems (River Dee, Trent, and Doe Lea/Rother/Don) in the United Kingdom, were analyzed for PCDO/Fs and PCBs. The concentrations were compared between flood-prone farms, where the animals had access to pasture that is often flooded, and control farms where the land does not flood. The results indicated that concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in cows' milk were higher in samples taken from farms prone to flooding, but only from the river systems flowing through industrial and urban areas. Raised levels of PCDD/F and PCBs were also found in soil and grass from farms prone to flooding providing strong corroborative evidence that the higher concentrations in cows' milk from such areas is likely to be due to the ingestion of contaminated grass and soil. Overall, the results provide strong evidence that flooding of pastureland can indeed result in elevated concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in milk from the farms so affected.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Social Sciences University of East Anglia Schools > Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment (CSERGE)
Depositing User:	Rosie Cullington
Date Deposited:	15 Jun 2011 12:54
Last Modified:	20 Mar 2023 15:32
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/32617
DOI:	10.1021/es051433a

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