A5052150811- Heavy metals in environment
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Radioactive element chemistry and processing
- Radioactive contamination and transfer
- Phosphorus and nutrient management
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
- Plant Micronutrient Interactions and Effects
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity
- Clay minerals and soil interactions
- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism
- Mine drainage and remediation techniques
- Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance
- Arsenic contamination and mitigation
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Pesticide and Herbicide Environmental Studies
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Iron oxide chemistry and applications
- Groundwater flow and contamination studies
- Water Quality and Pollution Assessment
- Chromium effects and bioremediation
- Environmental remediation with nanomaterials
- Heavy Metals in Plants
- Agricultural Science and Fertilization
KU Leuven
2016-2025
Environmental Earth Sciences
2015-2021
BOKU University
2020
Hôpital Universitaire Dupuytren
2016
UCLouvain
2007-2015
Leuven Institute for Fertility and Embryology
1995-2013
Leiden University Medical Center
2013
Shahid Beheshti University
2012
University of Copenhagen
2010
University of California, Riverside
2009
Total concentrations of metals in soil are poor predictors toxicity. In the last decade, considerable effort has been made to demonstrate how metal toxicity is affected by abiotic properties soil. Here this information collated and shows these data have used European Union for defining predicted-no-effect (PNECs) Cd, Cu, Co, Ni, Pb, Zn Bioavailability models calibrated using from more than 500 new chronic tests soils amended with soluble salts, experimentally aged soils, field-contaminated...
Quantum dots (QDs) have numerous possible applications for in vivo imaging. However, toxicity data are scarce.To determine the acute of QDs with carboxyl surface coating (carboxyl-QDs) and amine (amine-QDs), we investigated inflammatory properties, tissue distribution, prothrombotic effects after intravenous injection.We performed particle characterization by transmission electron microscopy dynamic light scattering. Carboxyl-QDs amine-QDs were intravenously injected mice (1.44-3,600...
The red mud accident of October 4, 2010, in Ajka (Hungary) contaminated a vast area with caustic, saline (pH 12) that contains several toxic trace metals above soil limits. Red was characterized and its toxicity for plants measured to evaluate the contamination risks. radioactivity (e.g., (238)U) is about 10-fold background previous assessments revealed radiation risk limited indoor radon. plant metal availability tested mixtures this local noncontaminated up 16% dry weight fraction....
The global phosphorus crisis provided impetus to develop fertilizers with better P use efficiency. We tested layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as slow release superior performance fertilize strongly P-fixing soils. Mg–Al LDHs varying M2+/M3+ ratios were synthesized NO3– forms and exchanged HPO42–. XRD XANES spectroscopy confirmed the identity of phosphate-exchanged LDH. Decreasing ratio, i.e., increasing anion exchange capacity, increased selectivity adsorption due charge density LDH layers....
Copper is an essential micronutrient and also a regulated product used in organic conventional farming pest management. Both deficiency excessive exposure to copper can have adverse health effects. In this Scientific Opinion, the EFSA 2021 harmonised approach for establishing health-based guidance values (HBGVs) substances that are products nutrients was resolve divergent existing HBGVs copper. The tightly homeostasis prevents toxicity manifestation short term, but development of chronic...
Tire debris contains significant quantities of zinc (Zn), and there is concern about the diffuse Zn contamination soils from tire wear. An experiment was set up to quantify fate effect in soil. Two different were mixed with <100-μm fraction car truck (25 g kg-1 soil) or sulfate (ZnSO4) as a reference. Soils transferred soil columns free drainage placed outdoors for 11 months. Leachates amended did not contain significantly (P>0.05) more than control except 3-fold increase one debris. The...
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in surface waters affects the fate and environmental effects of trace metals. We measured variability Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn affinity 23 DOM samples isolated by reverse osmosis from freshwaters natural, agricultural, urban areas. Affinities at uniform pH ionic composition were assayed low, environmentally relevant free activities. The C-normalized metal binding varied 4-fold (Cu) or about 10-fold (Cd, Zn) among samples. dissolved carbon concentration ranged only 9-fold...
The plant availability of 137Cs in soils varies widely between soil types. source this variation was analyzed a pot trial. Thirty topsoils covering wide range textural classes were contaminated with and incubated for 41 days prior to 19 growth. plant−soil concentration ratio (TF) varied from 0.002 2.6 g g-1 soils. soil−soil solution (KD) 123 167 000 mL log TF negatively correlated KD, but the correlation weak (R 2 = 0.10). (CF) however significantly related K solution. At concentrations up 1...
Abstract The effects of soil properties and zinc (Zn) availability on the toxicity Zn to microbial processes are poorly understood. Three processes—potential nitrification rate (PNR), substrate (glucose)-induced respiration (SIR), a maize residue (MRR)—were measured in 15 European topsoils (pH 3.0–7.5; total 7–191 mg/kg) that were freshly spiked with ZnCl2. thresholds 20 50% effective concentrations (EC20s EC50s) based varied between 5- 26-fold among soils, depending assay. solution at least...
The Terrestrial Biotic Ligand Model (TBLM) is applied to a number of noncalcareous soils the European Union for Cu and Ni toxicities using organisms endpoints representing three levels terrestrial organisms: higher plants, invertebrates, microbes. A comparison TBLM predictions soil metal concentration or free ion activity in solution shows that able achieve better normalization wide variation toxicological among disparate properties considered this study. EC50s were generally within factor 2...
Dissolved trace metals are present in the environment as free ions and complexes. Commonly used models to predict metal bioavailability consider ion major bioavailable species. However, increases availability presence of complexes have repeatedly been found. We measured uptake cadmium (Cd) by spinach (Spinacia oleracea) from solution absence or synthetic ligands. At same concentration, Cd ranged over almost 3 orders magnitude was largest treatments with fast dissociating (i.e. labile)...
In this paper, we outline several recent insights for the priorities and challenges future research reducing phosphorus (P) based water eutrophication in agricultural landscapes of Northwest Europe. We highlight that new efforts best be focused on headwater catchments as they are a key influence initial chemistry larger river catchments, here many management interventions most effectively made. emphasize lack understanding how climate change will impact P losses from landscapes....