The main objective of this study is to estimate the total economic loss due to inefficient use of irrigation water in Tunisia. Several approaches have been used for this purpose. The optimal level of water application for different crops is calculated using the actual crop evapotranspiration which is based on FAO-56 method. The residual imputation and yield comparison methods have been used to estimate the economic value of irrigation water for different irrigated crops in different bioclimatic areas. For the empirical analysis, primary data were obtained from a series of surveys that covered 78% of the total irrigated areas and were collected within the framework of the BVirtual Water and Food Security in Tunisia project^ (2013–2015). Secondary data about land distribution of crops in Tunisia were taken from the Ministry of Agriculture (2016). Around 724 farms were randomly sampled considering their bioclimatic area, farm type, and production system. The survey included the main 20 crops produced in Tunisia. Results show that most of farmers are either under or over utilizing irrigation water. The value of total direct economic losses, at the country level, of both types of water inefficiencies, was estimated to around 470 million Tunisian Dinars. Therefore, an improvement of water use efficiency at field level through dissemination of information/knowledge on irrigation scheduling and crop water requirements by extension services to farmers is needed to reduce this huge economic loss, reach higher sustainability in water use and improve food security.

Antibiotics usage in animal production is considered a primary driver of the occurrence, supply and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment. Pig farms and fish ponds are important breeding systems in food animal production. In this study, we compared and analyzed broad ARGs profiles, mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and bacterial communities in a representative pig farm and neighboring fish ponds around Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China. The factors influencing the distribution of ARGs were also explored. The results showed widespread detection of ARGs (from 57 to 110) among 283 targeted ARGs in the collected water samples. The differences in the number and relative abundance of ARGs observed from the pig farm and neighboring fish ponds revealed that ARG contamination was more serious on the pig farm than in the fish ponds and that the water treatment plant on the pig farm was not very effective. Based on the variance partition analysis (VPA), MGEs, bacterial communities and water quality indicators (WIs) codrive the relative abundance of ARGs. Based on network analysis, we found that total phosphorus and Tp614 were the most important WIs and MGEs affecting ARG abundance, respectively. Our findings provide fundamental data on farms in lakeside districts and provide insights into establishing standards for the discharge of aquaculture wastewater.

A highly efficient, eco-friendly and relatively low-cost catalyst is necessary to tackle bottlenecks in the treatment of industrial wastewater laden with heavy metals and antibiotic such as livestock farm and biogas liquids. This study investigated co-oxidative removal of arsenite (As(III)) and tetracycline (TC) by iron nanoparticles (Fe NP)-impregnated carbons based on heterogeneous Fenton-like reactions. The composites included Fe NP@biochar (BC), Fe NP@hydrochar (HC), and Fe NP@HC-derived pyrolysis char (HDPC). The functions of N and S atoms and the loading mass of the Fe NP in the Fe NP@BC in heterogeneous Fenton-like reactions were studied. To sustain its cost-effectiveness, the spent Fe NP@BC was regenerated using NaOH. Among the composites, the Fe NP@BC achieved an almost complete removal of As(III) and TC under optimized conditions (1.0 g/L of dose; 10 mM H₂O₂; pH 6; 4 h of reaction; As(III): 50 μM; TC: 50 μM). The co-oxidative removal of As(III) and TC by the Fe NP@ BC was controlled by the synergistic interactions between the Fe NPs and the active N and S sites of the BC for generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). After four consecutive regeneration cycles, about 61 and 95% of As(III) and TC removal were attained. This implies that the spent carbocatalyst still has reasonable catalytic activities for reuse. Overall, this suggests that adding technological values to unused biochar as a carbocatalyst like Fe NP@BC was promising for co-oxidative removal of As(III) and TC from contaminated water.

To accurately visualize the spatial distribution of heavy metal pollution and provide basic information on soil remediation in dairy farm, Geographic Information System (GIS) is used for optimization of sample collection and data analysis. Based on GIS technology, dairy manure, 10 cm-depth surface soil, 50 cm-depth sub soil, and surface water samples were collected from dairy farm in Dulbert Mongolian Autonomous County, Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province in China. The spatial distribution and assessment of heavy metals were performed by using GIS inverse distance weighted interpolation and pollution index method. The single factor pollution index value of As element in the soil was found to indicate the class of extreme contamination, whereas Ni in both surface water inside and outside the farm, and Sb in the cow drinking water were assigned to the level of moderate contamination. The comprehensive pollution index implied serious contamination for soil samples, slight contamination for water samples and safety for manure samples, respectively. Comprehensive score for heavy metal elements followed the orders of As>Zn>Cr>Ni>Cu>Pb>Cd>Hg. The horizontal pollution that mainly occurred in the middle and east regions was increased from north to south, and west to east district. Historically, the dairy farm belonged to heavily polluted saline-alkali soil, where the heavy metals might enter the food chain through transportation from soil to water, the cows, and eventually to the milk and human body. Visualizing spatial distribution of heavy metal contamination by using GIS technology will be of significance to provide useful information for soil remediation of dairy farm.

Antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) are considered emerging environmental pollutants, posing potential risks for human and animal health: the misuse of antimicrobials in food-producing animals could favour the maintenance and spread of resistances (RMS) in bacteria. The occurrence of ARGs in Italian swine farming – which has specific characteristics – was investigated in order to explore RMS dynamics. Two farrow-to-finish pig farms were longitudinally monitored: faecal samples from animals and environmental samples were collected. DNA was extracted and tetA, ermB, qnrS and mcr1 ARGs were analysed by qPCR for their ability to confer resistance to highly or critically important antimicrobials (CIAs). Moreover, 16SrDNA gene was analysed to assess bacterial abundance. ermB and tetA genes were found in animal samples and manure samples. On the contrary, mcr1 was exclusively found in weaners, while qnrS occurred in all animal categories but sows and finishers. Among the analysed genes, ermB and tetA showed the highest absolute and relative abundances. Our results indicate that ermB and tetA ARGs are widely disseminated in the explored farms, suggesting efficient maintenance among bacteria and persistence in the environment. Interestingly, the presence of qnrS and mcr1, limited to just a few animal categories, highlights inefficient dissemination of these genes in the farm environment, in particular for mcr1, a stable plasmid gene conferring resistance to the last-resort antimicrobial, colistin. Paying close attention only to the finishing phase would have hampered the discovery of resistances to CIAs at farm level, which we instead identified thanks to an intensive longitudinal monitoring programme.

Swine waste is a reservoir of microbial pollutants, including pathogens, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB); therefore, soil fertilized with swine waste is an essential pathway for the dissemination of microbial pollutants from concentrated swine farms to the public. To rationalize the intervals of swine wastes application and investigate the effects of soil type on the occurrences of microbial pollutants and antibiotic resistance, pot experiments were conducted with three typical soils, humic acrisol, calcaric cambisols and histosols, being collected from south, northwest and northeast China (soil-R, soil-Y and soil-B, respectively). The soils were amended with swine slurry, digestate and chemical fertilizers and then conducted for 172 days. The influence of microbial pollutants and antibiotic resistance in soil posed by digestate application was similar to that of the chemical fertilizers, while swine slurry posed high risks to the soil. Soil-B which had the highest organic matter and neutral pH was least influenced by the swine slurry amendment. tetG, tetM and ermF were persistent ARGs in the slurry treated soil, and their decay rates fitted to first-order kinetics in the order soil-B> soil-Y > soil-R. Putative pathogens showed strong correlations with ARGs, suggesting a risk of dissemination. The initial 43–82 days was the active phase of microbial pollution in slurry treated soil, during which time heavy metals, moisture content, total organic carbon and the microbial community were key factors contributing to changes in antibiotic resistance. Fertilization intervals of livestock wastes should be lengthened over the ARG active phase.

The abuse of antibiotics has caused the propagation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquaculture systems. Although the recirculating systems have been considered as a promising approach for preventing the coastal water pollution of antibiotics and ARG, rare information is available on the distribution and proliferation of ARGs in the recirculating mariculture system. This study firstly investigated the proliferation of ARGs in coastal recirculating mariculture systems. Ten subtypes of ARGs including tet (tetB, tetG, tetX), sul (sul1, sul2), qnr (qnrA, qnrB, qnrS), and erm (ermF, ermT) were detected. The absolute abundances of the ARGs detected in the mariculture farm were more than 1 × 10⁴ copies/mL. The sulfonamide resistance genes (sul1 and sul2) were the most abundant ARGs with the abundance of 3.5 × 10⁷–6.5 × 10¹⁰ copies/mL. No obvious correlation existed between the antibiotics and ARGs. Some bacteria were positively correlated with two or more ARGs to indicate the occurrence of multidrug resistance. The fluidized-bed biofilter for wastewater treatment in the recirculating system was the main breeding ground for ARGs while the UV sterilization process could reduce the ARGs. The highest flux of ARGs (6.5 × 10²¹ copies/d) indicated that the discharge of feces and residual baits was the main gateway for ARGs in the recirculating mariculture system to enter the environments.

The persistence and toxicity of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) in animal tissues make these compounds dangerous by biomagnification in predatory species. Here we studied the levels of SGARs in non-target species of wildlife and the environmental factors that influence such exposure. Liver samples of terrestrial vertebrates (n = 244) found dead between 2007 and 2016 in the region of Aragón (NE Spain) were analysed. The presence of SGARs was statistically analysed with binary or ordinal logistic models to study the effect of habitat characteristics including human population density, percentage of urban surface, livestock densities and surface of different types of crops. SGARs residues were detected in 83 (34%) of the animals and levels >200 ng/g were found in common raven (67%), red fox (50%), red kite (38%), Eurasian eagle-owl (25%), stone marten (23%), Eurasian buzzard (17%), northern marsh harrier (17%), and Eurasian badger (14%). The spatial analysis revealed that the presence of SGARs residues in wildlife was more associated with the use of these products as biocides in urban areas and cattle farms rather than as plant protection products in agricultural fields. This information permits to identify potential habitats where SGARs may pose a risk for predatory birds and mammals.

Nitrogen runoff from fertiliser intensive land uses has become an issue worldwide, contributing to algal blooms, hypoxic waters and aquatic biodiversity losses. This study assessed potential nutrient pollution from blueberry farms in subtropical Australia and examines whether nutrient loads were driven by groundwater discharge and/or surface water runoff. Streams downstream of eight blueberry farms were compared to eight nearby control sites without any blueberry activity. In the 90 day sample period, there were three rain events >90 mm day⁻¹ that produced runoff sufficient to create flooding. Overall, the results revealed a clear link between blueberry farming and nitrogen runoff in headwater streams. While NOX (nitrate + nitrite) was the dominant nitrogen species downstream of blueberry farms, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) was the dominant species in control sites. The concentrations and loads of NOₓ were one order of magnitude lower in the eight non-blueberry (6.3 ± 2.0 μmol L⁻¹; 1.6 ± 1.2 kg N-NOX ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) than the eight blueberry (56.9 ± 14.2 μmol L⁻¹; 21.8 ± 8.0 kg N-NOX ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) sites. NOX concentrations and loads were highest following rain events. Radon (²²²Rn, a natural groundwater tracer) observations and low nitrogen concentration in groundwater samples further suggest that surface runoff dominates the delivery of nitrogen to the creeks investigated. NOX concentrations and loads in creeks correlated with blueberry farm density. At >15% of blueberry land use in a catchment, there was a detectable influence in NOX concentrations and loads in the headwater streams. Assuming that our load estimates can be up-scaled to annual nitrogen creek exports, and that local farmers use the recommended amount of fertiliser (121 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), between 18 and 25% of the used fertiliser was lost to the creeks. This implies that there are opportunities for decreasing the use of fertilisers in this catchment and managing any nitrogen that escapes to the creeks.

Cacao from South America is especially used to produce premium quality chocolate. Although the European Food Safety Authority has not established a limit for cadmium (Cd) in chocolate raw material, recent studies demonstrate that Cd concentrations in cacao beans can reach levels higher than the legal limits for dark chocolate (0.8 mg kg−1, effective January 1st, 2019). Despite the fact that the presence of Cd in agricultural soils is related to contamination by fertilizers, other potential sources must be considered in Ecuador. This field study was conducted to investigate Cd content in soils and cacao cultivated on Ecuadorian farms in areas impacted by oil activities. Soils, cacao leaves, and pod husks were collected from 31 farms in the northern Amazon and Pacific coastal regions exposed to oil production and refining and compared to two control areas. Human gastric bioaccessibility was determined in raw cacao beans and cacao liquor samples in order to assess potential health risks involved. Our results show that topsoils (0–20 cm) have higher Cd concentrations than deeper layers, exceeding the Ecuadorian legislation limit in 39% of the sampling sites. Cacao leaves accumulate more Cd than pod husks or beans but, nevertheless, 50% of the sampled beans have Cd contents above 0.8 mg kg−1. Root-to-cacao transfer seems to be the main pathway of Cd uptake, which is not only regulated by physico-chemical soil properties but also agricultural practices. Additionally, natural Cd enrichment by volcanic inputs must not be neglected. Finally, Cd in cacao trees cannot be considered as a tracer of oil activities. Assuming that total Cd content and its bioaccessible fraction (up to 90%) in cacao beans and liquor is directly linked to those in chocolate, the health risk associated with Cd exposure varies from low to moderate.