title: Distribution of arsenic and risk assessment of activities on a golf course fertilised with arsenic-containing Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed.
abstract: The use of seaweed fertilisers in sports green maintenance has become a common practice across the globe due to its image as an "eco-friendly" alternative to chemical fertilisers. The aim of this study was to characterise the risk of human exposure to arsenic (As), via dermal absorption, from golfing activities on a private golf course in the UK, where As contaminated seaweed fertiliser (~100mg/kg d.wt.) is applied. This was fulfilled by, 1) determining As concentrations in shallow soils with GIS geo-statistical analysis, 2) measuring As concentrations from an on-site borehole groundwater well, and (3) developing a risk assessment calculation for golfing activities based on field and questionnaire data. Total As concentrations in shallow soils were less than the UK threshold for domestic soils, however, frequent and sustained dermal contact between site-users and surface soil attributed to a maximum carcinogenic risk value of 2.75×10(-4), which is in the upper limit of the acceptable risk range. Arsenic concentrations in underlying groundwater exceeded the WHO's permissible drinking water standard, demonstrating the risk of groundwater contamination following the application of seaweed fertiliser to golf course soils. This is the first risk study on dermal As absorption via the application of a seaweed fertiliser.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Engineering Research Centre, School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AG, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Environmental Engineering Research Centre, School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AG, Northern Ireland, UK. Electronic address: bhaskar_sengupta@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Bhaskar Sen
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Environmental Engineering Research Centre, School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AG, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Debra H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D044646:Ascophyllum / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis*; D006055:Golf; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Arsenic; Golf course; Groundwater; Risk characterisation; Seaweed fertiliser; Soil