Heavy metal load on agricultural land in the Netherlands, 1980-2001*

		1980	1986	1990	1995	1999	2000	2001*
		1 000 kg
Copper (Cu)
Gross load		1 360	1 140	970	800	790	780	780
of which	manure	1 050	850	750	700	700	700	700
	fertiliser	150	140	120	50	60	50	50
	wet and dry deposition	80	90	50	20	20	20	20
	other sources 1)	80	60	50	30	10	10	10
	among whichsewage sludge	39	38	37	1	1	1	1
Withdrawal in crops		140	140	130	110	100	100	90
Net load		1 220	1 000	840	690	690	680	690
Zinc (Zn)
Gross load		2 400	2 370	2 270	2 260	2 230	2 170	2 180
of which	manure	1 800	1 900	1 750	2 000	2 000	1 900	1 900
	fertiliser	150	160	140	60	50	60	60
	wet and dry deposition	260	130	180	100	70	70	80
	other sources 1)	190	180	200	100	110	140	140
	among which sewage sludge	115	110	114	4	4	5	5
Withdrawal in crops		700	750	690	720	570	570	560
Net load		1 700	1 620	1 580	1 540	1 660	1 600	1 620
Cadmium (Cd)
Gross load		16	13	9	6	6	6	6
of which	manure	6	4	4	3	3	3	3
	fertiliser	7	7	4	2	2	2	2
	wet and dry deposition	2	1	1	1	1	1	1
	other sources 1)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
	among which sewage sludge	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Withdrawal in crops		3	4	3	3	3	3	3
Net load		12	9	6	3	3	3	3
Source: Van Eerdt.							CBS/ EDC/Oct02
1) Sewage sludge, pesticides, domestic compost and spent mushroom compost.

Developments in heavy metal load on agricultural land

Between 1980 and 2001, the annual net copper load on agricultural land decreased from 0.6 to 0.35 kg Cu/ha; for cadmium there was a drop from approximately 6 to 1.5 g Cd/ha. The net load from zinc remained nearly the same (nearly 1 kg Zn/ha per year). These developments are partially influenced by regulations limiting the amounts of heavy metals allowed in livestock feeds. In addition, fertiliser production now uses purer raw materials.
The primary source of supply is manure. Withdrawal takes place via extraction in crops. Some of the net soil load runs off into groundwater and surface water. The rest accumulates in the soil.

Relevance

A surplus of heavy metals in the soil is undesirable in terms of crop yields and of human and animal health.

References

• CCDM (2002). Emissiemonitor. Jaarcijfers 2000 en ramingen 2001. Rapportagereeks MilieuMonitor, no. 6. Coördinatiecommissie Doelgroepmonitoring, The Hague.
• T. van der Meij andP.K.N. Fong (1999). Belasting van landbouwgrond met zware metalen, 1990-1997. Kwartaalbericht Milieustatistieken 1999/3. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
• CBS (2002). Statline. Zware metalen op landbouwgrond. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• Emissions to soil in the Netherlands, 1990-2001
• Index Environmental pressure theme Guide to Environmental theme of Toxic and hazardous substances
• Accumulation of heavy metals in the soil in the Netherlands
• Heavy metals in agricultural land
• Metals and arsenic in shallow groundwater in the Netherlands, 1990-2003

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

• More information about emissions of heavy metals to the soil can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands) and recent emission data can be viewed in detail on the Data Warehouse of the 'Emissieregistratie'. This site also provides information about the methods for determining emission data and information about changes to methodology.