Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
10 results
Spider Webs as Biomonitoring Tool for Heavy Metal Pollution in Diverse Environments: A Study in Kochi City
2025M Mohan Joseph, Archana T. Anil · Environmental Quality Management · India (Kochi)
This study evaluated spider webs from Cyrtophora cicatrosa and Pholcus phalangioides as biomonitoring tools for heavy metal pollution in urban, industrial, and semi-urban/agricultural areas of Kochi city, India. Analysis of web samples revealed site-specific variations in Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sn, and Zn concentrations, with high levels of Zn found in Eloor (7558 ppm) and Kizhakkambalam (4947.50 ppm). Zn and Sn were the dominant accumulated metals, indicating significant heavy metal contamination in these environments.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageIdentifying priority control factors for heavy metal pollution in urban agricultural soils of the Chengdu Plain: An integrated multi-model approach
2025M. J. Ni, Shuai Yan, Ting Li, Zijun Zhou, Xiaojing Liu, Shirong Zhang, Guiyin Wang, Xiaoxun Xu, Yulin Pu, Yongxia Jia, Lan Li · Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety · China (Chengdu)
This study investigated heavy metal (HM) contamination in urban and peri-urban agricultural soils of the Chengdu Plain, China, using an integrated multi-model approach. Four major HM sources were identified, including natural (30.0%), mixed agricultural and transportation (29.5%), metal smelting (19.4%), and atmospheric deposition (21.1%). Risk assessments revealed that Cd and Hg posed the highest ecological risks, and human health risk assessment indicated unacceptable health risks for children, with non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk probabilities reaching 4% and 10% respectively.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageAssessment of heavy metal pollution on agricultural land in Chengdu city under different anthropogenic pressures based on APCS-MLR modelling
2024Yizhou Peng, Grigorieva Iya Yu · Ecological Indicators · China (Chengdu)
This study assessed heavy metal pollution in rural, urban-rural interface, and urban agricultural lands in Chengdu, China. It found varying degrees of heavy metal pollution across all areas, with arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) being the most severe pollutants. Concentrations of As and Cd in soil samples exceeded risk thresholds, and these elements showed high spatial variability, indicating significant anthropogenic influence. Pollution sources included livestock manure, natural sources, agricultural activities, and industrial activities in urban areas.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justicePesticide residue and dietary intake risk of vegetables grown in Shanghai under modern urban agriculture in 2018–2021
2024Jinrong Tong, Dongsheng Feng, Xia Wang, Min Wang, Mei-Lian Chen, Yanfen Chen, Yingqing Ma, Bo Mei, R. Chen, Mengfeng Gao, Siwen Shen, Hongkang Wang, Weiyi Zhang · Heliyon · China (Shanghai)
A study investigated pesticide residues and dietary intake risk in 7028 vegetable samples grown under modern urban agriculture in Shanghai from 2018 to 2021, analyzing 68 types of pesticides. Pesticide residues were detected in 29.21% of samples, with 0.47% exceeding China's national maximum residue limits (MRLs). The target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) for detected pesticides were all less than 1, suggesting there may be no obvious health hazard for residents.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageUrbanisation threats to dairy cattle health: Insights from Greater Bengaluru, India
2023MS Alam, Silpa Mullakkalparambil Velayudhan, Debpriyo Kumar Dey, Chiamaka Adilieme, Pradeep Kumar Malik, Raghavendra Bhatta, Sven König, Eva Schlecht · Tropical Animal Health and Production · India (Bengaluru)
A study in Greater Bengaluru, India, interviewed 151 dairy farmers and analyzed 97 forage samples from 10 lakes and vegetable leftovers to assess urbanization's impact on cattle health. While lake fodder was nutritionally high-quality, 43% of samples contained toxic heavy metals above critical levels. Logit models showed that insufficient drinking water and lake fodder negatively impacted cattle health, despite 60% of farmers believing their cows were healthy.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageFood lossDAMPAK PERUBAHAN PENGGUNAAN LAHAN BAGI PERTANIAN PERKOTAAN DI KAPANEWON KASIHAN
2022Adam Abraham · Jurnal Riset Daerah · Indonesia
This study aimed to identify the impacts of land use change experienced by urban farmers in Kapanewon Kasihan, Indonesia. Using a deductive-qualitative approach, it was analyzed that urban development has both positive and negative impacts on farmers. The most significant negative impacts included pollution, decreased productivity, and the squeezing of urban agricultural land, which could lead to long-term environmental quality degradation and further spread of land use change.
Contamination & food safetyUrban–rural linkagePolicyEconomicsRole of hand washing and water storage in copper tank on incidence of diarrhea
2019Mahantayya V Math, Yashoda R Kattimani, Manjusha M Padhye · Indian Journal of Community Medicine · India (Ahmadabad)
This study points out the impact of wastewater use in urban agriculture on the incidence of diarrhea in Ahmadabad, India. Vegetables grown with wastewater have an increased risk of internalization of food-borne bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella into edible plant parts, posing a serious health risk. Contaminated water, soil, poor hand hygiene, and improper handling are sources of bacterial contamination for vegetables and fruits.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageHUBUNGAN ANTARA KUALITAS AIR DENGAN PREVALENSI ENDOPARASIT PADA SALURAN PENCERNAAN IKAN NILA (Oreochromis niloticus) DI KERAMBA JARING APUNG PROGRAM URBAN FARMING DI KOTA SURABAYA
2019Alfan Prianggara, Gunanti Mahasri, Abdul Manan · Journal of Aquaculture and Fish Health · Indonesia (Surabaya)
A survey in Surabaya, Indonesia, investigated water quality and endoparasite prevalence in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from urban farming floating cage programs. Water quality parameters were measured, and average endoparasite prevalence was 5.71% for Eimeria spp. and 8% for Acanthogyrus spp. The study found positive correlations between water clarity, ammonia, and DO with Eimeria spp. prevalence, and between temperature, pH, nitrate, and nitrite with Acanthogyrus spp. prevalence, indicating a link between water quality and parasite infection.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageJapanese Encephalitis Virus in Pigs and Vectors in the Mekong Delta With Special Reference to Urban Farming
2012Johanna F. Lindahl · · Vietnam
The circulation of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in pigs and mosquitoes was investigated around Can Tho city in Vietnam's Mekong Delta. Of 315 sows, 60% were JEV seropositive, and seropositivity was associated with more stillborn piglets in sows under 1.5 years old. Among 7885 mosquitoes collected in and around Can Tho city, seven pools collected near pigs tested positive for JEV, indicating co-circulation of JEV genotypes I and III. All 43 pigs sampled within Can Tho city were JEV seropositive, demonstrating that JEV can be a public health issue in urban areas.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageNon-point Source Pollution of Nitrogen in Groundwater in Urban Agricultural Region of Shanghai and Risk Assessment
2010Zhou Pei · · China (Shanghai)
A study from July to September 2009 in an orchard village, Nanhui District, Shanghai, investigated the characteristics of non-point source nitrogen pollution in groundwater. Total nitrogen and its three forms (NO3-N, NH4-N, NO2-N) were monitored, revealing NO3-N as the main form (average 1.43-13.71 mg/L). Nitrogen pollution in groundwater depended on land use, with NH4-N pollution most serious under residential areas (average 0.074-0.457 mg/L). Total nitrogen pollution near the river and orchard (average 33.67-62.57 mg/L and 33.05-65.04 mg/L) was more severe than under residential areas.
Contamination & food safetyOrganic cycleUrban–rural linkage