Journal Article

Agricultural Mitigation Strategies to Reduce the Impact of Romaine Lettuce Contamination

Iskandar, Christelle F., Hdeib, Mariane, Darwiche, Linda, El Kayal, Walid, AlJardaly, Roaa, Farhat, Yasmine A., Shbaro, Mostapha

2024

Overview

Background: Leafy greens, particularly romaine lettuce, are often associated with outbreaks due to their susceptibility to contamination from various environmental sources. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of E. coli, Salmonella, copper, nickel, zinc, and manganese in irrigation water, lettuce leaves, and agricultural soil in the Litani River Basin (LRB), Lebanon. Method: Samples were collected from five demonstration plots employing different agricultural practices. Heavy metal concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry, while E. coli and Salmonella testing were conducted through conventional culturing techniques. The impact of E. coli contamination on seed germination and the interaction effects between E. coli and heavy metals were also examined. The study also compared the effectiveness of various irrigation systems in reducing bacterial contamination. Results: The results demonstrated that contamination levels varied significantly across the plots and irrigation types. This variation underscores the necessity of site-specific mitigation strategies to enhance food safety. Our findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate irrigation methods and implementing tailored agricultural practices to minimize the risk of contamination. Conclusion: This research provides valuable insights for optimizing agricultural practices in the LRB to ensure food safety and environmental sustainability.

• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Subject: Agricultural industry / Agricultural land / Agricultural management / Agricultural practices / agricultural soils / atomic absorption spectrometry / Atomic absorption spectroscopy / Bacteria / bacterial contamination / Chemical contaminants / Contamination / copper / Culture techniques / E coli / environmental sustainability / Epidemics / Escherichia coli / Fertilizers / Food / Food contamination / Food contamination & poisoning / Food safety / Food selection / Germination / Harvest / Hazardous substances / Health aspects / Health risk assessment / Health risks / heavy metal contamination / Heavy metals / Illnesses / Irrigation / Irrigation systems / Irrigation water / Lebanon / Lettuce / Manganese / Manures / Metal concentrations / Nickel / Pathogens / Pollutants / Public health / risk / Risk reduction / River basins / romaine lettuce / Safety and security measures / Salmonella / Seed germination / Sewage disposal / Spectral analysis / Spectrometry / Surveillance / System effectiveness / Vegetables / Water / Water analysis / watersheds / zinc