**Author details**

Their ability to adsorb and control heavy metal distribution between the solution and the

Romic et al. [49] did not establish, either by individual correlations or by factorial analysis in the vineyard soils of NW Croatia, the importance of the contents of clay, Fe and Mn oxides or cation exchange capacity for copper sorption in soil, though some authors stress the im‐ portance of these fractions [74]. In their investigations, the relation between the content of metals and soil properties was assessed on the basis of their total contents. In this research, correlations were determined between copper fractions and the selected soil properties: sig‐ nificant correlation was recorded between the contents of organic C and ORG and RESID fractions, or its total content, whereas no significant correlation was found between copper in the said fractions and cation exchange capacity, or total carbonates. This corroborates the reports that the distribution of copper of anthropogenic origin among fractions depends pre‐

Finally, the use of copper containing fungicides is allowed in the organic agriculture by the European Union regulation, and the official guidelines for soil copper content are usually derived from the total soil copper content. However, these guidelines should be modified according to the soil properties, such as pH and organic matter content, which will affect the Cu solubility, and consequently its bioavailability. Furthermore, soil copper thresholds should be confirmed with toxicological data obtained for biota (e.g. plants, microorganisms, invertebrates). Above mentioned implies that site-specific guidelines should developed for

Increased anthropogenic inputs of trace metals in soils have received considerable attention since they can enter the food chain by different ways. Soils receiving repeated applications of fungicides, pesticides or manure exhibit high concentrations of extractable metals, espe‐ cially copper. From the commercial aspect, wine-growers are now showing increasing inter‐ est in the effects of soil composition, its fertility and texture upon wine quality. Special importance is laid on the influence of soil geochemical characteristics, including accumula‐ tion of certain toxic elements, on grape and wine quality. A variety of factors, both spatial and temporal, affect the grape quality, many of them being specific exactly to the given wine-growing site. Grape growing conditions and enological potential have been created, among other factors, also by landscape characteristics: soil, climate and topography. These factors are much less changeable than biological (cultivar, stock) or human (ampelotechnics, vinification) factors and for this reason the concept of *viticultural terroir* is based on the sim‐ ple relationship between soil and wine. Since *terroir* is defined as an interactive ecosystem, it is very difficult to evaluate scientifically its contribution to plant capacity to accumulate bio‐

Soil is a factor of the natural environment and its effect on wine quality and grape composi‐ tion is highly complex, since it affects mineral nutrition of grapevine, water uptake, as well

matrix has been thoroughly explained in scientific literature (e.g., [78]).

vailingly on soil organic matter.

818 Environmental Risk Assessment of Soil Contamination

the risk assessment of soil copper toxicity.

active phytochemicals good for human health.

**4. Summary**

Marija Romić, Lana Matijević, Helena Bakić and Davor Romić

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia
