Evaluation of toxic and genotoxic activity of some composts from differentorigin.

Toxic (reduction of primary roots length) and genotoxic (induction of micro nucleated cells) effects of six composts from different origin were tested (municipal waste, olive mill, tomato industry, slaughtery residues and cant een residues). The results obtained show different behaviours of the compost studied. depe nding on the composting processes as well as the starting-material characte ristics and application rates. No toxic and genotoxic effects were recorded at agronomical doses. Two of the composts used induced a low level of muta genic damage without significant toxicity. The micronuclei test is proposed as an useful tool for a better characterisation of compost quality.