Abstract

In order to estimate production externalities associated with heavy metal contamination, impact assesment should incorporate risk considerations. However, little progress has been made on how to quantify the impacts of heavy metals on the second and third central moments of production distributions. This research proposes an impact estimation methodology to asses the influence of copper on the first raw moment and on the second and third central moments of wheat and alfalfa production distribution. Statistical results indicate that once a critical level is reached, copper significantly reduces the first raw moment and the second central moment of wheat and alflafa production distribution. There is no significant effect of copper on the third central moment