Trace elements from soil to human

Abstract

The understanding of fundamental principles and phenomena that control the transfer of trace elements in soil-plant-human chain can contribute to the protection of the environment and human health.Many books, articles, and reports have already described both fundamental and/or detail problems related to these topics.The intention of the authors is to provide up-to-date and selected interdisciplinary data for the concise presentation of existing knowledge on trace element transfer in the food chain, from soil to human.To accomplish this, the inclusion of appropriate data has been necessary.This book inevitably leaves publications of many investigators' uncited.The authors regret that such approach was necessary.This volume is composed of two parts.Part I -Biogeochemistry of the Human Environment -presents fundamental information on biogeochemical properties of environmental compartments (soil, water, air, plants, humans) concerning trace elements.Part II -Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements -provides detailed data of the behavior and the occurrence of trace elements in the environment.There is a close relationship in the biogeochemical behavior between elements and their position in the Periodic System.Therefore, the format of this book follows the elemental sequences of the contemporary Periodic Table .The book provides data on the production usage, and on the occurrence of trace elements in soils, waters, air, plants, and humans (animals).Environmental stress, and biological functions of these elements are widely discussed.The authors hope that information, presented in this book, will encourage young scientists to undertake further studies for better understanding of all factors that influence cycling of trace elements in a given ecosystem, and to develop the most effective methods for the effective remediation of contaminated sites.Finally, this knowledge will improve the assessment of health and ecological risk.The authors will be satisfied if this book fires the imagination of some readers and encourages them to study the biogeochemistry of trace elements in greater depth.