Ebook: Trace Elements from Soil to Human

The understanding of fundamental principles and phenomena that control the tra- fer 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 - scribed 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 investi- tors’ uncited. The authors regret that such approach was necessary. This volume is composed of two parts. Part I – Biogeochemistry of the Human - vironment – presents fundamental information on biogeochemical properties of en- ronmental 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.

This volume provides a review of the key features of trace elements in soils, plants and the food web on which human beings survive.

The quality of food is such a live issue at the moment that this is an essential tool for researchers in a variety of disciplines. Minor inorganic constituents of food, trace elements, are of special interest due to their specific properties in both abiotic and biotic environmental compartments.

The authors' intention is to summarize up-to-date interdisciplinary data for the concise presentation of our understanding of trace-element transfer in the food chain, from soil to man.

Containing 209 useful tables, the book also explores geochemical processes and offers information on international legislation on trace elements as both micronutrients and contaminants in soil and food are presented in parallel and are related to ecology and health risk assessments.