1. Trace Elements in Water, Soil, and Plants
Trace elements occur in waters at concentrations less than 1mg/l. However, this could include almost every element on the periodic table. Therefore, we are generally only concerned with metal or metalloids of
environmental
or economic concern.
Plants primarily receive trace elements by absorption through the root system. The types of elements received depends what has been dissolved in the soil.
Trace elements are only minor components of the solid soil phase, but are important in understanding soil fertility and are essential micronutrients for plants.
Plant metabolism of trace elements can be described in relation to several basic processes.
The trace element composition of a soil is inherited from the parent rock. However, over time the trace elements within a soil may change due to the influences of the pedogenic process.
Trace elements are introduced into natural waters from the weathering of rocks and more increasingly through human activities.
The ability of plants to absorb trace elements is highly variable.
Elements that are easily absorbed by plants have
a higher chance of
being absorbed into
the human body through plant consumption.
Trace elements in soils tend to be associated with certain major elements based on their chemical nature, namely ionic size and electronegativity.
Many high concentrations of trace elements occur in natural waters where economic ore bodies are present.