Trace Elements from Soil to Human [Paperback]

The quality of food is such a live issue at the moment that this title is an essential tool for researchers in a variety of disciplines. It provides a review of the key features of trace elements in soils, plants and the food web on which human beings survive. The authors' intention is to summarize up-to-date interdisciplinary data for the concise presentation of our understanding of trace-element transfer in the chain from soil to man.

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 elementsl3*