126
Trace Elements in Abiotic and Biotic Environments
17.2 SOILS
Data on the Ge abundance in soils are scanty. Its average content is estimated at
2.0 mg/kg, within the range of 0.5–2.5 mg/kg (Table 17.1). Its concentrations in the
soils of various countries are given as follows (in mg/kg): the United States, 0.1–2.1;
Sweden, 0.05–0.64; China, 1.2–3.2 (Kabata-Pendias 2011). Increased Ge levels
(up to 95 mg/kg) in soils of Sweden are, most probably, effects of the contamination
(Eriksson 2001a). It is likely to accumulate (up to 27 mg/kg) in the surface horizon of
fresh and old leaf litters of the beech forest (Tyler 2005). Mean Ge content in organic
surface soils of Norway is 1.94 mg/kg, and is lower than mean value (2.27 mg/kg)
for all investigated soils (Nygard et al. 2012).
During weathering, Ge is easily mobilized as Ge(OH) 2 and readily fixed from
aquatic systems, as Ge(OH) 4 , by clay minerals, Fe hydroxides, and OM. Species
of Ge in soils are mainly divalent cations, and anionic complexes, such as HGeO 2
–
,
2
HGeO , and GeO
. Germanium concentrations in soils increase with the presence
3
3
of Si, whereas decrease with the presence of Fe. Increased amounts of Ge in soils
developed on basaltic lavas (in Hawaii) are effects of its fixation by clay minerals and
some nonsilicates (Scriber et al. vide Kabata-Pendias 2011).
17.3 WATERS
The median Ge concentration in the worldwide ocean water is estimated at 0.05 μg/L
(Reimann and de Caritat 1998). However, there are also other given values, which might
be presented as Ge concentrations between 0.05 and 0.5 μg/L (Table 17.1). In river
TABLE 17.1
Germanium Contents in Soils and Water
Environmental Compartment
Range
Soil (mg/kg)
Light sandy
0.6–2.0
Medium loamy
1.0–2.5
Heavy loamy
1.0–2.0
Calcerous (calcisols)
0.5–1.3
Water (μg/L)
River
0.001–0.08
Sea, ocean
0.05–0.5
Sources: Data are given for uncontaminated environments, from KabataPendias, A. and Mukherjee, A.B., Trace Elements from Soil to
Human, Springer, Berlin, Germany, 2007; Reimann, C. and
de Caritat, P., Chemical Elements in the Environment, Springer,
Berlin, Germany, 1998.
Trace Elements in Abiotic and Biotic Environments
17.2 SOILS
Data on the Ge abundance in soils are scanty. Its average content is estimated at
2.0 mg/kg, within the range of 0.5–2.5 mg/kg (Table 17.1). Its concentrations in the
soils of various countries are given as follows (in mg/kg): the United States, 0.1–2.1;
Sweden, 0.05–0.64; China, 1.2–3.2 (Kabata-Pendias 2011). Increased Ge levels
(up to 95 mg/kg) in soils of Sweden are, most probably, effects of the contamination
(Eriksson 2001a). It is likely to accumulate (up to 27 mg/kg) in the surface horizon of
fresh and old leaf litters of the beech forest (Tyler 2005). Mean Ge content in organic
surface soils of Norway is 1.94 mg/kg, and is lower than mean value (2.27 mg/kg)
for all investigated soils (Nygard et al. 2012).
During weathering, Ge is easily mobilized as Ge(OH) 2 and readily fixed from
aquatic systems, as Ge(OH) 4 , by clay minerals, Fe hydroxides, and OM. Species
of Ge in soils are mainly divalent cations, and anionic complexes, such as HGeO 2
–
,
2
HGeO , and GeO
. Germanium concentrations in soils increase with the presence
3
3
of Si, whereas decrease with the presence of Fe. Increased amounts of Ge in soils
developed on basaltic lavas (in Hawaii) are effects of its fixation by clay minerals and
some nonsilicates (Scriber et al. vide Kabata-Pendias 2011).
17.3 WATERS
The median Ge concentration in the worldwide ocean water is estimated at 0.05 μg/L
(Reimann and de Caritat 1998). However, there are also other given values, which might
be presented as Ge concentrations between 0.05 and 0.5 μg/L (Table 17.1). In river
TABLE 17.1
Germanium Contents in Soils and Water
Environmental Compartment
Range
Soil (mg/kg)
Light sandy
0.6–2.0
Medium loamy
1.0–2.5
Heavy loamy
1.0–2.0
Calcerous (calcisols)
0.5–1.3
Water (μg/L)
River
0.001–0.08
Sea, ocean
0.05–0.5
Sources: Data are given for uncontaminated environments, from KabataPendias, A. and Mukherjee, A.B., Trace Elements from Soil to
Human, Springer, Berlin, Germany, 2007; Reimann, C. and
de Caritat, P., Chemical Elements in the Environment, Springer,
Berlin, Germany, 1998.