184
Trace Elements in Abiotic and Biotic Environments
TABLE 25.1
Lithium Contents in Soils, Water, and Air
Environmental Compartment
Range
Soil (mg/kg)
Light sandy
5–70
Medium loamy
2–130
Heavy loamy
9–175
Calcerous (calcisols)
6–105
Organic
0.01–3
Water (μg/L)
Rain
0.04–0.12
River
0.2–3.5
Sea, ocean
170–200
Air (ng/m 3 )
Urban areas
2–8.9
Greenland
0.2–1
Sources: Data are given for uncontaminated environments,
from Kabata-Pendias, 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.
kastanozems, and prairien soils. Also, intrazonal young soils derived from alluvium
reveal elevated Li concentrations. However, the texture of mineral soils is the most
significant factor controlling the Li status in soils, although all other parameters,
such as soluble organic matter, cation exchangeable capacity and pH, are of much
less importance.
In the initial processes of soil formation, Li seems to be highly mobile, whereas later
it may become more stable, due to its firm bonding by clay minerals. However, watersoluble Li species in a soil profile reach up to about 5% of its total content, and therefore Li is likely to occur in groundwater of areas having elevated Li contents in rocks
and soils. Exchangeable soil Li is reported to be strongly associated with Ca and Mg.
Thus, in humid climatic zones, under greater rainfall, there is a net loss of Li from soils.
Although soil microorganisms are relatively sensitive to increased levels of Li, some
fungi, Penicillium and Aspergillus, are known to adapt easily to such growth media.
25.3 WATERS
The worldwide median concentration of Li in ocean water is given as 180  μg/L,
and is not very much differentiated, within the range of 170–200 μg/L (Table 25.1).
Riverine flux of Li is estimated at 69 kt/yr (Gaillardet et al. 2003).