Preface
All substances are poisons, and the right dose differentiates a poison from a
remedy
P.A. Paracelsus (1493–1541)
It has already become a truism to say that the quality of human life depends on the
chemical composition of food and surroundings. Among chemical elements, trace
elements are very special as their quantity ratio is of a crucial importance. There is
a negligible difference between the physiological and harmful contents of most trace
elements, and as always their proper balance plays significant role in the biological
behavior. The bioavailability of trace elements is variable and is controlled by specific properties of living organisms, as well as by physical and chemical factors of
the abiotic spheres.
Recent improvements and sophisticated methods in analytical chemistry, as well
as increasing fields of investigations, have added substantially to the present state
of the knowledge on the biogeochemistry of trace elements. During the last three
decades, there has been a real explosion of research data and various publications on
the biogeochemical behavior of, almost all, trace elements of known and unknown
physiological functions.
Human activities are modifying trace element concentrations in all environmental compartments. It is especially pronounced in various industrial regions, as well
as in urban and highways vicinities. Also, both geology and geochemistry of the
environment have significant impact on the chemistry and health of plants, animals,
and humans.
The authors’ intention is to summarize an updated interdisciplinary fundamental data with a condensed presentation of knowledge on trace element transfer in
the food chain from soil to humans. The information on the international legislation on trace elements for both micronutrients and contaminants in soil and plant
food will be presented, and will be related to ecological and health risk assessments.
A special attention is focused on human health effects of deficiency and excess of
trace elements.
A better understanding of the geochemical processes and comprehensive dataset
on the abundance of trace elements in abiotic and biotic environmental compartments will be a key to managing trace elements in the environment, which is a perquisite to sustainable land use and the possible diminishing of health risks due to
trace inorganic pollutants.
Alina Kabata-Pendias
Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation
Barbara Szteke
Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology
xxiii
All substances are poisons, and the right dose differentiates a poison from a
remedy
P.A. Paracelsus (1493–1541)
It has already become a truism to say that the quality of human life depends on the
chemical composition of food and surroundings. Among chemical elements, trace
elements are very special as their quantity ratio is of a crucial importance. There is
a negligible difference between the physiological and harmful contents of most trace
elements, and as always their proper balance plays significant role in the biological
behavior. The bioavailability of trace elements is variable and is controlled by specific properties of living organisms, as well as by physical and chemical factors of
the abiotic spheres.
Recent improvements and sophisticated methods in analytical chemistry, as well
as increasing fields of investigations, have added substantially to the present state
of the knowledge on the biogeochemistry of trace elements. During the last three
decades, there has been a real explosion of research data and various publications on
the biogeochemical behavior of, almost all, trace elements of known and unknown
physiological functions.
Human activities are modifying trace element concentrations in all environmental compartments. It is especially pronounced in various industrial regions, as well
as in urban and highways vicinities. Also, both geology and geochemistry of the
environment have significant impact on the chemistry and health of plants, animals,
and humans.
The authors’ intention is to summarize an updated interdisciplinary fundamental data with a condensed presentation of knowledge on trace element transfer in
the food chain from soil to humans. The information on the international legislation on trace elements for both micronutrients and contaminants in soil and plant
food will be presented, and will be related to ecological and health risk assessments.
A special attention is focused on human health effects of deficiency and excess of
trace elements.
A better understanding of the geochemical processes and comprehensive dataset
on the abundance of trace elements in abiotic and biotic environmental compartments will be a key to managing trace elements in the environment, which is a perquisite to sustainable land use and the possible diminishing of health risks due to
trace inorganic pollutants.
Alina Kabata-Pendias
Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation
Barbara Szteke
Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology
xxiii