Soil is the foundation of the world’s ecosystems. A healthy soil supports life. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), 250,000 soils have been identified as contaminated across the EU, mainly by metals and mineral oils (EEA 2007). The quality of soil, especially the degree of pollution, can affect human health and ecosystems in many different ways (Malik et al. 2010; Zhang et al. 2011). Soil contaminated by metals and metalloids constitutes a major environmental problem, which may result in significant human exposure (Zhuang et al. 2009). How toxic these exposures are can be subject to a number of variables, including route of exposure, absorption, metabolism, and distribution in the human body (Ajmone-Marsan et al. 2008; Madrid et al. 2008). Paradoxically, As is classified as both an important micronutrient to some animals, including humans, and highly toxic to the same animals, as well as plants, at higher concentration (Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry 2007). Chronic exposure to As has been shown to cause a variety of cancers (Wu et al. 1989; Smith et al. 1992) and is also associated with a variety of other human ailments (Cullen and Reimer 1989; Jain and Ali 2000). Due to its nature and behavior in the environment, As is persistent, does not degrade, and can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the trophic chain (Huq et al. 2006). Background concentrations in soil range from 1 to 40 μgg?1 (Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry 2007).
Arsenic in Soil: Availability and Interactions with Soil Microorganisms
Stazi S
;
2015
Abstract
Soil is the foundation of the world’s ecosystems. A healthy soil supports life. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), 250,000 soils have been identified as contaminated across the EU, mainly by metals and mineral oils (EEA 2007). The quality of soil, especially the degree of pollution, can affect human health and ecosystems in many different ways (Malik et al. 2010; Zhang et al. 2011). Soil contaminated by metals and metalloids constitutes a major environmental problem, which may result in significant human exposure (Zhuang et al. 2009). How toxic these exposures are can be subject to a number of variables, including route of exposure, absorption, metabolism, and distribution in the human body (Ajmone-Marsan et al. 2008; Madrid et al. 2008). Paradoxically, As is classified as both an important micronutrient to some animals, including humans, and highly toxic to the same animals, as well as plants, at higher concentration (Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry 2007). Chronic exposure to As has been shown to cause a variety of cancers (Wu et al. 1989; Smith et al. 1992) and is also associated with a variety of other human ailments (Cullen and Reimer 1989; Jain and Ali 2000). Due to its nature and behavior in the environment, As is persistent, does not degrade, and can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the trophic chain (Huq et al. 2006). Background concentrations in soil range from 1 to 40 μgg?1 (Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry 2007).I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
