Effect Of Heavy Metal Pollution On Plants: Metals In The Environment (pollution Monitoring Series)

Trace metals occur as natural constituents of the earth's crust, and are ever present constituents of soils, natural waters and living matter. The biological significance of this disparate assemblage of elements has gradually been uncovered during the twentieth century; the resultant picture is one of ever-increasing complexity. Several of these elements have been demonstrated to be essential to the functions of living organisms, others appear to only interact with living matter in a toxic manner, whilst an ever-decreasing number do not fall conveniently into either category. When the interactions between trace metals and plants are considered, one must take full account of the known chemical properties of each element. Consideration must be given to differences in chemical reactivity, solubility and to interactions with other inorganic and organic molecules. A clear understanding of the basic chemical properties of an element of interest is an essential pre-requisite to any subsequent consideration of its biological significance. Due consideration to basic chemical considerations is a theme which runs through the collection of chapters in both volumes. Front Matter....Pages i-xii Geochemical Aspects of the Distribution and Forms of Heavy Metals in Soils....Pages 1-33 Sources of Metal and Elemental Contamination of Terrestrial Environments....Pages 35-94 Cycling of Trace Metals in Ecosystems....Pages 95-118 Impact of Metals on Ecosystem Function and Productivity....Pages 119-158 Trace Metals in Agriculture....Pages 159-184 Reclamation of Metalliferous Mine Wastes....Pages 185-212 The Effect of Trace Elements on Lower Plants....Pages 213-238 Mechanism of Metal Tolerance in Higher Plants....Pages 239-249 Back Matter....Pages 251-257