Trace Elements in Abiotic and Biotic Environments

Kabata-Pendias and Szteke present an updated interdisciplinary summary of fundamental data on trace element transfer in the food chain from soil to humans. Developments in analysis technology and increased public and scientific interest have led to an explosion of new data and their interpretation, they say. They also summarize international legislation of trace elements for both micronutrients and contaminants in soil and plant food, and relate them to ecological and health risk assessments. They pay special attention to human health effects of deficiency and excess of trace elements. For each of 58 elements and groups of elements (lanthanides and actinides), they look at soils, waters, air, plants, and humans. Annotation c2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

Alina Kabata-Pendias is a professor emeritus at the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Pulawy, Poland. She earned her PhD in soil science from this institute. She also worked at the Polish Geological Institute in Warsaw. Dr. Kabata-Pendias’s research interest focuses on the fate of trace elements in the rock–soil–plant chain. She has published nearly 320 articles and is the author or coauthor of 11 books. Dr. Kabata-Pendias has been active in various national and international scientific committees and was awarded several medals, including the prestigious Philippe Duchaufour Medal, bestowed by the European Geosciences Union.

Barbara Szteke is a professor emeritus at the Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology in Warsaw, Poland. She also served as head of the Department of Food Analysis at that institute. Dr. Szteke has also been the Polish representative for the Codex Alimentarius Commission FAO/WHO Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants. Dr. Szteke’s research areas focus on foodstuff contaminants coming from the environment, such as elements, pesticides, and mycotoxins. She is the author or coauthor of more than 200 scientific papers, books chapters, reports, and lectures.