Trace elements from soil to human /

Kabata-Pendias (Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation, National Research Institute, Poland) and Mukherjee (Univ. of Helsinki) focus on the biogeochemistry of trace elements in the environment. The authors define trace elements as chemical elements that occur in less than 0.1 percent of the Earth's crust or in biological systems. Trace elements are important because they are a prerequisite for sustainable land use and for diminishing health risks of pollutants. This area of research has become more important recently because of improvements in detection and characterization of trace elements, making this an exciting new area of study. The first part discusses the different compartments that contain trace elements. The second and much larger section is a detailed reference on each trace element, following the periodic table. The book provides data on the occurrence of trace elements in soils, water, air, plants, and humans. The writing is clear, and the tables and figures help to illustrate points in the book. A great starting work for understanding the role of any trace element in the environment and its links to the entire environment. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students through professionals. M. E. Lenczewski Northern Illinois University