Spanish scientists have used some tricky mathematics to help them work out where heavy metal comes from. Their findings, based on atomic analysis, will provide information useful in protecting us from these toxic elements.
Contamination of soils with heavy metal contaminants has become and increasingly important environmental issue, particularly in developed countries because of shifting land-use patterns. Such contaminants readily leach into water systems or are assimilated by certain crops with putatively detrimental effects on wildlife, livestock and human health. Understanding the role of soil type, organic content, clays and salts, such as carbonates, is essential to characterising the risks and developing a soil protection policy. Indeed, the European Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection requires the characterization of the content and source of heavy metals in soils so that quality standards can be established.
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