TRACE METAL BIOAVAILABILITY IN SOILS AND FRESH WATERS

Trace metal bioavailability mainly determine the environmental impact of metal-contaminated soils and waters. This book concerns the assessment of metal bioavailability through the comparison of different techniques used to infer metals mobility and its uptake by biota. Traditional techniques were used in soils in parallel to the more innovative DGT technique. In addition, DGT capability of simulate metal uptake by plants was studied through a direct comparison with the uptake of two plant species, demonstrating the DGT potentially prediction of metal phytoavailability within metal contaminated soils. Metal bioavailability in fresh waters was studied by comparing DGT and on site filtration, focusing on metal fraction potentially available to aquatic organisms. Metals bioaccumulation in fish was studied in laboratory and a method to determine metals in fish was standardized. This book therefore should help shed some light on the worth of proper interpretation of bioavailability results provided by different techniques and highlight the DGT cost-effective applicability in soils and waters. The book should be useful to professionals concerned in environmental controls and monitoring.

Autorentext

Chiara Galas studied Chemistry at University of Rome "Tor Vergata".She attained a phD in Chemical Sciences in the framework of a collaboration with the Italian Environmental Protection Agency (APAT now ISPRA). At present she works as chemist at the Customs Agency of Naples, Italy.