Lead Bioavailability in the Environment: Its Exposure and and Effects

Many anthropogenic activities result in the accumulation of potentially toxic metals (e.g. lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, arsenic, cobalt, and mercury) in the environment. Lead (Pb) is a very toxic and non-biodegradable element with no metabolic function in living creatures. It can be quickly taken up and transferred within plant tissues and then enter the food chain, causing phytotoxicity. Through different biochemical and enzymatic reactions, Pb can severely harm public health. After entering soil and sediments, Pb may mix with soil components and associate with them through different geochemical fractions, determining the final fate of Pb in terms of bioavailability and uptake by plants. Metal bioavailability in soils is mainly dependent on the soil and plant properties and interactions with other elements. Although there are numerous studies on the influence of heavy metals on public health, limited studies have considered the role of the soil-plant chain on the final fate of potentially toxic metals concerning public health. This article is a joint investigation between agricultural and medical sciences and reveals that the soil (as the base of agriculture) affects human health in various ways, and human health is linked to the health of the soil.