GEMAS – soil, geology and health implications

“All substances are poisons; there is none which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy”

Paracelsus (1493-1541)

Anna Ladenberger

(Source: http://gnosticwarrior.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/paracelsus.jpg)

Rocks and minerals → food, water, air → human body;

Soil is a direct source of nutrients, micro-elements and macro-elements – so called mineral elements;

Geochemical mapping: detection of geochemical anomalies and establishing natural background level, at continental and regional scale;

GEMAS results can be used to elaborate the relationship between natural geological factors and health in humans and animals;

GEMAS results improve the understanding of the influence of ordinary environmental factors on the geographical distribution of health problems;

GEMAS results can be used in environmental medicine, environmental geochemistry, medical geology, etc.

Soil composition and health implications:

Macronutrientse.g., Ca, Fe, K, Mg, P, S (required in large amounts in diet)

Micronutrientse.g., B, Cu, Co, Cr, F, I, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, V, Zn

Examples of toxic elements:As, Be, Cr, Cd, Hg, Pb, Tl

(Source: http://www.growthproducts.com/images/pHChart.jpg)

• bone and membrane structure (Ca)

• water and electrolyte balance (Na, K, Cl)

• metabolic catalysis (Zn, Cu, Se, Mg, Mo)

• oxygen binding and transport (Fe)

• hormone effects (I, Cr)

Sixteen trace elements are established as being essential for good health

MICRONUTRIENTS (B, Cu, Co, Cr, F, I, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, V,

Zn)

NON-ESSENTIAL (As, Be, Cd, Pb, Sb, Sn, Ti)

PATTERNS OF INFLUENCE OF THE ELEMENTSassimilation increase

MACRONUTRIENTS (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, P, S)

deficit good no difference

deficit good toxic lethal

tolerable toxic lethal

(From Siegel, 2002)

Element (bio)availability

Soil varies widely in concentrations of macro- and micro- (trace) elements, even without human induced environmental

contamination and agriculture.

Soil (or sediment) horizons can have high concentrations of:• Ions released from weathering; • Ions introduced as fertilisers (P, K, S);• Environmental pollutants (heavy metals, etc.).

High concentrations do not mean that the element is ’available’!

250 mg/kg

60 mg/kg

10 mg/kg

(From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.63.4, p.463)

(From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.63.2, p.462)

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient Zinc deficiency is widespread in soil Nearly 50% of the soil on which cereals

are grown have levels of available Zn low enough to cause Zn deficiency

The median in Ap soil is 45 mg/kg with a typical range from 10 to 200 mg/kg.

(Alloway, 2008)

Zinc

(Map of Zinc deficiency in World crops From Alloway, 2008, Fig. 6.5, p.109)

Zinc • essential for over 300 enzymes• antioxidant

Symptoms of Zn deficiency include: poor plant growth loss of appetite (anorexia) decreased immune function

Zinc

(From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.63.5, p.465)(From Mann et al., 2014, Fig. 13.17, p.219)

Once identified, zinc-deficient soil can be easilytreated with fertilisers containing zinc to provide

an adequate supply of zinc to crops!

Zinc

(Source: http://farmprogress.com/story-tissue-sample-yellow-corn-9-100085 )

Arsenic

10 mg/kg

toxicity: arsine gas > inorganic (As3+) > organic (As3+) > inorganic (As5+) > organic (As5+) > As0

up to 60% of arsenic in soil can be bioavailable!

keratosis, skin lesions

cancerogenic (skin, lungs, bladder, kidney, liver)

(From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.9.2, p.149)

(From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.9.4, p.150)(From: Centeno & Finkelman, 2007, Photo 2b, p.64)

Cornwall, UK, up to 2% As in soil

Lazio region, high As in groundwater (25-80 µg per l), used for crop irrigationMassif Central, high As in

soil (young volcanism, Au, Pb-Zn deposits)

Arsenic

(From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.9.5, p.152)

(From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.9.5, p.153)

(From Reimann et al., 2014, map on DVD)

Environmental and health problems?

Black shale -Natural source of As(black shale is often enriched in trace elements, such as arsenic, cadmium; some are essential, others are not)

Skellefte mining district -High As in soil and groundwater

On the local scale

(From Ladenberger et al., 2013, p.18)

To summarise…..

GEMAS data can be applied to soil quality assessment

GEMAS data show the geographical distribution of potential hazard areas at the continental scale

GEMAS data highlight the potential links between soil chemistry and health issues

GEMAS data can be used for risk characterisation and identification of areas prone to element deficiency

Thank you

anna.ladenberger@sgu.se

(Source: http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/mercury-pollution-transport-and-cycle_595d#)

Mercury- elemental (Hg0)- inorganic (mercurous, Hg1+ or mercuric, Hg2+)- organic (methyl-, ethyl-, or phenylmercury)

Allowed limit according to Natural Protection Agency

Background

(From Ottesen et al., 2014, Fig. 4, p.4)

Residential SGV

Hg: in food (fish); exposure from dental amalgam fillings; disinfectant, antibacterial, antiparasitic; crop fungicide (methyl mercury); vaccine preservative, nasal spray.

Health effects:neurobehavioral disorders;severe mental retardation;coma;pneumonitis, respiratory failure;kidney failure;acrodynia (painful extremities, apathy,

pink colour, photofobia).

Mercury

(Source: http://www.counterthink.com/Seafood_Mercury_Warning.asp)

(From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.29.2, p.264)

(From Ottesen et al., 2013, Fig. 6, p.8)

(From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.29.5, p.267)

(From Ottesen et al., 2013, Fig. 8, p.10, based on data from Wheeler & Ummel, 2008)

(Source: http://whyfiles.org/201mercury/)

mobile under oxidising alkaline conditions (pH>7.5)binds to organic matterimmobile under reducing conditionsimmobile under low pH – forms complexes with Fe oxidesdietary source of Se: mushroom, garlic, sea food, liver and kidneys, fish, flour, whole-

grain products

Essential element (enzymes, antioxidant)

Anticancer activity Narrow range between

dietary deficiency (<40 µg per day) and toxicity (>400 µg per day)

Selenium

0.4 mg/kg

0.6 mg/kg

(From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.50.4, p.389)

High in Se: black shale, phosphatic rocks, sulphides, coal, humus rich soil in coastal regions, volcanic ashes (tuffs), fine-grained sediments Anthropogenic Se: burning fossil fuels, smelting, sewage sludge, manure, pesticide, phosphate fertilisers, photocopier, anti-fungal pharmaceuticals, lubricating oils, ink

Se toxicity in drinking water (Reggio)

Selenosis in Limerick (cattle, horses)

Selenium

(From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.50.5, p.391) (From Reimann et al., 2014, map on DVD)

Se deficiency: common in Sweden, Finland, Denmark heart disease (Keshan disease) bone and joint disease, rheumatics poor growth and development weak immune respond

Se toxicity:Se excess causes hair loss, nerve and

liver damage, caries, garlic smell of breath, blue staining of nails;

Population can adapt to high selenium intake without showing major clinical symptoms.

Selenium

(Photo courtesy: Gerald F. Combs, USDA)

(Photo courtesy: Gerald F. Combs, USDA)