Soil particle size fraction and potentially toxic elements bioaccessibility: A review

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Soil Science
• Geochemistry

Background:

• Potentially toxic elements (PTE) pose environmental and health risks.
• Soil particle size is a key factor influencing PTE bioaccessibility.
• Limited review articles exist on PTE bioaccessibility, especially concerning particle size.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the relationship between PTE bioaccessibility and soil particle size fractions.
• To synthesize current knowledge on how soil size impacts PTE bioavailability.
• To identify research gaps in understanding PTE behavior in different soil fractions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies investigating PTE bioaccessibility in various soil size fractions.
• Analysis of trends and variations in PTE bioaccessibility across different particle sizes.
• Synthesis of findings regarding element-specific behavior and influencing factors.

Main Results:

• PTE bioaccessibility varies significantly across soil size fractions.
• A general trend indicates higher PTE bioaccessibility in finer soil fractions.
• Element-specific relationships exist, with some PTEs influenced more by source and chemical form.

Conclusions:

• Soil particle size is a critical determinant of PTE bioaccessibility.
• Standardization of methods for determining PTE bioaccessibility in fine soil fractions is crucial.
• Accurate risk assessment requires considering bioaccessible fractions rather than total PTE concentrations.