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Arsenic in Soil: Availability and Interactions with Soil Microorganisms

  • Chapter
Heavy Metal Contamination of Soils

Part of the book series: Soil Biology ((SOILBIOL,volume 44))

Abstract

Arsenic (As) is a naturally occurring element in the Earth’s crust, commonly found as a trace constituent of rocks, soils, sediments, water, and biota. However natural and anthropogenic processes can increase its content in groundwater, soils, and sediments to toxic levels. Concentration of total As in soils does not necessarily represent its biological availability or potential toxicity measures which are much more important for assessing possible environmental impacts. Soil microorganisms may be involved in As pollution issues in an active and passive way at the same time. They can induce environmental As bioavailability due to chemical–biochemical processes, microbial mediated, that favor its release in water-soluble forms or more mobile (As III). Conversely, soil microbial biomass can be deeply affected in its size, functions, and diversity by the concentration of this ion in soil solution and impact in this way soil functioning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological, Agrifood and Forest Systems, DIBAF, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy

    Silvia Rita Stazi, Rosita Marabottini, Ruxandra Papp & Maria Cristina Moscatelli

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  1. Silvia Rita Stazi
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  2. Rosita Marabottini
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  3. Ruxandra Papp
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  4. Maria Cristina Moscatelli
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Correspondence to Silvia Rita Stazi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Allgemeine Botanik und Pflanzenphysiologie, Universität Jena, Jena, Germany

    Irena Sherameti

  2. Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Ajit Varma

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Stazi, S.R., Marabottini, R., Papp, R., Moscatelli, M.C. (2015). Arsenic in Soil: Availability and Interactions with Soil Microorganisms. In: Sherameti, I., Varma, A. (eds) Heavy Metal Contamination of Soils. Soil Biology, vol 44. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14526-6_6

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