ABSTRACT
Anthropogenic fluxes of trace elements into the light sandy, acid soils, which predominate in Poland, have significant ecological effects. The most important health risk is related, at the national level, to increased contents of Cd and Pb in various environmental compartments. Soils of all terrestrial ecosystems are most often the final sinks of anthropogenic trace pollutants. The pollution of surface soils with trace elements is quite common in industrial regions. Soils of industrial regions have been intensively studied and several reports have described local situations of trace elements. Rivers and lakes are known collectors of a significant proportion of the anthropogenic trace elements. Two pathways of trace elements to plants, root uptake and foliar uptake, are important in the polluted environment. A close relationship between the geochemistry of the environment and animal and human health has already been recognised. Current studies on environmental geochemistry in Poland have been focused on environmental health aspects.
