ABSTRACT
The literature on trace element distribution in soils of western Europe is reviewed.
Existing data on elemental concentrations in soils, micronutrient uptake by plants, and the relationships with human health are widely scattered in the literature, and usually refer to only a few elements. Lead, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Zn are the most studied, since most of them are toxic to humans, while others may be phy to toxic or deficient to plants.
