GEMAS – soil, geology and health implications

1. GEMAS – soil, geology and health implications Anna Ladenberger “All substances are poisons; there is none which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy” Paracelsus (1493-1541) (Source: http://gnosticwarrior.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/paracelsus.jpg)

2. Soil composition and health implications: • 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.

3. Macronutrients e.g., Ca, Fe, K, Mg, P, S (required in large amounts in diet) Micronutrients e.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)

4. Sixteen trace elements are established as being essential for good health • 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)

5. PATTERNS OF INFLUENCE OF THE ELEMENTS assimilation increase MACRONUTRIENTS (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, P, S) deficit good no difference MICRONUTRIENTS (B, Cu, Co, Cr, F, I, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, V, Zn) deficit good toxic lethal NON-ESSENTIAL (As, Be, Cd, Pb, Sb, Sn, Ti) tolerable toxic lethal (From Siegel, 2002)

6. 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) horizonscanhave 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’!

7. Zinc • 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 (From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.63.2, p.462) (Alloway, 2008) (Map of Zinc deficiency in World crops From Alloway, 2008, Fig. 6.5, p.109) 250 mg/kg 60 mg/kg 10 mg/kg The median in Ap soil is 45 mg/kg with a typical range from 10 to 200 mg/kg. (From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.63.4, p.463)

8. Zinc • Zinc • essential for over 300 enzymes • antioxidant • Symptoms of Zn deficiency include: • poor plant growth • loss of appetite (anorexia) • decreased immune function (From Mann et al., 2014, Fig. 13.17, p.219) (From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.63.5, p.465)

9. Zinc (Source: http://farmprogress.com/story-tissue-sample-yellow-corn-9-100085 ) Once identified, zinc-deficient soil can be easily treated with fertilisers containing zinc to provide an adequate supply of zinc to crops!

10. Arsenic • 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) 10 mg/kg (From: Centeno & Finkelman, 2007, Photo 2b, p.64) (From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.9.4, p.150)

11. Arsenic (From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.9.5, p.152) (From Reimann et al., 2014, map on DVD) Lazio region, high As in groundwater (25-80 µg per l), used for crop irrigation Cornwall, UK, up to 2% As in soil Massif Central, high As in soil (young volcanism, Au, Pb-Zn deposits) (From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.9.5, p.153)

12. On the local scale (From Ladenberger et al., 2013, p.18) • 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 Environmental and health problems?

13. 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

14. Thank you anna.ladenberger@sgu.se

15. - elemental (Hg0) - inorganic (mercurous, Hg1+ or mercuric, Hg2+) - organic (methyl-, ethyl-, or phenylmercury) Mercury (From Ottesen et al., 2014, Fig. 4, p.4) Residential SGV Allowed limit according to Natural Protection Agency Background (Source: http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/mercury-pollution-transport-and-cycle_595d#)

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

17. (From Ottesen et al., 2013, Fig. 8, p.10, based on data from Wheeler & Ummel, 2008) (From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.29.5, p.267) (From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.29.2, p.264) (From Ottesen et al., 2013, Fig. 6, p.8) (Source: http://whyfiles.org/201mercury/)

18. Selenium • mobile under oxidising alkaline conditions (pH>7.5) • binds to organic matter • immobile under reducing conditions • immobile under low pH – forms complexes with Fe oxides • dietary 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) 0.6 mg/kg 0.4 mg/kg (From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.50.4, p.389)

19. Selenium Selenosis in Limerick (cattle, horses) Se toxicity in drinking water (Reggio) (From Reimann et al., 2014, Fig. 11.50.5, p.391) (From Reimann et al., 2014, map on DVD) 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

20. Selenium • 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. (Photo courtesy: Gerald F. Combs, USDA) (Photo courtesy: Gerald F. Combs, USDA)