Zinc in soils: A Review of its Distribution and impacts

Abstract

Zinc is one of the most common naturally occurring essential trace elements in the soil. However, most zinc enters the soil as a result of human activities; soil being an ultimate sink for contaminants and a natural buffer controlling the environmental cycling of chemical elements to the atmosphere, biota and hydrosphere. Concern for zinc levels arises principally because too little zinc is as important a health problem as too much zinc. Hence, zinc contents in soil constitutes a major issue in environmental monitoring because the maintenance of agricultural and ecological functions of soils is important for existence.