THALLIUM IN PLANTS

Owing to its possible toxic effect on plants or its accumulation in ed ible plant parts, high content of thallium in soils has to be consider ed as a hazard for the environment. The purpose of this paper is to re view the most recent data regarding content, phytotoxicity, bioavailab ility, translocation and accumulation of the metal in plants leading t o possible damage to the food chain. At the present time severe detrim ental effects on crops or acute poisoning of a population induced by i ngestion of thallium polluted plant parts have been scarcely observed. However, chronic toxicity resulting from continuous intake of thalliu m originating from plants can occur in some areas.