Cited by 926Heavy metals in environmentHeavy Metals in PlantsHeavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity

The biochemistry of environmental heavy metal uptake by plants: implications for the food chain.

Peralta-Videa, Jose R., Lopez, Martha Laura, Narayan, Mahesh, Saupe, Geoffrey, Gardea-Torresdey, Jorge·2009·The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology

Abstract

Plants absorb a number of elements from soil, some of which have no known biological function and some are known to be toxic at low concentrations. As plants constitute the foundation of the food chain, some concerns have been raised about the possibility of toxic concentrations of certain elements being transported from plants to higher strata of the food chain. Special attention has been given to the uptake and biotransformation mechanisms occurring in plants and its role in bioaccumulation and impact on consumers, especially human beings. While this review draws particular attention to metal accumulation in edible plants, researched studies of certain wild plants and their consumers are included. Furthermore, this review focuses on plant uptake of the toxic elements arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and lead and their possible transfer to the food chain. These elements were selected because they are well-established as being toxic for living systems and their effects in humans have been widely documented. Arsenic is known to promote cancer of the bladder, lung, and skin and can be acquired, for example, through the consumption of As-contaminated rice. Cadmium can attack kidney, liver, bone, and it also affects the female reproduction system. Cadmium also can be found in rice. Chromium can produce cancer, and humans can be exposed through smoking and eating Cr-laden vegetables. Lead and mercury are well known neurotoxins that can be consumed via seafood, vegetables and rice.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.biocel.2009.03.005

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174 of 174 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Variations in element concentrations among ash types may be explained by the accumulative capacity of different vegetation types, taking up different levels of elements from the soil and surrounding environment.

    “These variations may be explained by the accumulative capacity of the different vegetation types, taking up different levels of elements from the soil and surrounding environment (Peralta-Videa et al. 2009;Brito et al. 2017).”

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Authors
Peralta-Videa, J. R., Lopez, M. L., Narayan, M., Saupe, G., & Gardea-Torresdey, J.
Affiliations
The University of Texas at El Paso (US)
Corresponding author
Gardea-Torresdey, Jorge
Venue
The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-08
Volume
41
Issue
8-9
Pages
1665-1677
ISSN
1357-2725 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2156258253
Cited by
926
References
174
Citations by year
2026: 32 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 52 · 2023: 75 · 2022: 85 · 2021: 61 · 2020: 69 · 2019: 78 · 2018: 69 · 2017: 54 · 2016: 62 · 2015: 50 · 2014: 54 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 44
FWCI
2.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • World Health Organization
  • H2020 European Research Council
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Heavy metals in environment
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Analytical Chemistry › Heavy Metals in Plants
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity
Keywords
heavy metal uptake by plants, plant bioaccumulation, trophic transfer, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead, rice contamination, edible plants, wild plants, human health risk, neurotoxins, cancer risk
MeSH terms
Animals, Biochemical Phenomena, Plants, Metals, Heavy, Food Chain

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