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Phosphates in Soil

Book review by Rowena Fletcher-Wood
Science Oxford
rowena.fletcher-wood@scienceoxford.com
ECG Bulletin January 2019
A well-written, clearly laid out book covering the latest advances in phosphate chemistry in soils, including pathways, policy and remediation strategies, health effects, costs, and potential environmental hazards.
Key facts in the book are clearly identified and highlighted, indicating a strong editorial hand. There is a natural progression through the chapters, suggesting it was intended for reading in its entirety; the first three chapters, for example, serve as an extended introduction to phosphate science. Internal references and repeated introductions also make piecewise reading possible.

It is not easy to identify the intended audience for this book. Some concepts (e.g. equilibrium constants, normally covered in the chemistry A level syllabus) start at a basic level, for a reader without prior knowledge. Key terms such as heavy metal(loid) are defined from the outset, but elsewhere in the book, in-depth geological and technical knowledge is assumed. Analytical and experimental techniques of some complexity are introduced without explanation and sometimes without accompanying results. An overview of these techniques, their strengths and limitations, would ultimately underpin the discussion. More graphs would also help to visualise the concepts described.
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An impressive array of mineral phases are recognised, but the assumed understanding of them varies from chapter to chapter, with chemical formulae and shorthand names provided in some cases but not in others, and no mention of their crystallography or morphology, despite the contribution of sites to selective metal sorption. Notably, the short name HA is introduced for hydroxyapatite, where HAP, another common abbreviation in the literature, is not. Through robust referencing throughout, the book very much leaves it up to its reader to do much of the footwork to fully understand the concepts conveyed. Despite this, the book’s scrutiny of mathematical models and experimental methodologies is thorough; assumptions, strengths and limitations are researched and assessed even where methodologies are infrequently reported in the literature. In particular, field versus pot studies are compared.

Despite its title, the focus of this book lies on trace metal dynamics in soils, their bioavailability, and the effect of changing phosphorus concentrations on their mobilisation. The book mainly addresses phosphorus-mediated remediation of radiological and heavy metal soil contamination and mobilisation of micronutrients, while more space could certainly be given to the comparison between phosphorus-free mechanisms and phosphorus-inclusive ones.

Summary
This book makes a brave attempt to collate findings relating to phosphate and trace elements in the hugely complex and messy system of soil solutions. Whilst affinity sequences can be established, intricate factors such as co-contamination, speciation, daughter species, phosphorus release rates, site competition, varying exposure times the mutual effects of pH on phosphorus and phosphorus on pH make quantification complex.

The book seems best aimed at a seasoned researcher with expertise pertaining only to one chapter, who wishes to broaden their understanding of their field and has time available to read and trace sources.

References
H. Magdi Selim (ed.), Phosphate in Soils: Interaction with Micronutrients, Radionuclides and Heavy Metals, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2017, ISBN 978-1-138-80318-3 (pbk), xv + 365 pp
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  • Home
  • About
    • Committee
    • Annual reports
  • Environmental Briefs
  • Distinguished Guest Lectures
    • 2022 Disposable Attitude: Electronics in the Environment >
      • Steve Cottle
      • Ian Williams
      • Fiona Dear
    • 2019 Radioactive Waste Disposal >
      • Juliet Long
    • 2018 Biopollution: Antimicrobial resistance in the environment >
      • Andrew Singer
      • Celia Manaia
    • 2017 Inside the Engine >
      • Frank Kelly
      • Claire Holman
      • Jacqui Hamilton
      • Simon Birkett
    • 2016 Geoengineering >
      • Alan Robock
      • Joanna Haigh
      • David Santillo
      • Mike Stephenson
    • 2015 Nanomaterials >
      • Eugenia Valsami-Jones
      • Debora F Rodrigues
      • David Spurgeon
    • 2014 Plastic debris in the ocean >
      • Richard Thompson
      • Norman Billingham
    • 2013 Rare earths and other scarce metals >
      • Thomas Graedel
      • David Merriman
      • Michael Pitts
      • Andrea Sella
      • Adrian Chapman
    • 2012 Energy, waste and resources >
      • RAFFAELLA VILLA
      • PAUL WILLIAMS
      • Kris Wadrop
    • 2011 The Nitrogen Cycle – in a fix?
    • 2010 Technology and the use of coal
    • 2009 The future of water >
      • J.A. (Tony) Allen
      • John W. Sawkins
    • 2008 The Science of Carbon Trading >
      • Jon Lovett
      • Matthew Owen
      • Terry barker
      • Nigel Mortimer
    • 2007 Environmental chemistry in the Polar Regions >
      • Eric Wolff
      • Tim JICKELLS
      • Anna Jones
    • 2006 The impact of climate change on air quality >
      • Michael Pilling
      • GUANG ZENG
    • 2005 DGL Metals in the environment: estimation, health impacts and toxicology
    • 2004 Environmental Chemistry from Space
  • Articles, reviews & updates
    • Articles
    • Reviews
    • Updates
  • Meetings
    • Upcoming meetings
    • Meeting reports
  • Resources
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