Preface: Special Issue on Environmental Toxicology of Trace Metals

Vera Slaveykova,Giulia Cheloni

doi:10.3390/environments5120138

Abstract

Trace metals (TMs) have a central role in the functioning of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. [...]

Highlights

Trace metals (TMs) have a central role in the functioning of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Both essential and toxic trace metals are involved in different chemical, biological, and physical processes that determine their concentrations, speciation, reactivity, and impact on the biota
Several metals were included on the list of priority substances of environmental concern, whereas technology-critical elements (TCEs), such as rare-earth elements (REEs) and platinum group metals (PGMs) emerge as contaminants
Important advances were achieved in the past decades with respect to the fundamental understanding of trace metal behavior in the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, as well as the role of different modifying factors

Summary

Introduction

Trace metals (TMs) have a central role in the functioning of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Both essential and toxic trace metals are involved in different chemical, biological, and physical processes that determine their concentrations, speciation, reactivity, and impact on the biota.

Results

Conclusion