Uptake of Arsenic by Plants in Southwest England

The literature concerning arsenic in soils and plants is reviewed briefly. The uptake of arsenic by a number of plants that colonize sites, contaminated by arsenic from past mining and smelting activities, is described. Plants growing on soil with high As were stunted and displayed a red coloration. Armeria martima operates an exclusion mechanism, with low root/soil concentration ratios. Uptake of arsenic from soil in Calluna vulgaris and Agrostis tenuis show weak correlations with Fe in soil and soil pH. The relative accumulation (leaf/soil ratio) of As in Calluna at one site plotted against soil concentration approximated to a hyberbolic curve.