Thallium in French agrosystems-II. Concentration of thallium in field-grown rape and some other plant species

The aim of this study was to assess thallium (Tl) uptake into the aerial parts of selected crop species grown on French soils with high Tl content of pedogeochemical origin (0.3-40 mg Tl kg(-1) on a dry wt (DW) basis). Husked wheat and maize grains contained less than 4 microg Tl kg(-1) DW, but rape shoots accumulated Tl with a shoot-soil partition coefficient (PC) > 1, and rape seeds had PC > 3. Tl content of rape seed reached 33 mg Tl kg(-1) DW and higher concentrations in soil corresponded to increased concentrations in rape seeds. It is argued that parent material of the soil and pedogenesis have a considerable effect on Tl accumulation in rape seeds. These results show enhanced phytoavailability of Tl of pedogeochemical origin and prompt questions on the potential for food chain contamination by Tl in rape cattle cakes.