title: Regional differences in plant levels and investigations on the phytotoxicity of lithium.
abstract: The growing use of lithium (Li) in industrial and energetic applications and the inability to completely recycle the alkali metal will most likely increase anthropogenic emissions and environmental concentrations in the future. Although non-essential to plants, Li(+) is an important ultra-trace element in the animal and human diet and is also used in the treatment of e.g. mental disorders. Most of the lithium is consumed with the drinking water and vegetables, but concentrations in foodstuffs vary with the geochemistry of the element. In order to identify potential risks and to avoid an overmedication due to consumption of Li rich or Li contaminated foods it is advisable to identify background levels and to derive recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) for the element. Although Germany does not possess large amounts of primary or secondary resources of lithium, geochemical investigations (mineral and ground waters and soils) in this country confirm a wide variation of environmental concentrations with generally higher levels in the southwest. Despite the large number of soil and water data, only very few data exist on lithium concentrations in plants and its phytotoxicity. Within the scope of present study common grassland plant species were sampled in regions of SW-Germany with reportedly high geogenic levels of Li. The data are discussed with regard to literature surveys and existing reference values. Since lithium has phytotoxic effects a greenhouse experiment was performed with different Li salts (LiCl and Li2CO3) and plant species (maize, bean and buckwheat) to derive dose-response relationships for the endpoint shoot growth. While corn growth was not reduced significantly by soil concentrations of 118 ppm, EC50 values in buckwheat were 47 and 16 ppm for lithium derived from LiCl and Li2CO3, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Landschafts- und Pflanzenökologie (320), FG. Pflanzenökologie und Ökotoxikologie, Ökologiezentrum 2, August-von-Hartmann-Str. 3, D-70599, Stuttgart, Germany. Electronic address: Juergen.Franzaring@uni-hohenheim.de.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Franzaring
authors.affiliation: Universität Hohenheim, Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaftliche Chemie (710), Emil-Wolff-Straße 12, D-70599, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schlosser
authors.affiliation: Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Landschafts- und Pflanzenökologie (320), FG. Pflanzenökologie und Ökotoxikologie, Ökologiezentrum 2, August-von-Hartmann-Str. 3, D-70599, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Damsohn
authors.affiliation: Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Landschafts- und Pflanzenökologie (320), FG. Pflanzenökologie und Ökotoxikologie, Ökologiezentrum 2, August-von-Hartmann-Str. 3, D-70599, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fangmeier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008094:Lithium
keywords: Biomonitoring; EC50; Geochemistry; Li ion batteries; Transition metals