US EPA

1783664 

Journal Article 

Rubidium in the trophic chain soil-plants-animals 

Kosla, T; Skibniewska, E; Debski, B; Urbanska-Slomka, G 

2002 

1 

Trace Elements and Electrolytes
ISSN: 0946-2104 

19 

4 

171-176 

WOS:000178865400001 

According to some specialists, rubidium belongs to ultra trace elements essential for plants and animals. On the basis of the literature data and our own investigations the rubidium contents in soil, plants and animal tissues were analyzed and the factors affecting their contents, and absorption in the trophic chain soil-plants-animals were evaluated. In the soil, the contents of rubidium are inversely correlated with the soil pH, i.e. the highest amount of rubidium can be found in the sour soil. Also, the rubidium intake by plants increases with the lower soil pH. The absorption of rubidium by plants is inhibited by a high potassium level in the soil extract. The rubidium level in plants decreases with age. Depending on the species of plants investigated in Poland, they can be arranged in accordance to the decreasing rubidium level: red clover, greenness growth, wheat and rye. The indispensability of low concentrations of rubidium was demonstrated in animals (a few mg/kg) as well as the toxicity of this element (> 1000 mg/kg). The passage of rubidium concentrations naturally occurring from plants to animal tissues is difficult to prove. Animal brain and rib accumulate small amounts of this element, irrespective of its natural contents in plants. 

rubidium; soil; plants; animal tissues