Thallium in plants

Owing to its possible toxic effect on plants or its accumulation in edible plant parts, high content of thallium in soils has to be considered as a hazard for the environment. The purpose of this paper is to review the most recent data regarding content, phytotoxicity, bioavailability, translocation and accumulation of the metal in plants leading to possible damage to the food chain. At the present time severe detrimental effects on crops or acute poisoning of a population induced by ingestion of thallium polluted plant parts have been scarcely observed. However, chronic toxicity resulting from continuous intake of thallium originating from plants can occur in some areas.