<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This article presents the concept of geochemical background from an environmental perspective. The idea of establishing the typical concentrations of elements in various environmental compartments, proposed by exploratory geochemists almost 50 years ago was important for the detection of anomalous element concentrations, thus providing a basic tool in the search for new mineral deposits. At present, the knowledge of the geochemical background of hazardous elements is essential for: defining pollution, identifying the source of contamination, and for establishing reliable environmental quality criteria for soils, sediments and surface waters. The article presents geochemical methods of evaluation of anthropogenic influence on the environment and discusses the problem of defining and understanding the term "geochemical background" and related terms in environmental sciences. It also briefly presents methods of geochemical background evaluation based on the results of environmental sample analyses. It stresses the role of geochemical background in our understanding of environmental pollution and pollution prevention.</p></abstract>

This article presents the concept of geochemical background from an environmental perspective. The idea of establishing the typical concentrations of elements in various environmental compartments, proposed by exploratory geochemists almost 50 years ago was important for the detection of anomalous element concentrations, thus providing a basic tool in the search for new mineral deposits. At present, the knowledge of the geochemical background of hazardous elements is essential for: defining pollution, identifying the source of contamination, and for establishing reliable environmental quality criteria for soils, sediments and surface waters. The article presents geochemical methods of evaluation of anthropogenic influence on the environment and discusses the problem of defining and understanding the term "geochemical background" and related terms in environmental sciences. It also briefly presents methods of geochemical background evaluation based on the results of environmental sample analyses. It stresses the role of geochemical background in our understanding of environmental pollution and pollution prevention.

Geochemical background - an environmental perspective

Institute of Chemistry, Geochemistry and the Environment Div., Jan Kochanowski University, 15G Świętokrzyska St., 25-406 Kielce, Poland

Mineralogia

{"article-title":"Geochemical background - an environmental perspective"}

This article presents the concept of geochemical background from an environmental perspective. The idea of establishing the typical concentrations of elements...

Geochemical background - an environmental perspective

Published Online: Jul 04, 2012

Page range: 7 - 17

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10002-011-0002-y

Keywords
geochemical background, environmental quality criteria, anthropogenic impact, pollution source identification

This content is open access.

Geochemical background - an environmental perspective

Published Online: Jul 04, 2012

Page range: 7 - 17

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10002-011-0002-y

Keywordsgeochemical background, environmental quality criteria, anthropogenic impact, pollution source identification

This content is open access.

Keywords
geochemical background, environmental quality criteria, anthropogenic impact, pollution source identification