Phosphorus-arsenic interaction in the 'soil-plant-microbe' system and its influence on arsenic pollution

Elevated arsenic (As) in soil is of public concern due to the carcinogenicity. Phosphorus (P) strongly influences the adsorption, absorption, transport, and transformation of As in the soil and in organisms due to the similarity of the chemical properties of P and As. In soil, P, particularly inorganic P, can release soil-retained As (mostly ar-senate) by competing for adsorption sites. In plant and microbial systems, P usually reduces As (mainly arsenate) uptake and affects As biotransformation by competing for As transporters. The intensity and pattern of P\\As in-teraction are highly dependent on the forms of As and P, and strongly influenced by various biotic and abiotic fac-tors. An understanding of the P\\As interaction in 'soil-plant-microbe' systems is of great value to prevent soil As from entering the human food chain. Here, we review P\\As interactions and the main influential factors in soil, plant, and microbial subsystems and their effects on the As release, absorption, transformation, and transport in the 'soil-plant-microbe' system. We also analyze the application potential of P fertilization as a control for As pol-lution and suggest the research directions that need to be followed in the future. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Elevated arsenic in soil is a public health concern due to its carcinogenicity, with phosphorus playing a key role in influencing the adsorption and transformation of arsenic in soil and organisms. Understanding the interaction between phosphorus and arsenic is crucial to prevent arsenic from entering the human food chain through the soil-plant-microbe system. The potential application of phosphorus fertilization as a control for arsenic pollution and the need for future research directions are also discussed.