The role of humic substances in detoxification process of the environment / Rola substancji humusowych w procesach detoksykacji środowiska

Chemical pollution of anthropogenic origin such as heavy metals, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls are some of serious threats to the environment. Their main sources are industry, transport, and agriculture. Chemical substances pollute the air, water and soil, where ultimately most of them reach and accumulate.

Soil constituent involved in the adsorption of impurities is organic matter (OM), the structure of which can be divided into three fractions: humic acids (HA), fulvic acids (FA) and humin (H). The impact of pollution with OM allows the presence of active functional groups, among others, -OH, -COOH, -NH₃, -OCH₃. Strongly adsorbed contaminants are not available for soil microorganisms.