The chemical properties of organics of health concern – hydrophobic and not water soluble - results in a low bioavailability to plants. Plant growth is dependent on the water solubility of nutrients and minerals and water is the transporting vector. Organics with a low water solubility will therefore not be taken up by plants. The presence of organic environmental pollutants, like dioxins and PCBs in agricultural crops is more the result of atmospheric deposition than direct absorption from contaminated soil. The analytical procedures for many organics are complicated and expensive – dioxins are a good example – which is an.
