The use of stable isotopes in soil science: Metals

Metal isotopes can be used to improve the understanding of the dynamics of chemical elements in the soil–plant–water–atmosphere system. Some bio-physicochemical processes induce metal isotope fractionation, which is measurable by mass spectrometry. Therefore, isotope analysis of metals can contribute to the understanding of pedogenetic processes, metal source, i.e. natural or anthropogenic, as well as the processes affecting them if they induce isotope fractionation.