Magnesium

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Magnesium is a grayish-white, fairly tough alkaline earth metal.[1] In the Periodic Table, its symbol is Mg and its atomic number is 12. Magnesium is the eighth most abundant element in the earth's crust. Magnesium metal is flammable and it burns with a very bright light. Magnesium is important to the health of both plants and animals. Chlorophyll, the green chemical that allows plants to perform photosynthesis, is based on magnesium.[2]

Uses

In the Environment

Magnesium is an important nutrient in the soil as plants need it to grow.[3] All soil contains magnesium.

In Sewage Sludge

In the Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey, a 2009 test of 84 samples of sewage sludge from around the U.S., the EPA found magnesium in every sample in concentrations ranging from 696 to 18,400 parts per million.[4]

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

References

  1. WebElements: Magnesium, Accessed August 31, 2010.
  2. WebElements: Magnesium, Accessed August 31, 2010.
  3. John E. Sawyer, "Soil calcium:magnesium ratios", Integrated Crop Management, April 21, 2003, Accessed August 31, 2010.
  4. Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey Report, US EPA website, Accessed August 28, 2010.

External resources

External articles

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