This book, being part of the Springer Briefs in Molecular Science series, is a concise summary of a range of topics relating to plant adaptation to heavy metals. While quite comprehensive in its coverage with respect to topics included in each chapter, divided into four chapters on toxicity, resistance, hyperaccumulation and phytoremediation, within an 85-page, heavily referenced book, the actual detail for individual subjects is limited. The focus, given the nature of the series in which it is published, is more biochemical, and does not deal with ecological or genetical, beyond stating that genes involved in specific pathways should be considered alongside the biochemistry.

The book would make an excellent advanced BSc- or MSc-level taught course reference guide should metal(loid) tolerances in plants be a subject for extended study. Much of the material covered here has been well-reviewed elsewhere. To be of wider interest, the topics could have gone into considerably more depth. The ‘heavy metal’ remit is a term that I do not particularly like. Heavy ‘elements’ is more technically correct due to the inclusion of metalloids. The term ‘heavy metals’ or ‘heavy elements’ excludes interesting elements to which plants are adapted such as aluminium, boron, iron, fluoride, magnesium, manganese and sodium.