Soil texture, which refers to the proportion of sand, silt, and clay, significantly impacts the fate of toxicants. Clay soils, due to their small particle size and high surface area, tend to bind heavy metals and organic pollutants more effectively than sandy soils. This binding reduces the bioavailability of contaminants, affecting uptake by plants and organisms. In contrast, sandy soils allow greater percolation of water, which can lead to the leaching of soluble toxicants into groundwater.
