Ferrosilicon - reaction mass of iron and iron disilicide and iron silicide and silicon

Bioaccumulation: terrestrial

Description of key information

General intrinsic tendency of soluble silica to bioconcentrate in plants is low. Some plants growing at the same locality as others become heavily silicified (e.g. horsetails Casuarina sp.), while others do not. The amount of water passing through the plants is similar (Williams, 1986). There seems to be species specific active control systems to regulate Si concentration within terrestrial plants, systems comparable to known in the aquatic microalgae (diatoms). 
Silicon is not known to be bio concentrated or bio accumulated to soil dwelling organisms at harmfull levels. Certain animal species may take up silicon actively in high amounts to built up their structural elements.
Iron is also one of the major elemental species in soil minerals. Available field monitoring information provides sufficient data on the bioaccumulation potential of iron from soil to terrestrial species. Terrestrial bioaccumulation of Fe and other relevant FeSi metal constituents is not regarded specifically high and detailed information can be found in open literature dealing with environmental properties of metals. These elements are known not to biomagnify in terrestrial food web. 
Williams, R.J.P. (1986) Silicon Biochemistry, Ciba Foundation, Symposium 121, Wiley, ISBN 0-471-91025-2