Concentration of heavy metals in the blood plasma of grazing-cattle of the smelter in Mitrovica

In 2014, three sediment cores were collected from the northern [Xinyanggang (XYG)], middle [Chuandonggang (CDG)], and southern [Xiaoyangkou (XYK)] parts of the coastal tidal flats of the North Jiangsu radial sand ridges (NJRSR), East China. The grain size and contents of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Pb and As) in the cores were detected. The features of sediments and the accumulation of heavy metals were also investigated. Multivariate analyses (principal component analysis and correlation analysis) were applied to identify the sources of heavy metals. The enrichment factors (EF) were calculated to estimate the level of contamination stored in these sediments. The results showed that the vertical variations in the contents of heavy metals were compatible with the sedimentary features. The grain size in core XYG became coarser around the 1980s and the contents of heavy metals began to decrease. The grain size in core CDG was suddenly refined around the 1960s and the contents of heavy metals suddenly decreased. The grain size in core XYK coarsened initially before becoming finer and the contents of heavy metals were basically stable. The contents of heavy metals of the NJRSR coastal tidal flat were subject to the sedimentary parent materials of the abandoned Yellow River Delta and the offshore radial sand ridges. Several heavy metals were disturbed by anthropogenic activities after the middle and late 1980s. The content of Cr in core XYG was mainly from industries. The contents of Pb and Zn in core CDG were from agricultural, urban and industrial sources. Cu and As in XYK were from agricultural and industrial sources. The environment of sediments in the study area was generally good, but was polluted by individual elements after industrialisation. Cr in core XYG was moderately and significantly polluting, Pb and Zn in core CDG were lightly polluting, Cu was moderately and significantly polluting, and As was lightly polluting in core XYK.

After the analysis of surface samples and core samples collected in Xinyanggang tidal land, the contents of Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cr were obtained and analyzed in this paper. The heavy metal accumulation rule and pollution status were studied by Index of geo-accumulation, latent ecological risk index method, and elements accumulation index method. The research suggests that (1) the contents of heavy metal Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cr in Xinyanggang tidal land have the same change trend, and such trend remains unchanged after the data were normalized, while the fluctuation range becomes smaller. (2) After analyzing the heavy metal content in the surface samples, it was revealed that the contents of heavy metals are getting lower from high tidal zone to low tidal zone, but the ranges of the change were different. Cu, Ni, and Zn emerge obvious decline from supratidal zone to subtidal zone, while the changes of Cr and Pb are not obvious. (3) Pb and Cr contents in Xinyanggang tidal land present accumulative character, as Pb in Xinyanggang is 3 times as much as the local background value, whose EF reaches 3.774. (4) RI value in Xinyanggang is 23.552, which indicates that though Xinyanggang tidal land has some heavy metal pollution and accumulation, there are no ecosystem risks, and the whole Xinyanggang core area environment quality is relatively good.

It is widely known that anthropogenic activities strongly contributed to heavy metals contamination of the environment. For this reason, distribution of heavy metals in soils and plants around urban and industrial point sources have been the object of extensive studies. Lesser attention has been given to accumulation of heavy metals in animals bred in these polluted environments, and relatively few works are concerned with the accumulation of heavy metals through the food chain. The aim of this work is to examine the distribution of heavy metals in two contaminated environments, a smelter-refinery and a mine area situated in S.W. Sardinia. The first sampling area is located near one of the most important Pb and Zn smelting-refineries of Europe, and the second near abandoned and working mines. In this study, target organs of sheep and lamb were considered for their heavy metals accumulation. Samples of vegetation were collected throughout the vegetative period and analyzed for their Pb, Zn and Cd content. Winter forage and soil were also sampled.

Heavy metals surrounding waste incineration plants undergo cross-media migration and enrich in the soil-water system, resulting in a systematic deterioration of the physical and chemical properties of the soil and posing potential hazards to the ecological environment and human health. Taking the heavy metals in the soil, sediment, surface water, and groundwater around a waste incineration plant in Jiangxi Province as the research objects, descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on the contents (or concentrations) of heavy metals in multi-media. The spatial distribution characteristics of heavy metals within the soil-water system were analyzed, and the sources of heavy metals in the soil were deciphered by comprehensively using correlation analysis and the Absolute Principal Component Analysis-Multiple Linear Regression (APCS-MLR) model. The results showed that heavy metals around the waste incineration plant were mainly enriched in the soil and sediments. The content of Cd in the soil exceeded the risk screening value, and the contents of Cd and Zn exceeded the soil background values in Jiangxi Province. The average values of As, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the sediments exceeded the sediment background values in Jiangxi Province. The concentrations of heavy metals As and Pb in the groundwater exceeded the groundwater standard (Class Ⅲ). The variation coefficients of As and Cd in the soil were 53.97% and 39.84%, respectively, which belonged to a strong variation degree and exhibited obvious characteristics of point source pollution. The average content of Zn in the soil samples was higher than that in the sediment samples, while the contents of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb in the sediments were higher than those in the soil. The results of the correlation analysis between the distance from the riverbank and the cumulative concentration of heavy metals indicated that the concentration of heavy metals in the groundwater was affected by the recharge of surface water. The contents of heavy metals As, Cd, Ni, and Pb in the soil were higher in the southeast wind direction, which was obviously affected by the perennial dominant wind direction of the waste incineration plant, while Cr, Cu, and Zn were not significantly affected by the wind direction. The contents (concentrations) of heavy metals in the sediments and surface water generally showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing along the flow direction of the surface water. The contents (or concentrations) of the other six heavy metals except Cr were higher near the sewage outlet and in the lower reaches of the river, among which the influence of As was the most obvious, which may have been related to the industrial activities of the waste incineration plant. The heavy metals in the soil mainly came from industrial sources of waste incineration, agricultural sources of pesticides and fertilizers, and natural sources of parent materials, with corresponding contribution rates of 31.14%, 28.14%, and 40.72%, respectively. The industrial sources of waste incineration had different degrees of influence on the seven heavy metals. The influence on As and Cd was the most significant; the influence on Ni and Pb was general; and the influence on Cu, Cr, and Zn was relatively weak. Among them, As and Cd mainly came from industrial sources, Ni and Pb mainly came from industrial and natural sources, while Cu, Cr, and Zn mainly came from agricultural and natural sources. It can provide data support and scientific basis for comprehensively investigating the heavy metal pollution status of multi-media and developing strategies for the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution around waste incineration plants.

Fifty typical redevelopment industrial sites in the Putuo, Baoshan, Minhang, and Jiangding districts of Shanghai were chosen to evaluate the ecological risk of heavy metals in the soil. The contents of heavy metal (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, and As) in 1847 soil samples, taken from vertical sections, were determined, and their risks were evaluated using the Nemero composite index and Hakanson potential ecological risk index. The average contents of Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, and As in topsoil samples were 0.33, 0.37, 74.55, 69.23, and 9.05 mg·kg-1, respectively. The contents of Hg, Cd, and Pb exceeded the soil background values of Shanghai, which were 2.75, 2.85, and 2.93 times the background values, respectively. The contents of five heavy metals in soil decreased gradually with increased depth. The contents of heavy metals in deep and saturated soils were close to, or below, the background values, indicating that the anthropic activity disturbance was mainly confined to the topsoil. The accumulation of Hg, Cd, and Pb was the most obvious in Putuo topsoil, with the average contents being 4.25, 4.85, and 3.09 times the background values, respectively. The average contents of Hg and Pb in Baoshan were 4.92 and 6.43 times the background values, respectively. The Nemero Composite Index of Baoshan and Putuo districts were 3.70 and 3.20, respectively, representing heavy pollution level at these sites. The Hakanson potential ecological risk indexes of the Putuo and Baoshang districts were 398.59 and 303.08, respectively, with considerable ecological risk levels. The content and ecological risk of heavy metals at the Minhang and Jiading sites were relatively low. In summary, the pollution of heavy metal in the redeveloped industrial sites is influenced by the operating time, industry type, and past management level of the enterprises. The heavy metal accumulation in the Putuo and Baoshan districts, whose industries developed earlier, were higher than those in the Minhang and Jiading districts. The pollution of heavy metal Hg, Cd, and Pb in soil should be a focus of future work.

In some cases, soil, water and food are heavily polluted by heavy metals in China. To use plants to remediate heavy metal pollution would be an effective technique in pollution control. The accumulation of heavy metals in plants and the role of plants in removing pollutants should be understood in order to implement phytoremediation, which makes use of plants to extract, transfer and stabilize heavy metals from soil and water. The information has been compiled from Chinese publications stemming mostly from the last decade, to show the research results on heavy metals in plants and the role of plants in controlling heavy metal pollution, and to provide a general outlook of phytoremediation in China. Related references from scientific journals and university journals are searched and summarized in sections concerning the accumulation of heavy metals in plants, plants for heavy metal purification and phytoremediation techniques. Plants can take up heavy metals by their roots, or even via their stems and leaves, and accumulate them in their organs. Plants take up elements selectively. Accumulation and distribution of heavy metals in the plant depends on the plant species, element species, chemical and bioavailiability, redox, pH, cation exchange capacity, dissolved oxygen, temperature and secretion of roots. Plants are employed in the decontamination of heavy metals from polluted water and have demonstrated high performances in treating mineral tailing water and industrial effluents. The purification capacity of heavy metals by plants are affected by several factors, such as the concentration of the heavy metals, species of elements, plant species, exposure duration, temperature and pH. Phytoremediation, which makes use of vegetation to remove, detoxify, or stabilize persistent pollutants, is a green and environmentally-friendly tool for cleaning polluted soil and water. The advantage of high biomass productive and easy disposal makes plants most useful to remediate heavy metals on site. Based on knowledge of the heavy metal accumulation in plants, it is possible to select those species of crops and pasturage herbs, which accumulate fewer heavy metals, for food cultivation and fodder for animals; and to select those hyperaccumulation species for extracting heavy metals from soil and water. Studies on the mechanisms and application of hyperaccumulation are necessary in China for developing phytoremediation.

Heavy metal pollution in roadside soil fuel stations has been recognized for a long time of Nasiriyah city, south of Iraq. The study was conducted to examine the heavy metals content of three fuel stations in the nearby soil and control sample from rural area. The accumulation of heavy metals was tested, including the Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), Chrome (Cr) and Arsenic (As). Heavy metals were detected by using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The concentrations of Pb, Ni, Cr, and As in roadside soil was affected by fuel stations. Significant difference (p<0.05) in Pb, Ni, Cr, and As content were found in nearby soil samples of fuel stations compare with control sample. The results showed that urban samples had significantly (p<0.05) higher heavy metals compared to rural samples in all heavy metals studies. The results indicated that the rural area had the lowest heavy metals content compared with nearby soil samples of fuel stations. It could be concluded that impaction of fuel station on the accumulation of heavy metals in roadside soils in urban area was slight.

ISHS International Conference on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Possibilities and Limitations of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Production in the 21st Century INFLUENCE OF SOME SOIL CHARACTERISTICS ON HEAVY METAL CONTENT IN HYPERICUM PERFORATUM L. AND ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM L.

Research has been conducted to determine the concentration of Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) heavy metals in water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in the Indragiri River Waters of Indragiri Hilir Regency in May-July 2016. Determination of the research station was carried out by purposive random sampling by considering environmental conditions based on community activities around the river and the existence of Eichhornia crassipes. The main parameters in this study include the concentration of heavy metals Pb and Cd in river water, sediments and Eichhornia crassipes, and physico-chemical parameters as supporting parameters. The results showed that the average concentration of Pb heavy metals in river water was 0.276 ppm and Cd was 0.126 ppm. The average concentration of heavy metals Pb in sediments was 4.61 ppm and Cd of 0.75 ppm. The accumulation of Pb and Cd Eichhornia crassipest heavy metals is included in the low category, namely the average concentration of Pb heavy metals in the root organ is 3.02 ppm, on the leaf stalk 2.61 ppm, and on the leaves 2.09 ppm. The concentration of heavy metal Cd at the root was 0.47 ppm, at the leaf stalk 0.39 ppm, and at the leaves 0.362 ppm

Pollution status of heavy metals and metalloids in Chinese lakes: Distribution, bioaccumulation and risk assessment

Broussonetia papyrifera, an important fast-growing economic tree species in China, has the advantages of strong adaptability, high-biomass, and high bioconcentration of heavy metals. Sewage sludge contains a great deal of nutrients and heavy metals. Planting B. papyrifera with sewage sludge can achieve the goals of sewage sludge remediation as well as resources production of B. papyrifera. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate growth, uptake and accumulation of nutrient and heavy metal in different organs (root, stem, leaf) of B. papyrifera, with treatments of control (lateritic red soil), 50% sewage sludge (mixed substrates of 50% sewage sludge and 50% lateritic red soil based on weight) and 100% sewage sludge. The comprehensive evaluation of capacity of uptake and accumulation was also carried out by principal component analysis and membership function. The results showed that B. papyrifera could grow normally in both 50% and 100% sewage sludge substrates, with higher plant height and biomass than that in the control, especially in 100% sewage sludge substrate. The quality index in 100% sewage sludge substrate (1.02) was 4.3 times and 2.4 times as that of the control and 50% sewage sludge substrate, respectively. The content of N in different organs and P in stem increased significantly in both 50% and 100% sewage sludge substrates. The content of K in stem and leaf was significantly decreased in 100% sewage sludge substrate, which were significant lower than that of control. The uptake of heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni for B. papyrifera were mainly through roots. There was positive correlation between the content of heavy metals in root and sewage sludge ratio. The content of Pb and Cd in leaves were lower than the limit value of Hygienic Standard For Feeds (GB 13078-2017). The capacity for absorption and accumulation of Cd was better than that of other heavy metals. Compared with the control, rootretention rates of Zn, Pb and Cd significantly increased in both 50% and 100% sewage sludge substrates (57.8%-85.8%), while Cu and Ni significantly increased in 100% sewage sludge substrate (67.5% and 74.8%). Nutrient and heavy metal accumulations in total plant in both 50% and 100% sewage sludge substrates were significantly higher than that in the control, with 100% sewage sludge substrate being significantly higher than that in 50% sewage sludge substrate. Compared with 50% sewage sludge substrate, the increment rates of nutrient and heavy metal accumulations in different organs as well as total plants in 100% sewage sludge substrates were greatly increased. The rank of comprehensive evaluation scores of adaptability, element uptake and accumulation was in an order: 100% sewage sludge substrate (0.848) > 50% sewage sludge substrate (0.344) > control (0.080). With good adaptability to sewage sludge, B. papyrifera could grow normally in sewage sludge andeffectively absorb and fix nutrients and heavy metals. It is feasible to plant B. papyrifera into the sewage sludge for remediation of sewage sludge and resource production.

Heavy metals are regarded as toxic trace elements in the environment. Heavy metal pollution in soil or rice grains is of increasing concern. In this study, 101 pairs of soil and rice samples were collected from the major rice-producing areas along the Yangtze River in China. The soil properties and heavy metal (i.e., Cd, Hg, Pb and Cr) concentrations in the soil and rice grains were analyzed to evaluate the heavy metal accumulation characteristics of the soil-rice systems. The results showed that the Cd, Hg, Pb and Cr concentrations in the soil ranged from 0.10 to 4.64, 0.01 to 1.46, 7.64 to 127.56, and 13.52 to 231.02 mg·kg−1, respectively. Approximately 37%, 16%, 60% and 70% of the rice grain samples were polluted by Cd, Hg, Pb, and Cr, respectively. The degree of heavy metal contamination in the soil-rice systems exhibited a regional variation. The interactions among the heavy metal elements may also influence the migration and accumulation of heavy metals in soil or paddy rice. The accumulation of heavy metals in soil and rice grains is related to a certain extent to the pH and soil organic matter (SOM). This study provides useful information regarding heavy metal accumulation in soil to support the safe production of rice in China. The findings from this study also provide a robust scientific basis for risk assessments regarding ecological protection and food safety.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) planted on heavy metal contaminated soil is a source of toxic elements entering the food chain and thereby posing a threat to human health. The main objective of this study was to investigate heavy metals uptake, translocation, and accumulation differences in iron plaque and rice tissues among the rice cultivars. In the present study, 32 hybrid rice cultivars were cultured on heavy metal contaminated paddy soil. Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn concentrations in rice tissues (root, straw, husk, and brown rice) and in the iron plaques on rice root surfaces were measured. Significant differences of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn tolerance, concentrations and accumulation in 32 rice cultivars were observed. However, no significant difference was observed in concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn in two-line hybrid rice and three-line hybrid rice. The concentrations of Pb in iron plaques were significantly positive linearly correlated with concentrations of Pb in rice roots, and concentrations of Cd and Cu were significantly negative linearly correlated with Cd and Cu in rice roots. The concentrations of heavy metal in brown rice were significantly positively correlated with the translocation factors TFhb (from husk to brown rice) and TFsh (from straw to husk). It indicated that iron plaque plays an important role in mediating heavy metal entering into rice roots, and heavy metal accumulation in brown rice was related to its ability to transfer in the husk and straw rather than the root.

Shallots have been widely planted as the primary commodity crop in Brebes Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. Information on the distribution of heavy metals in the shallot fields of Brebes Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, is not yet available. Hence, the present study was conducted to identify the concentration and spatial distribution of several heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni) and their possible sources in the shallot fields through a field survey and a series of laboratory and statistical tests. The total concentration of heavy metals was analyzed from 184 sampling points of the shallot fields in Brebes Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, during the dry season from August to October 2019. The heavy metals concentration was as follows: Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > Cd. The values of total Pb, Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni concentrations in the soils were 7.84–18.94, 0.99–2.31, 3.02–9.98, 10.40–49.55, and 10.17–26.62 mg kg−1, respectively. All these concentration values of heavy metals are still lower than the critical values for agricultural soils and lower than the topsoil background values except Cd. Based on the concentration of heavy metals, the shallot fields in Brebes Regency, Central Java, are classified as uncontaminated soils. Multivariate and geostatistical analyses were employed to determine and describe the metals’ origin. Pb, Cr, and Ni mainly originate from a natural source, while Cd and Co are from anthropogenic sources (agricultural practices and industry).

Heavy metal pollution in soil and water is a global environmental concern. In Sri Lanka, accumulation of heavy metals in soil, water and plant/animal biomass has been widely reported. Phytoremediation, the use of plants and their associated microbes, is an emerging, low-cost, environmental-friendly approach in the cleanup and prevention of environmental pollution. Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea) has been widely used to extract toxic metals from contaminated soils worldwide. Sri Lanka has a genetically diverse mustard collection, but their phytoextarctive potentials are yet to be determined. Present study was conducted to evaluate variation in phytoextractive ability of soil-borne heavy metals by ten different mustard accessions. Heavy metal contents (Mn, Co, Pb and Zn) in 12-week-old mustard plants (whole plant) were estimated during Maha and Yala in 2007-2008 using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Heavy metal content in soils where the plants were grown was also assessed during the two seasons. Soil Mn and Co concentrations were significantly high in Maha than in Yala. Difference in heavy metal concentrations in mustard accessions between the two seasons was not significant. However, significantly high concentrations of Mn were found in accessions 7788, 515 and 8831 (236, 225, 220x102 μg/g). Cobolt (Co) was significantly high in accession 5088 (238x102 μg/g). Lead (Pb) concentrations were significantly high in accessions 8831 (156x102 μg/g) and 5088 (148x102 μg/g) and Zn was significantly high in accession 501 (6413x102 μg/g). The study suggests that screening the entire mustard germplasm in Sri Lanka is worthwhile to identify potential heavy metal accumulators. Key words: heavy metal hyperaccumulation; phytoremediation DOI: 10.4038/cjsbs.v38i2.1862 Cey. J. Sci. (Bio. Sci.) 38 (2): 85-93, 2009