Pollution and Contamination: An Archaeological Perspective and Contribution Through Animal Teeth

Hair and/or nail analyses are sometimes used in biomonitoring studies due to the convenience of sample collection, storage, and transport, as well as the potential to assess past exposures to toxic metals, such as lead (Pb). However, the validity of Pb measurements in these keratinized matrices as biomarkers of absorbed dose remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the uptake of Pb into horns harvested postmortem from 11 goats that received a cumulative oral dose of up to 151 g Pb acetate over a period of 1–11 years as part of a long-term blood Pb proficiency testing program. Uptake of Pb into keratinized horn was compared to the corresponding underlying bony horn core, which, as part of the bone compartment, provided a measure of absorbed Pb dose. Two complementary analytical techniques were used to assess Pb: X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Detectable amounts of Pb were found in all keratinized horn samples (0.45–6.6 µg/g) and in all but one bony core sample (1.4–68 µg/g). In both bony core and keratinized horn samples, Pb accumulation increased with dose over a low-to-moderate cumulative-dose interval, consistent with previous observations, but plateaued at higher doses. Significant associations were observed between Pb in keratinized horn and bony core samples particularly with XRF measurements, which represent the surface bone compartment. These findings provide evidence that Pb is excreted in keratinized tissues but reflects only a small fraction of the absorbed Pb dose, likely transferred from underlying bone tissue.

Physical characterization of mixed HfAlOx layers by complementary analysis techniques

Traditionally, bioassays are used to assess the toxicity of chemicals. Bioassays often focus on one specific mode of action or end point and their responses offer a limited understanding of the health status and underlying pathways of the species under consideration. Metabolomics can be used to detect hundreds of metabolites in which each metabolite, or set of metabolites, represents short term and long term changes, indicating the status of the organism. The effects of the herbicide diuron, one of the compounds of concern for European water bodies, on the marine microalgae Dunaliella tertiolecta were investigated through non-target metabolomic profiling and bioassay testing. The pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) fluorometry bioassay was employed to measure the effective photosystem II efficiency (ϕPSII), while non-target metabolomic profiling using complementary analytical techniques characterized the metabolomic response in the algae during diuron exposure. The use of complementary analytical techniques was necessary to identify a broad range of metabolites. Twenty-eight compounds were identified as metabolites affected by diuron exposure, including several amino acids, adenosine, lactic acid, and citric acid. Collectively, these metabolites indicated that diuron negatively affects energy processes in the algae both at the citric acid cycle pathway as well as on the amino acid metabolism at realistic environmental concentrations. In addition, dose-response relationships were found between a number of affected metabolites and the inhibition of the ΦPSII of D. tertiolecta. Non-target metabolomic profiling using complementary analytical techniques proved to have additional and complementary benefits to traditional toxicology tests.

The aim of this study was to characterize three batches of albendazole by pharmacopeial and complementary analytical techniques in order to establish more detailed specifications for the development of pharmaceutical forms. The ABZ01, ABZ02, and ABZ03 batches had melting points of 208 ºC, 208 ºC, and 209 ºC, respectively. X-ray diffraction revealed that all three batches showed crystalline behavior and the absence of polymorphism. Scanning electron microscopy showed that all the samples were crystals of different sizes with a strong tendency to aggregate. The samples were insoluble in water (5.07, 4.27, and 4.52 mg mL-1, respectively) and very slightly soluble in 0.1 M HCl (55.10, 56.90, and 61.70 mg mL-1, respectively) and additionally showed purities within the range specified by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia 5th edition (F. Bras. V; 98% to 102%). The pharmacopeial assay method was not reproducible and some changes were necessary. The method was validated and showed to be selective, specific, linear, robust, precise, and accurate. From this characterization, we concluded that pharmacopeial techniques alone are not able to detect subtle differences in active pharmaceutical ingredients; therefore, the use of other complementary techniques is required to ensure strict quality control in the pharmaceutical industry.

This paper presents an affordable methodology for the analysis of the crosslinking, by polycondensation reaction, between maltodextrin and citric acid under thermal processing. This methodology is based on three complementary analytical techniques: Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and rheometry. FTIR has been found to be a powerful technique for the characterization of both the esterification reaction and other non-covalent interactions between maltodextrin and citric acid. TGA has been mainly applied to quantify the progress of the polycondensation reaction. Rheometry has been extensively used to understand the crosslink formation resulting from the polycondensation process between maltodextrin and citric acid, allowing the determination of the gel time. Furthermore, these techniques have revealed added value when used as complementary techniques. For instance, the FTIR results supported the conclusions from the study of polycondensation reaction progress by TGA. Similarly, the TGA results about the polycondensation reaction temperature are consistent with the rheology study. Overall, the insightfulness and accuracy of the methodology presented in this paper make it very useful as a tool to optimize industrial processing of materials which apply binding systems based on maltodextrin and citric acid.

Assessment by a multi-technique approach of PtNPs' transformations in waters under relevant environmental concentrations and conditions

During a preliminary field campaign of volatile organic compound (VOC) measurements carried out in an urban area, two complementary analysis techniques were applied to establish the technical and scientific bases for a strategy to monitor and control VOCs and photochemical oxidants in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country. Integrated sampling was conducted using Tenax sorbent tubes and laboratory analysis by gas chromatography, and grab sampling and in situ analysis also were conducted using a portable gas chromatograph. With the first technique, monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons appeared as the compounds with the higher mean concentrations. The second technique allowed the systematic analysis of eight chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons. Results of comparing both techniques, as well as the additional information obtained with the second technique, are included.

The low-cycle fatigue (LCF) damage micromechanisms are studied in a duplex stainless steel at room temperature using complementary analysis techniques. Surface damage is observed in real-time with an in-situ microscopic device during a low-cycle fatigue test. Slip systems activated in each grain in each phase are identified from SEM photographs and EBSD measurements. The surface relief appeared at the end of the test is measured with an interferometric profilometer. Displacement and strain fields on the microstructural scale are calculated using DIC technique from surface images taken during cycling. Observations were combined to analyse damage mechanisms from slip marking appearance to strain localisation and crack initiation.

Redox potential and pH are two of the major factors influencing the mobilization and immobilization of heavy metals in flooded soils and sediments, and their availability to plants. A system developed for growing plants in soil suspensions where redox potential and pH can be controlled was used to study the uptake of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) by rice plants (Oryza sativa L.). Uptake of Cd and Pb by root and shoot tissue, and their translocation from root to shoot, was determined at six different redox potentials (−200, −100, 0, +100, +200, and +400 mV) and four pH values (5, 6, 7, and 8). The effects of redox potential and pH on the levels of water‐soluble Cd and Pb in the soil suspensions were also studied. Almost all Cd entering the rice plants accumulated in the shoots. Total Cd uptake and shoot uptake increased with an increase in suspension redox potential and a decrease in pH. Water‐soluble Cd in the soil suspension was significantly correlated with total plant Cd and Cd uptake by shoot. Total Pb uptake, including Pb associated with the roots, decreased with an increase in suspension redox potential and pH. Uptake of Pb by shoot decreased with an increase in pH. No definite redox potential effect was found on Pb uptake by the shoot. Lead was less mobile than Cd in the rice plants and was primarily associated with the roots. Water‐soluble Pb decreased with an increase in redox potential and pH, and was significantly correlated with total plant Pb uptake and Pb uptake by shoot.

• Pb and Zn in soil ofa the Innerste floodplain exceed precautionary limits. • Concentrations of Pb and Zn in soils and blackberries are positively correlated. • Uptake and translocation of Pb and Zn are reduced at higher soil levels. • R. fruticosus is a useful bioindicator but unsuited for phytoremediation. Heavy metals transported by rivers are deposited in sediments and floodplains, and floodplain soils act as both sinks and sources of these metals. The Innerste River is contaminated by historical metal ore mining, processing, and smelting in the Harz Mountains (Germany). Our study compared the uptake of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in wild blackberries ( Rubus fruticosus L. agg.) growing within and outside the Innerste floodplain in a downstream area. The potential of blackberries as bioindicators and for phytoremediation of soils polluted by Pb and Zn was assessed based on bioconcentration factors (BCF) and the intra-plant mobility of the two metals based on translocation (TF) factors. Concentrations of Pb and Zn were significantly higher in soils and blackberry plants from the Innerste floodplain compared to adjacent non-flooded area, while soil pH and organic matter content did not differ significantly between the two zones. Mean concentrations (mg/kg d.w.) of Pb (1457.2) and Zn (1365.2) in the regularly flooded soils far exceeded the precautionary limits of the German Federal Soil Protection and Contaminated Sites Ordinance. Concentrations of both heavy metals in blackberry roots and leaves increased with their levels in soil. Except for BCF Root Pb, BCFs and TFs decreased exponentially with increasing heavy metal concentration in soil and roots, respectively. This indicates that the uptake of Pb and Zn by R. fruticosus and their translocation within the plant are reduced at higher soil levels of both heavy metals. BCF < 1 were determined for both heavy metals and a TF < 1 for Pb. Only blackberries growing outside the floodplain showed a TF > 1 for Zn. Our results indicate that blackberries can be used as bioindicators of soil contamination by Pb and Zn. Regarding their uptake characteristics, blackberries constitute excluders rather than accumulators, and are thus unsuited for phytoremediation.

Climate change is anticipated to have significant adverse effects on both human and animal health. Changes in temperature of the air, precipitation, relative humidity, frequency and the intensity of extreme events are among the environmental factors that can directly or indirectly affect the health of the animal. A wide range of animal species can act as pollution indicators which includes farm and domestic animals. Animals act according to physiological patterns of behavioural changes in response to changing climate and environmental pollutants. Environmental pollutants represent negative stimuli and stressors. Among environmental pollutants air pollution can contaminate all surfaces and poses a significant threat to the environment and all living things. In addition, water pollution also poses a significant environmental issue caused by various human activities and natural sources such as soil erosion, mineral leaching from rocks, and organic matter decay. Exposure to certain pollutants can affect the behavioural changes in animals and humans, such as causing disorientation, difficulty connecting with others, reproductive, digestive and respiratory difficulties. Data on behavioural changes in animals following brief or prolonged exposure to different environmental contaminants have been collected from a number of studies for this review. The focus is to understand the effects of environmental pollutants and stressors on haematological parameters and immune system of animals that affects the productivity, reproduction and normal health of the animals.

Effects of inorganic and organic amendments on the uptake of lead and trace elements by Brassica chinensis grown in an acidic red soil

The task of lipid analysis and profiling is taking centre stage in many research fields and as a consequence, there has been an intense effort to develop suitable methodologies to discover, identify, and quantify lipids in the systems investigated. Given the high complexity and diversity of the lipidome, researchers have been challenged to afford thorough knowledge of all the lipid species in a given sample, by gathering the data obtained by complementary analytical techniques. In this research, an "omic" approach was developed to quickly fingerprint lipids in the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), by exploiting multidimensional and hyphenated techniques. In detail, two-dimensional comprehensive hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to reversed-phase liquid chromatography afforded both class-type separation and lipid assignment within the total lipid species in the sample, by the coupling of a 2.1-mm I.D. partially porous stationary phase in the first dimension, to a short (50mm) monodisperse octadecylsilica secondary column; individual molecular species were afterwards identified by means of their ion trap-time of flight mass spectra obtained by electrospray ionization. More than 200 neutral and polar lipids were identified, and among the latter, phosphatydylcholine and phosphatydylethanolamine were the most represented classes, together with their mono-acylated forms, plasmanyl and plasmenyl derivatives. Subsequently, separation of the saturated and unsaturated isomers of the fatty acids (including the saturated C16:0 and the polyunsaturated C22:6) in the offline collected phospholipid fractions was accomplished by gas chromatography analysis of the corresponding methyl esters, on a 200m × 0.25mm, 0.2μm d f ionic liquid column.

Chemical contaminants in blood and their implications in chronic diseases

Heavy metal toxicity reduces the growth and development of crop plants growing in metal-contaminated regions. Disposal of industrial waste in agricultural areas has negative effects on the physiochemical activities of plants. This research aimed to examine the fulvic acid (FA)-mediated efficacy of Brassica napus L. regarding stress tolerance in soil amended with paper sludge (PS). For this purpose, plants were grown for 90 days under greenhouse conditions at various concentrations of PS-amended soils (0, 5, 10, and 15%) being irrigated with water containing FA (0, 10, and 20%). All the physicochemical parameters of PS were carried out before and after plant transplantation. Paper sludge toxicity reduced the growth (shoot/root length, fresh/dry weight of shoot/root, numbers of flowers and leaves) and physicochemical characteristics of exposed B. napus plants. In comparison, FA application improved growth by reducing the metal uptake in the shoot of plants grown at various concentrations of PS. An increasing trend in antioxidant enzyme activity was observed by increasing the FA concentration (0%-10% and 20%). Post-harvest analysis indicated that the amount of tested metals was significantly reduced at all PS concentrations. Minimum metal uptake was observed at 0% concentration and maximum at 15% concentration of paper sludge. Additionally, FA application at 20% concentration reduced Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), and Lead (Pb) uptake in the shoot from 6.08, 34.42, and 20.6 mgkg−1 to 3.62, 17.33, and 15.22 mgkg−1, respectively. At this concentration of paper sludge in the root, 20% FA reduced Cr, Cd, and Pb uptake from 11.19, 44.11, and 35.5 mgkg−1 to 7.88, 27.01, and 24.02 mgkg−1, respectively. Thus, FA at 20% concentration was found to be an effective stimulant to mitigate the metal stress in B. napus grown in paper sludge-polluted soil by reducing metal uptake and translocation to various plant parts.