Aqueous Solution Of Lead Acetate Research Articles

Antitoxic activity of spruce cone extract in acute lead acetate poisoning in experiment

Introduction. Lead contamination is continuing worldwide. The development of new effective drugs for lead poisoning is an urgent task. The aim of the work is to evaluate the effectiveness of dry aqueous extract of spruce cones in lead poisoning. Materials and methods. The experiment was carried out on 24 white mongrel rats of both sexes. Animals of the studied groups were administered aqueous solution of lead acetate. The animals of the third group were treated with the extract of cones of common spruce (extract) by intragastric administration 3 times a week for a month. Animals of the fourth group were treated with polypheman by intragastric administration 3 times a week for a month. The elemental composition of tissue samples of animals of the studied groups was determined on energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer QUANT’X. The free radical reaction with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl was used to determine the antioxidant activity of the extract. Results. In groups of animals injected with lead acetate solution and treated with the extract and the comparison preparation polyphepan, a decrease in lead content in bones and brain tissues was observed compared to the content in animals injected with lead acetate solution without treatment. No effect of the extract on the motor function of the intestine was revealed. When determining the antiradical activity, it was found that the extract showed a pronounced ability to bind free radicals, comparable to the known antioxidant rutin. Discussion. The use of the extract allows effective excretion of lead and prevents its deposition in bone tissue. Due to the ability of procyanidins to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, the extract is effective in brain damage caused by lead. The extract will also be effective in relieving oxidative stress resulting from lead poisoning. Conclusion. The dry aqueous extract of cones of common spruce shows the ability to reduce the lead content in bones and brain tissues in comparison with the group that did not receive treatment for lead acetate poisoning. The extract is able not only to effectively reduce the lead content in the body, but also to fight the consequences of poisoning, due to its pronounced antiradical activity.

EFFECT OF THE FEED ADDITIVE BUTASELMEVIT-PLUS ON THE ANTIOXIDANT STATUS OF THE RAT BODY DUE TO CADMIUM AND LEAD INTOXICATION

The relevance of the study subject is due to the need to create effective methods for preventing the poisoning of animals with heavy metals because lead and cadmium are among the environmental pollutants that negatively affect agriculture and are potentially dangerous to animal and human health. The purpose of the study was to establish the effect of the feed additive Butaselmevit-Plus on the antioxidant protection of the rat body under the chronic action of cadmium and lead. Experimental studies were performed on 2 groups of male rats, 6 animals each. In the control and experimental groups, rats were given a 16.6% aqueous solution of lead acetate at a dose of 100 mg/kg (0.6 ml/kg) of body weight and 0.029% aqueous solution of cadmium chloride at a dose of 2.0 mg/kg (6.9 ml/kg) of body weight. In the experimental group, the rats were additionally provided with food containing the feed additive Butaselmevit-Plus in the amount of 0.1 g per 100 g of body weight. Experimental lead-cadmium toxicosis in the blood serum of rats demonstrated a substantial decrease in the indicators of the antioxidant protection system (reduced glutathione – by 38.4%, superoxide dismutase – by 27.6%, catalase – by 22.7%). On the fourteenth day of the experiment, the lowest activity of the antioxidant protection system indicators in the blood of control rats was observed with the combined administration of heavy metals. Under the experimental load of lead and cadmium, the feed additive Butaselmevit-Plus demonstrated antioxidant properties, which is due to its chemical composition (milk thistle, selenium, methionine, and vitamins). The introduction of the feed additive Butaselmevit-Plus to the rats of the experimental group contributed to an increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the blood serum by 22.7 and 20.7%, respectively. When providing this feed additive to rats of the experimental group, an increase in the level of reduced glutathione was also identified, which reached its maximum value on the 28th day of the experiment. Thus, the results of the study confirm the effectiveness of using the supplement Butaselmevit-Plus to improve the antioxidant status of animals in conditions of chronic intoxication of the rat body with lead and cadmium. The practical value of the results obtained is to substantiate the feasibility of using the feed additive Butaselmevit-Plus in animal husbandry to prevent the negative impact of heavy metals on the animal body

INTENSITY OF LIPID PEROXIDAL OXIDATION PROCESSES IN RATS' BLOOD AT CONTINUOUS CADMIUM AND LEAD LOAD

Lead and Cadmium are attributed to thiol poisons due to their ability to bind to SH groups of proteins. The aim of the study was to study the effect of Cadmium and Lead salts on the intensity of lipid peroxidation processes in the blood of rats. The experiments were performed on male rats of the Wistar line, weighing 200–220 g, from which 4 groups of animals were formed: control and 3 experimental groups. Control rats were administered drinking water through a metal probe in a volume equivalent to the volume of aqueous solution of Cd2 + and Pb2 + salts. The animals of the first experimental group were administered a 0.029% aqueous solution of cadmium chloride at a dose of 4.0 mg / kg. Animals of the second experimental group were administered a 16.6% aqueous solution of lead acetate at a dose of 200 mg / kg. Animals of the third experimental group were administered 16.6% aqueous lead acetate solution at a dose of 100 mg / kg and 0.029% aqueous cadmium chloride solution at a dose of 2.0 mg / kg.
 The administration of cadmium chloride and lead acetate to the body leads to the accumulation in the blood of rats of the experimental groups of both intermediate and final products of lipid peroxidation. A significant increase in the level of lipid peroxidation products was observed in the blood of rats of all three study groups from the first day of the experiment. With cadmium and lead combined, rats were found to have the highest levels of diene conjugates and TBA-active products compared to the first and second experimental groups. On the 28th day of the experiment, the level of lipid peroxidation oxidation products in the blood of rats of the third experimental group increased by 76.1%, and the level of TBA-active products - by 38.4% relative to the control group. These changes in the level of lipid peroxidation products indicate an increase in the intensity of radical formation processes. Peroxide oxidation forms, at almost all stages of its course, a number of products that result from the interaction of free radicals with each other and with biological macromolecules.
 The investigations made it possible to reveal the pathogenesis of Cadmium and Lead toxic effects on the rat organism more deeply and to use these data in the development of antidote for cadmium-lead intoxication.

The Effect of Substrate Temperature on The Structure and Morphologies of PbS Thin Films Deposited by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis

In this work, we aimed to deposit PbS thin films at relatively low temperature and therefore thin films were deposited onto preheated glass substrates at 473 K and 523 K by ultrasonically spraying of equimolar aqueous solution of lead acetate and thiourea. The thickness of deposited thin films was determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) prior to investigate physical properties of deposited PbS films. In order to investigate structural and morphological properties of PbS thin films, x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) images were obtained. Crystal structure, mean crystallite size, lattice parameters, micro-strain of deposited thin films were evaluated by means of XRD patterns and it was seen that deposited PbS thin films were successfully obtained in polycrystalline form with cubic crystal structure. Also lattice parameter of a was calculated as 5.866 Å and 5.870 Å for thin films deposited at 473 K and 523 K, respectively. Additionally, the surface roughness of PbS thin films was determined via AFM images as 5.8 nm and 9.9 nm in non-contact mode. The obtained results confirm that deposition of PbS thin films can be successfully achieved at relatively low temperature.

Violations of early cardiac morphogenesis under conditions of administration of lead acetate.

Background. Lead compounds cause marked nonspecific morphofunctional changes in the vascular system. The negative influence of lead on the microcirculatory bed of the heart is established. In acute intoxication, first compensatory hypertrophy of the myocardium occurs, and in chronic cases structural changes in the form of a decrease in heart mass and left ventricular mass, development of uneven dilatation of the ventricular cavities, restructuring of the vascular bed and development of connective tissue. Objective. The study of histological and morphometric changes in the heart in the early postnatal period of development under conditions of administration of lead acetate. Methods. The effect of lead acetate on cardiac morphogenesis was modeled by administering the solution to pregnant animals intragastrically through the probe once a day throughout the gestation period. Animals of the study group received a 2.5% aqueous solution of lead acetate at a rate of 50 mg/kg of rat body weight per day. The females of the control group received distilled water. At 1, 5 and 7 days after birth, offspring were seized for the study of the morphogenesis of the heart. The heart was drawn and fixed in a 10% formalin solution. Samples were made from histological sections and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Morphometry of the heart was performed using software. The statistical evaluation was carried out using nonparametric methods. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Intergroup difference was determined by the Kruskal-Wallis criterion. Results. The structural basis of the disturbed morphogenesis is toxic damage to the myocardium and endocardium, which consisted in cell death and reduction of the cellular composition in the corresponding walls of the heart. At the same time, the increased density of nuclei in various phases of mitosis was recorded in the ventricular myocardium, which can be evaluated as a manifestation of regenerative processes. Such results indicate the polymorphism of the morphology of cardiomyocytes, the expansion of the vessels of the microcirculatory bed, as well as the considerable proliferation of connective tissue in the wall of the vessels and between the muscle fibers, and rarely mark the infiltration of leukocytes. Сonclusion. Morphological manifestations of dystrophic changes and initiation of the inflammatory reaction were revealed, and lesions were nonspecific for the atrium and ventricle and mainly consisted of interstitial edema.

Preventive use of berberine in inhibition of lead-induced renal injury in rats.

The kidney is one of the main organs affected by lead toxicity. We investigated the effects of berberine on lead-induced nephrotoxicity in adult male Wistar rats. Animals received an aqueous solution of lead acetate (500mgPb/L in the drinking water) and/or berberine (50mg/kg, i.g.) for 8weeks. Lead caused an increase in malondialdehyde (P< 0.001) and total oxidant status (P < 0.01), and a decrease in reduced glutathione (P < 0.001), catalase (P < 0.01), superoxide dismutase (P < 0.001), and total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.05). Berberine prevented the prooxidant and antioxidant imbalance induced by lead (P < 0.001). Berberine corrected the increased relative kidney weight (P < 0.05) and biomarkers of renal function (creatinine (P < 0.001), urea (P < 0.05), uric acid (P < 0.001), albumin (P < 0.01), and total protein (P < 0.05)) in lead group. It also attenuated lead-induced abnormal renal structure. The results confirmed renoprotective effects of berberine in an animal model of lead-induced nephrotoxicity by molecular, biochemical, and histopathological analysis through inhibiting lipid peroxidation and enhancing antioxidant defense system mechanisms. Therefore, berberine makes a good candidate to protect against the deleterious effect of chronic lead intoxication.

In situ generated Pb nanoclusters on basic lead carbonate ultrathin nanoplates as an effective heterogeneous catalyst

Hexagonal ultrathin nanoplates of basic lead carbonates were synthesized in aqueous lead acetate solution under ambient conditions. The sizes of the nanoplates were found to reach several hundreds of nanometers to micrometers, whereas the plate thickness was only several nanometers, corresponding to 3, 4, or 5 stacking layers along the c-axis. These nanoplates exhibited effective catalytic properties for the hydrogenation of nitroarenes, such as nitrobenzene, 4-nitroaniline, and 4-nitrophenol, and other organic dyes, such as methylene blue and methyl orange in aqueous solutions in the presence of KBH4. Pb nanoclusters were generated in situ during the catalytic process and were well dispersed on the surface of the nanoplates, leading to the formation of a zero-dimensional/two-dimensional (0D/2D) heterostructure. It was also found that the heterostructure exhibited different catalytic behaviors for the hydrogenation of the compounds mentioned above due to the different molecular structures and different adsorption and desorption abilities of the reactants and products. Such a heterostructure can be also anticipated to be an effective photocatalyst due to its strong UV-light absorption, the ultrathin characteristics of the highly crystalline nanoplates and the transfer abilities of the Pb nanoparticles.

Effects of isoquinoline alkaloid berberine on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant defense system, and liver damage induced by lead acetate in rats

Objectives: Liver is considered a target organ affected by lead toxicity. Oxidative stress is among the mechanisms involved in liver damage. Here we investigated the effects of the natural alkaloid berberine on oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity induced by lead in rats.Methods: Animals received an aqueous solution of lead acetate (500 mg Pb/l in the drinking water) and/or daily oral gavage of berberine (50 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. Rats were then weighed and used for the biochemical, molecular, and histological evaluations.Results: Lead-induced oxidative stress, shown by increasing lipid peroxidation along with a concomitant decrease in hepatic levels of thiol groups, total antioxidant capacity, the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase, and reduced versus oxidized glutathione ratio. Berberine corrected all the disturbances in oxidative stress markers induced by lead administration. Berberine also prevented the elevated levels of enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase) and the decrease in body weight and albumin. The protective effects of berberine were comparable with silymarin. Furthermore, berberine attenuated liver damage, shown by decreased necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration.Discussion: Berberine represents a potential therapeutic option against lead-induced hepatotoxicity through inhibiting lipid peroxidation and enhancing antioxidant defenses.Conclusion: Berberine exerted protective effects on lead-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in rats.

Bioactive peptide carnosin protects against lead acetate-induced hepatotoxicity by abrogation of oxidative stress in rats

abstractContext Oxidative stress is a common mechanism of liver injury. Carnosine is a dipeptide having strong antioxidant effects.Objectives We investigated the effects of carnosine on lead-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats.Materials and methods Animals received an aqueous solution of lead acetate (500 mg Pb/L in the drinking water) and/or daily oral gavage of carnosine (10 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. Rats were then weighed and used for the biochemical (commercial kits), molecular (standard chemical methods) and histological (microscopic) evaluations.Results Lead-induced oxidative stress in liver tissue was indicated by a significant increase in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) (8.25 ± 0.15 nmol/mg) as well as decrease in the level of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (1.72 ± 0.25 μmol/g) and total thiol (SH) groups) 1.9 ± 0.22 μmol/g). Carnosine treatment decreased MDA (4 ± 0.08 nmol/mg), whereas it increased the contents of total thiol (3.25 ± 0.04 μmol/g) and TAC (3.44 ± 0.32 μmol/g) in the lead group. Carnosine also prevented the decreased body weight (p < 0.001), albumin (p < 0.05) and total protein levels (p < 0.001) and increased liver weight (p < 0.05) and activates of hepatic enzymes (p’s < 0.001) (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase) in the lead group. Furthermore, histopathological study showed that carnosine attenuates liver damage by decreasing necrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells.Conclusion Carnosine prevented lead-induced hepatotoxicity, indicated by molecular, biochemical and histopathological analyses through inhibiting lipid peroxidation and enhancing antioxidant defence systems. Therefore, carnosine makes a good candidate to protect against the deleterious effect of chronic lead intoxication.

Synthesis of films of solid solutions Cd x Pb1 − x S by the method of ion-exchange substitution

The possibility of obtaining films of substitutional solid solutions in a sulfide system via ionic exchange at the interface between the CdS film and the aqueous solution of a lead salt has been shown. The composition, structure, and morphology of freshly deposited films of CdS, PbS, and CdS layers held for 60–540 min at 353–368 K in an aqueous solution of lead acetate have been studied. It has been established by the methods of Raman spectroscopy (RS) and glancing-angle X-ray diffraction (GAXRD) that, due to ion-exchange processes, the formation of supersaturated substitutional solid solutions CdxPb1 − xS (x ≤ 0.31) occurs in the film, the cadmium content in which decreases gradually over the film thickness.

Comparative studies on the structural, morphological, optical, and electrical properties of nanocrystalline PbS thin films grown by chemical bath deposition using two different bath compositions

High-quality lead sulfide (PbS) thin films were synthesized by chemical bath deposition from two baths with different compositions. One of them (bath-І) contained an aqueous solution of lead acetate, thiourea, sodium hydroxide, and the second (bath-ІІ) had additional triethanolamine. The introduction of triethanolamine reduced the grain size and increased the optical band gap of the PbS nanoparticles. The structure, morphology, and optical properties of the obtained films were investigated and compared with respect to the deposition time. X-ray diffraction data were used to obtain the crystallite size, lattice constant, and strain of the films. Atomic force microscopy results show that the roughness and rms-surface slope of the samples obtained from bath-I (PbS-I) were higher than those of bath-II (PbS-II) samples. PbS thin films with high reflectance (~61%) in the near-infrared region, which is important in our solar system, were obtained. The band gap, extinction coefficient, and refractive index of the samples were calculated. Furthermore, Raman analysis was performed and electrical properties of the samples were studied.

Shape-Controlled Synthesis of PbCrO&lt;SUB&gt;4&lt;/SUB&gt; Micro/Nanostructures and Their Luminescent Properties

PbCrO4 with different morphologies have been synthesized via a facile sonochemical route from an aqueous solution of lead acetate and potassium dichromate in the presence of nitrilotriacetate acid (H3NTA). The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The pH and the concentration of complexing reagent were found to have close relation with morphology of the final product. The possible growth mechanism of PbCrO4 microcube has been proposed. UV-Vis spectra and room-temperature photoluminescence of the PbCrO4 micro/nanostructures have also been investigated. Results showed that all the samples possessed strong photoluminescence (PL) properties, suggesting that the micro/nanostructures could be used in novel optoelectronic devices.

Synthesis of size and shape controlled PbS nanocrystals and their self-assembly

Monodisperse PbS nanocrystals (NCs) with various sizes and shapes have been prepared by controlling the thermal decomposition of thioacetamide (TAA) in aqueous solution of lead acetate (Pb(Ac) 2), with the assistance of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant. The sizes and shapes of PbS NCs are modulated by simply adjusting the concentration of sulfide resource in TAA. Size decreases and shape changes from octahedral to cubic are observed with the increase of TAA concentration. Furthermore, a detailed growth mechanism is proposed, based on the experimental results of changing the concentrations of CTAB and Pb(Ac) 2. It is very interesting to notice that the synthesized PbS NCs self-assemble into diverse superlattices, and the assembly structure strongly depends on the shape of PbS NCs.

Increased Lipid Peroxidation and Ascorbic Acid Utilization in Testis and Epididymis of Rats Chronically Exposed to Lead

The hypothesis has been recently presented that lead may exert its negative effect at least partially through the increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in tissues. However, little is known about the influence of lead intoxication on equilibrium between generation and elimination of ROS in the male reproductive system. Sexually mature male Wistar rats were given ad libitum 1% of aqueous solution of lead acetate (PbAc) for 9 months. Significantly higher lead concentrations were found in blood [median 7.03 (Q25-Q75: 2.99-7.65) versus 0.18 (0.12-0.99) microg dl-1, P < 0.01], caput epididymis [median 5.51 (Q25-Q75: 4.31-7.83) versus 0.51 (0.11-0.80) microg g-1 d.m., P < 0.001], cauda epididymis [median 5.88 (Q25-Q75: 4.06-8.37) versus 0.61 (0.2 - 1.08) microg g-1 d.m., P < 0.001] and testis [median 1.81 (Q25-Q75: 0.94-2.31) versus 0.17 (0.03-0.3) microg g-1 d.m., P < 0.01] of lead-intoxicated rats when compared to the control. The concentration of ascorbyl radical, generated in vitro from L: -ascorbic acid (present in tissues in vivo) was measured by means of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The EPR signal of ascorbyl radical in caput epididymis, cauda epididymis, testis and liver of lead acetate-treated animals revealed a significant decrease by 53%, 45%, 40% and 69% versus control tissues, respectively. Plasma L: -ascorbic acid content measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method and total antioxidant status (TAS) measured by means of spectrophotometry were also significantly lower in the intoxicated versus control animals (28% and 21%, respectively). In the group exposed to lead the concentration of lipid peroxide in homogenates of the reproductive system organs was significantly elevated versus control group. It can be assumed that the lower EPR signal was caused by decreased tissue concentrations of L: -ascorbic acid. The latter may have resulted from consumption of ascorbic acid for scavenging of ROS excess in tissues of animals chronically exposed to lead.

SONOCHEMICAL SYNTHESIS OF PbWO4 NANOPARTICLES

Lead tungstate ( PbWO 4) an important inorganic scintillator, was synthesized via a mild sonochemical route from an aqueous solution of lead acetate and sodium tungstate in the presence of complexing agents under ambient air. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL) were used to characterize the products. The as-prepared PbWO 4 nanocrystals crystallize in a tetragonal structure and have an average crystal size of ca. 10 nm.

Detection of lead-induced oxidative stress in the rat epididymis by chemiluminescence

It has been shown that lead (Pb) is able to induce lipid peroxidation, one of the main manifestations of oxidative stress. In this study we examined the relationship between chronic Pb exposure and level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in reproductive system tissues of sexually mature male Wistar rats. One group of animals (control, K) was allowed to drink distilled water, the second group (Pb) was allowed to drink freely 1% aqueous solution of lead acetate. Another groups had a following supplements: rats were allowed to drink distilled water containing vitamin C (vit C) at concentration of 500 mg/l or Trolox (a vitamin E analog) at concentration of 48 mg/l or vit C (500 mg/l) + Trolox (48 mg/l). The similar groups among Pb-treated animals were examined after treatment with the same vitamins and using the same vitamin doses, dissolved in 1% aqueous solution of lead acetate. In all cases the time of drinking was 6 months. It was found that lead content in samples of tissues from testis, epididymis and in a whole blood in Pb- and Pb with antioxidants treated rats was significantly elevated. Chemiluminescence (CL) emitted by the Pb-treated tissues was significantly higher when compared to the light emission by tissues isolated from the animals of control group. The increase in the CL caused by lead occurs in the following increasing order within the studied tissues: cauda of epididymis <testis< caput of epididymis (19%, 39% and 51%, respectively). Dietary vit C supplementation to the Pb-treated rats for 6 months period decreased the CL from caput of epididymis, cauda of epididymis and testis (by 43%, 24%, 39%, respectively) more effectively in comparison to the control group (35%, 17%, 33%, respectively). Also stronger quenching effect on the light emission from the above mentioned tissues after Trolox supplementation was observed in the Pb-treated group (42%, 21%, 35%, respectively) than in the control group (23%, 13%, 13% respectively). The combination of both antioxidants treatments (vit C and Trolox) did not give a higher significant quenching effect compared to the treatment with the vitamins separately. No ultrastructural changes were found in the seminiferous epithelium of Pb-treated animals. However, we found abnormalities in ultrastructure of epididymal epithelial cells and epididymal spermatozoa in rats of Pb-treated groups. These findings provide ex vivo evidence that Pb causes oxidative cellular damage in reproductive system tissues of adult male rats, which may be closely associated with the ROS production.

Photochemical synthesis of CdSe and PbSe nanowire arrays on a porous aluminum oxide template

CdSe and PbSe nanowire arrays have been successfully prepared by a photochemical method in porous anodic aluminum oxide template from an aqueous solution of lead acetate, cadmium chloride and sodium selenosulfate in the presence of nitrilotriacetic acid. The products were characterized by XRD, TEM, SEM, PL and UV–vis.

Photochemical preparation of rectangular PbSe and CdSe nanoparticles

Abstract Rectangular lead selenide and cadmium selenide nanoparticles have been successfully prepared by a photochemical method from an aqueous solution of lead acetate, cadmium chlorate, and sodium selenosulfate in the presence of complexating agents of nitrilotriacetic acid at room temperature. It was found that the effects of the photonic intensity, the pH of the solution, and the species of complexating agents played important roles on the morphology control of the PbSe and CdSe nanoparticles. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectra, and photoluminescence spectrum. The mechanism for the formation of the PbSe and CdSe was discussed.

Sonochemical Method for the Preparation of Monodisperse Spherical and Rectangular Lead Selenide Nanoparticles

Monodisperse lead selenide nanoparticles have been successfully prepared via a sonochemical route from an aqueous solution of lead acetate and sodium selenosulfate in the presence of complexing agents under ambient air. It was found that when trisodium citrate was used as the complexing agent, the product was spherical nanoparticles with an average size of ca. 8 nm. If potassium nitrilotriacetate was used, the product consisted of rectangles with an average size of ca. 25 nm. The products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A probable mechanism for the sonochemical formation of PbSe was proposed. Several factors that affected the nature and morphology of the products were also discussed such as the pH value, the complexing agents, and the intensity of the ultrasound irradiation.

Cross generation lead ingestion: Behavioral and physiological effects in mice

We examined some developmental and behavioral sequelae of exposing Binghamton Heterogeneous Stock (HET) mice to a 0.5% aqueous lead acetate solution (as the only available fluid source) for either none, one, two, or three generations. Lead exposure, regardless of generation, resulted in decreased body weight and a delay in age of first eye opening relative to controls, but did not delay home nest return latencies. Drinking the lead solution, across two and three successive generations, resulted in a marked and apparently cumulative decrease in pup viability, as well as an increase in dam fatality rates. However, no such cumulative or residual effects were observed on the behavioral activity of those mice who managed to survive. Perhaps a selection effect for lead-tolerant mice occurred in the present study; such an effect could account for the apparent lack of cumulative and residual behavioral effects.