Arsenic Concentrations Research Articles

Association between the levels of toxic heavy metals and schizophrenia in the population of Guangxi, China: A case-control study

The relationship between body levels of heavy metals and the risk of schizophrenia remains unclear. This study investigates the relationship between plasma levels of toxic heavy metals and the risk of schizophrenia among adults in Guangxi, China. Plasma concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and chromium (Cr) were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). To evaluate both the single and combined effects of metal exposure on the risk of schizophrenia, we employed multivariate logistic regression, Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR), and generalized Weighted Quantile Sum (gWQS) models. Additionally, we employed the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) to analyze the mechanistic pathways through which metal mixtures may induce schizophrenia. Relative mRNA expression levels were measured using Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were conducted to predict potential biological functions. In logistic regression models, compared to the lowest exposure group (Q1), the odds ratios (ORs) for Pb in groups Q2, Q3, and Q4 were 2.18 (95% CI: 1.20–3.94), 4.74 (95% CI: 2.52–8.95), and 3.62 (95% CI: 1.80–7.28), respectively. Both BKMR and gWQS models indicated a positive correlation between the combined effects of toxic heavy metal mixtures and the risk of schizophrenia, with Pb demonstrating the most substantial impact, particularly in older adults and females. Elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) were observed in patients with schizophrenia, while the expression of tumor protein p53 (TP53) was significantly reduced. These findings underscore the critical need to avoid exposure to toxic heavy metals to prevent schizophrenia, highlighting significant public health implications.

Assessing the Arsenic Contents and Associated Risks in Groundwater of Vehari and Lodhran Districts, Pakistan

Exposure to arsenic (As) can induce numerous lethal diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular issues, skin diseases, and diabetes in humans. The major route of human and animal exposure to As is through drinking As-rich groundwater. This study assessed As occurrence in the groundwater of two districts in the Punjab (Vehari and Lodhran) provinces of Pakistan. Groundwater analysis revealed an average As concentration of 7.7 µg/L (n = 79) in the study area, with a maximum As concentration up to 41.4 µg/L (33% of samples exceeding the WHO limit of 10 µg/L). Arsenic traces were found in animal milk (n = 15, mean: 0.79 µg/L, 17% exceeding 2.0 µg/L), human hair (n = 12, mean: 0.36 µg/g, 17% exceeding 1.0 µg/g), and human nails (n = 8, mean: 0.03 µg/g, none of the samples exceeded 1.0 µg/g). Health risk assessment indices revealed that about 33% of the hazard quotient and 54% of the cancer risk factor exceeded their thresholds. Despite the low–moderate As concentration in groundwater and the accumulation of As in a few biological samples, there is a possibility of potential As poisoning via the long-term and continuous use of groundwater for drinking. Monitoring and blanket testing of wells for As in well water can provide baseline data to minimize the threat of As-mediated arsenicosis in As-affected areas of Pakistan. Moreover, a detailed study of potential As accumulation in biological samples with a higher number of samples is recommended in the area.

Removal performance and adsorption behaviour on Mg-based adsorbents in As(III) and F simultaneous removal as in comparison with As(V)

In this study, simultaneous removal tests, with fixed initial arsenic (As) concentration of 1 mg l −1 , for arsenite [As(III)] and fluoride (F) were performed using three types of Mg-based adsorbents. Their As(III) removal performance was of the order of MgCO 3 << Mg(OH) 2 < MgO. MgO met the environmental standards for As (0.01 mg l −1 ) at initial F concentrations ( C F0 ) of 15 and 30 mg l −1 . MgO and Mg(OH) 2 met the As effluent standard (0.1 mg l −1 ) even at C F0 = 60 mg l −1 . In contrast, MgCO 3 did not meet the effluent standards under the test conditions. The F removal performance of the Mg-based adsorbents followed the order of MgCO 3 < Mg(OH) 2 < MgO. MgO and Mg(OH) 2 met the environmental standard of F (0.8 mg l −1 ), whereas MgCO 3 met the effluent standards for F in non-marine areas (8 mg l −1 ) at C F0 = 15 and 30 mg l −1 , and in marine areas (15 mg l −1 ) even at C F0 = 60 mg l −1 . The As(III) adsorption data fit the Langmuir model for MgO and the Freundlich model for MgO and Mg(OH) 2 , but not MgCO 3 for either model. Notably, the As(III) adsorption behaviour of MgO was strongly influenced by C F0 . Meanwhile, the F adsorption data fit both the Langmuir and Freundlich models for all Mg-based adsorbents.

Effect of Curing Time and Ferric Chloride on a Copper Concentrate with a High Arsenic Content

As a result of changes in copper mineralogy, various treatment options for copper sulfides have been explored, including pretreatment processes aimed at enhancing material permeability and improving the dissolution of valuable minerals. Despite its significance, this topic has only recently gained attention. In this research, a copper concentrate with a high arsenic content was studied, with enargite (Cu3AsS4) as the main mineral phase. The objective was to evaluate the effect of pretreatment on copper extraction efficiency prior to leaching. Three key variables were investigated: curing time (0, 5, 10, and 15 days), H2SO4 dosage (0, 70, 140, and 210 kg/t), and FeCl3 concentration (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 M). The sample was characterized both before and after pretreatment, revealing the formation of new species such as CuSO4·5H2O and Cu2Cl(OH)3 under optimal conditions of 15 days curing time, 70 kg/t of H2SO4, and 1 M FeCl3. Copper extraction solely through curing reached 20.79%. The analysis suggests that curing time is the most influential factor in the process, accounting for 46% of the overall contribution. In comparison, sulfuric acid and ferric chloride contribute less, with 20% and 10% contributions, respectively.

Accumulation of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, As, Cd, Pb, Zn, Fe, Ni, Co) in the water, soil, and plants collected from Edayar Region, Ernakulam, Kerala, India

The accumulation of heavy metals in the environment is a significant concern due to their potential toxicity and persistence. This study investigates the levels of heavy metal contamination in the water, soil, and plants of the Edayar region in Ernakulam, Kerala, India. The region has experienced industrialization and urbanization, leading to concerns about heavy metal pollution. The study aims to assess the concentrations of chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co) in water, soil, aquatic and terrestrial plants. Samples were collected from various locations within the Edayar region, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was conducted to quantify heavy metal concentrations. The findings of this study will contribute to the assessment of heavy metal pollution in the Edayar region. Plants with a high diversity index were taken for analysis from both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Scoparia dulcis L. seems to specialize in metal accumulation, possibly for protective purposes. Synedrella nodiflora Gaertn demonstrates adaptability to metal-rich environments through robust metal uptake and tolerance mechanisms. Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb, on the other hand, appears to have developed mechanisms to manage heavy metal exposure. The results indicate significant levels of heavy metal contamination across all samples, with the highest concentrations detected in soil, followed by water and plants. Chromium and lead levels in soil exceeded the permissible limits set by international standards, posing potential risks to human health and the ecosystem. The accumulation patterns in plants varied, with higher bioaccumulation factors observed for zinc and copper, suggesting their preferential uptake. This study highlights the urgent need for remediation strategies and continuous monitoring to mitigate the impact of heavy metal pollution in the Edayar region. The results will help in understanding the environmental impact of human activities.

Health risk assessment of heavy metals in black tea infusion by Monte Carlo simulation

AbstractTea leaves and their infusion have been interested in the populations because of their therapeutic and relaxing effects. However, tea plant is prone to heavy metals' bioaccumulation. Regarding the high consumption of tea infusion, concentration of arsenic, cadmium, and lead in black tea infusion was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Tea infusion was prepared by addition of 45 mL deionized water to 1 g tea leaves followed by heating at 90°C for 10 min. After analysis, carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks of heavy metals were investigated by Monte Carlo simulation in two age groups of children and adults younger and older than 15 years old, respectively. According to the results, Hazard Quotient (HQ) of three heavy metals in both children and adults was equal and lower than 0.01. Furthermore, incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of arsenic in Iranian black tea consumers (<1.5 × 10−6) and lead in all consumers (about 2.55 × 10−7) was within the acceptable range introduced by US EPA (≤10−6). ILCR of arsenic in children and adults consuming foreign tea infusion was within the range of 10−6–10−4. Our further investigation revealed that the highest area (75%–85%) of cumulative frequency distribution for arsenic ILCR in foreign tea consumers was related to ILCR ≤10−5 which is the acceptable range determined by the World Health Organization. Therefore, there was no serious concern about the intake of heavy metals by tea infusion in Iranian children and adults.

Potential for the Recovery of Selected Metals and Critical Raw Materials from Slags from Polymineral Zn–Pb Ore Metallurgy—Part I

Slags from the Silesia–Cracow Upland (Poland), including ten historical slags (deposited in waste dumps) and four contemporary slags (from current production), were examined to compare their chemical and mineralogical properties as well as to assess their potential for the recovery of selected metals and critical raw materials. The historical slags associated with the smelting of polymetallic ores originating from Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits consisted primarily of gypsum. The contemporary slags, obtained from industrial waste rich in zinc and lead, were predominantly spinels (magnesium-aluminate and ferric) that exhibited higher iron content (up to 46.6 wt% of Fe2O3) compared to the historical slags (up to 26.1 wt% of Fe2O3). The zinc content was similar for both the slag types (3.5 wt% Zn). The average titanium and arsenic contents in the old and contemporary slags were at the same level as well, with 0.21 wt% (Ti) and 0.13 wt% (As), respectively. The contemporary slags contained higher levels of critical raw materials, such as cobalt, nickel, copper, and manganese, compared to the historical slags. Rare earth elements (REEs) were also more abundant in the contemporary slags, with an average content of 212 ppm, while the historical slags averaged 124 ppm. These findings underscore the potential for recovering valuable metals and critical raw materials from such slags, presenting opportunities for resource optimisation and environmental management.

The roles of nanoparticle-enriched biochars in improving soil enzyme activities and nutrient uptake by basil plants under arsenic toxicity

Enriched biochar with improved properties and functionality can play a significant role in providing sustainable solutions for mitigating heavy metal contamination in soil. In this experiment, the effects of solid and enriched biochars (potassium-enriched biochar (BC-K), magnesium-enriched biochar (BC-Mg), both individually and combined) were examined on soil microbial and enzyme activities, as well as nutrient uptake by basil plants cultivated in a soil with three levels of arsenic (nontoxic, 50 mg As kg−1 soil, and 100 mg As kg−1 soil). Biochar-related treatments, increased soil organic matter (65–76%), while decreased availability of arsenic (6–55%) in the soil. The microbial biomass carbon (by about 123%) and soil basal respiration (by about 256%), and soil enzymatic activities (β-glucosidase, urease, alkaline phosphatase, and dehydrogenase) were enhanced by enriched biochars under arsenic toxicity. The solid and particularly enriched biochars decreased arsenic content and improved nitrogen and phosphorus contents of roots and shoots, root length, root activity, and root and shoot biomass in basil plants. Therefore, it is conceivable to suggest that enriched biochars are superior treatments for improving nutrient absorption rates and basil growth under arsenic toxicity through decreasing arsenic mobility and increasing soil microbial activities.

Human biomonitoring of essential and toxic trace elements (heavy metals and metalloids) in urine of children, teenagers, and young adults from a Central European Cohort in the Czech Republic.

Exposure to toxic trace elements, which include metals and metalloids, can induce adverse health effects, including life-threatening diseases. Conversely, essential trace elements are vital for bodily functions, yet their excessive (or inadequate) intake may pose health risks. Therefore, identifying levels and determinants of exposure to trace elements is crucial for safeguarding human health. The present study analyzed urinary concentrations of 14 trace elements (arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, mercury, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, antimony, selenium, thallium, and zinc) and their exposure determinants in 711 individuals, spanningfrom children to young adults from a Central European population from the Czech Republic. Multivariate linear regression and non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA were used to investigate exposure determinants. Estimates of 95th percentile concentrations and confidence intervals were carried out to establish reference values(RV95). The study also assessed the percentage of population exceeding health-based guidance values (GVs) to gauge health risks. Young adults showed elevated toxic element concentrations, whereas children exhibited higher concentrations of essential elements. Mercury concentrations were associated with both dental amalgam filling count and seafood intake; arsenic concentrations were associated with seafood, rice, and mushroom consumption. Mushroom consumption also influenced lead concentrations. Sex differences were found for cadmium, zinc, nickel, and cobalt. Between 17.9% and 25% of the participants exceeded recommended GV for arsenic, while 2.4% to 2.8% exceeded GV for cadmium. Only one participant exceeded the GV for mercury, and none exceeded GVs for chromium and thallium. Essential trace elements' GVs were surpassed by 38% to 68.5% participants for zinc, 1.3% to 1.8% for molybdenum, and 0.2% to 0.3% for selenium. The present study examines trace element exposure in a Central European population from the Czech Republic, unveiling elevated exposure levels of toxic elements in young adults and essential elements in children. It elucidates key determinants of trace element exposure, including dietary and lifestyle indicators as well as dental amalgam fillings. Additionally, the study establishes novel reference values and acomparison with established health-based human biomonitoring guidance values, which are crucial for public health decision-making. This comprehensive biomonitoring study provides essential data to inform public health policies and interventions.

Arsenic, cadmium, and chromium concentrations in contrasting phosphate fertilizers and their bioaccumulation by crops: Towards a green label?

Potentially toxic elements such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) are severely regulated in fertilizers and deserve continuous investigation. Phosphate-derived Cd has been a stepping-stone toward achieving sustainable and safe worldwide food production, especially after a new regulation aiming for reduced limits of Cd in P fertilizers (EU, 2019/1009). Three pot experiments were conducted to assess the variability of As, Cd, and Cr concentrations - with a particular focus on Cd - from monoammonium phosphates (MAP 1, MAP 2, and MAP 3 from different geographic origins) and their accumulation in limed and unlimed soils, and contrasting crops, representing staple food and significant sources of these elements for humans (i.e., potato, tobacco, and rice). A diverse array of sensitive techniques for trace elements determination were used to reveal the highest level of Cd of MAP 3 (20.71 mg kg−1 MAP), which loaded the highest amounts of this element to the soil matrix and solution, plant shoots, and xylem sap, contrasting with results for MAP 1 (0.87 mg kg−1 MAP), which has almost ten times less Cd than that required for low-Cd labeling of P fertilizers (≤20 mg Cd kg−1 P2O5). MAP 3 also had the highest Cr concentration (139.3 mg kg−1 MAP). Among crops, rice accumulated 16-fold less Cd than potato plants. Liming decreased Cd in tobacco and potato shoots up to 35%. Moreover, reductions of about 20% were also observed for Cd accumulation in tubers and sap. Conversely, Cd from MAP 3 was always much more accumulated in soil solution, achieving up to 20 μg L−1, while values < 5 μg L−1 (i.e., a groundwater limit) were obtained from MAP 1. Our findings may be used as a reference in developing green labels for fertilizers in scenarios where Cd accumulation represents a potential risk for soil and human health.

Determination of concentration and risk assessment of toxic metals in the settled dust from school yards of Mashhad metropolis.

The present study aims to measure the values of metal pollutants in the dust of schools in Mashhad metropolis, determine the source of metal pollution, evaluate the degree of pollution, assess the health risk (carcinogenicity/non-carcinogenicity) and evaluate the potential ecological risk. For this purpose, after measuring the concentration of metals using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer, from various indices including Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Contamination Factors (CF), Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI), Enrichment Factor (EF), and Health Risk Indices such as Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI), Carcinogenic Risk (CR) were used. The average concentrations of iron, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, vanadium and zinc (Fe, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) were 6361.50, 5.96, 0.59, 61.89, 37.13, 61.31, 28.93, 25.64 and 142.00µgg-1, respectively. Based on CF, PLI and Igeo indices, most of the findings for the studied elements were at the low pollution level. The results also showed that the most likely origin of the studied metals was anthropogenic sources. The results of PERI indices showed that potential ecological risk at only one of the collection sites. In contrast, a high ecological risk was obtained for Cd. Hazard Index values were below safe levels for all studied elements. CR levels for elements were also classified as negligible and acceptable or tolerable risk, although the highest CR value for Cr indicated possible harm to humans. The findings showed the need for more attention and continuous monitoring of the concentration of metals, especially chromium, to announce a possible warning and prevent their harmful effects. It should be noted that the present study is the first research with mentioned objectives in Mashhad city and also in Khorasan Razavi province.

Comparison of genotoxic impurities in extracted nicotine vs. synthetic nicotine.

Nicotine is a chiral alkaloid; nitrogen-containing organic compound that occurs naturally. (S)-nicotine is extracted from Tobacco plants and used as the key addictive ingredient in many smoking products. Synthetic nicotine has gained the interest of many smoking product manufacturers over the last few decades due to the ease and low cost of manufacturing. Another claimed advantage of synthetic nicotine is the absence of genotoxic impurities that form during the extraction process of nicotine. These impurities are other plant alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and heavy metals. Additionally, the U. S. FDA has implemented new regulations on the quality control of synthetic nicotine. However, only a very few research articles have been published on assessing the complete impurity profile of synthetic nicotine. Therefore, the need to know the composition difference between tobacco-extracted nicotine vs. synthetic nicotine is highly necessary. In this research study, the impurity profile of thirteen different lots of synthetic nicotine was compared with fourteen lots of nicotine extracted from plants using in-house analytical methods. First, the samples were tested for other alkaloids and phenols by reversed-phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Second, the chiral purity was analyzed by normal phase HPLC. Third, lead and arsenic content were tested by atomic absorption and fluorescence spectrometry. Fourth, nicotine-specific nitrosamines were tested by LC-MS. The reversed phase HPLC data suggested similar quantities of total impurities in both synthetic and tobacco-extracted nicotine (0.1%). However, synthetic nicotine lacks some impurities such as cotinine, nornicotine, and nicotine-N-oxide. Additionally, the synthetic nicotine lots used in this study have high enantiomeric purity similar to the tobacco-extracted nicotine.

Current exposure to environmental pollutants in the general adult population of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): A cross-sectional study

BackgroundEnvironmental pollution is a serious public health problem because of its adverse effects on both human health and biodiversity. In Western countries, many human biomonitoring (HBM) studies are conducted to assess population exposure to pollutants. In contrast, the number of HBM studies in Africa is very low. ObjectiveTo measure contamination by arsenic, lead, 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (4,4′-DDE) and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in the adult population of Kinshasa and to identify the susceptible population. MethodsIn the present work, we measured the contamination by arsenic in urine and lead in blood and by 4,4′-DDE and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in serum in samples collected from 151 volunteers recruited in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). ResultsThe PCBs 180, -153 and −138 were detected in most samples with median concentrations of 0.04, 0.05 and 0.04 ng/ml, respectively. The median concentration of 4,4′-DDE was 0.83 ng/ml and 12.7% of our population showed contamination above the threshold of 3.675 ng/ml, which is associated with a significantly higher risk of cancer. Arsenic concentrations were also high (median: 48.1 μg/L in urine). Finally, exposure to lead is problematic: the median blood concentration was 54.9 μg/L, which is above the thresholds proposed by the WHO and the US CDC (50 μg/L and 35 μg/L respectively) to initiate clinical intervention, and 12.6% of the population had a lead level above 100 μg/L, which is associated with several health outcomes. ConclusionsOur results highlight the need for further HBM studies in Africa and should encourage the authorities of the DRC to implement laws and regulations to reduce pollution and population exposure.

Arsenic content in tissues, Fungus combs, Herbs, Termite mounds and Soils of termites of the genus Macrotermes and assessment of the health risk associated with their food use in the industrial zone of the Societe Nouvelle Des phosphates du Togo (SNPT)

Arsenic is present in different environmental matrices of the phosphate mining and processing area of the Société Nouvelle des Phosphates du Togo; including termite tissues, termite waste, termite mounds, termite Fungus combs, soils and nearby herbs. Arsenic levels vary across matrices, with termite waste having the highest concentration (approximately 27.01 mg/kg) compared to the outside herbs, which have the lowest. Phosphate mining sites, including Hahotoé-Kpogamé and Akoumapé, have higher levels of As contamination in soils and termite tissues compared to the phosphate processing site. A positive correlation is observed between As levels in termite tissues and termite waste; suggesting an ability of termites to eliminate arsenic via their waste. Regarding health risks, the hazard quotient (HQ) for arsenic in termites exceeds 1, and for non-threshold effects, the excess individual risk (EIR) assessment gives EIR &gt; 10-4 in both adults and children; which would mean that termite consumption poses a significant health risk, including cancer risks for human populations, particularly children. However, it should be noted that the estimation in this study includes total As (organic and inorganic). Since the toxicological reference values were calculated on the basis of inorganic arsenic, which presents more hazard and whose fraction represents 10% of total As, the daily exposure dose values for adults and children represent 1.40.10-4 mg/kg/d and 1.02.10-4 mg/kg/d of inorganic arsenic, respectively. These doses will then become lower than the toxicological reference value (TRV) with the consequence of hazard quotient (HQ) lower than 1 and resulting in low risks of carcinogenic effects. It is therefore necessary to specifically determine the inorganic fraction to refine the risk assessment and to extend this study to other trace elements in the prospected area.

Investigating the Spatial Patterns of Heavy Metals in Topsoil and Asthma in the Western Salt Lake Valley, Utah

Mining activities, particularly in large excavations like the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine in Utah, have been increasingly linked to respiratory conditions due to heavy-metal-enriched waste and dust. Operating continuously since 1906, the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine contributes 4.4% of the Salt Lake Valley PM2.5 pollution. However, the extent of its contributions to larger-sized particulate matter (PM10) dust, soil and water contamination, and human health impacts is largely unknown. Aerosol optical depth data from Sentinel-2 imagery revealed discernible dust clouds downwind of the mine and smelter on non-prevailing-wind days, suggesting potential heavy metal dispersion from this fugitive dust and subsequent deposition to nearby surface soils. Our analysis of topsoils from across the western Salt Lake Valley found mean arsenic, copper, lead, and zinc concentrations to be well above global background concentrations. Also, the minimum values for arsenic and maximum values for lead were well above the US EPA regional screening levels for residential soils. Thus, arsenic is the metal of greatest concern for impacts on human health. Elevated concentrations of all metals were most notable near the mine, smelter, and tailings pond. Our study linked these elevated heavy metal levels to regional asthma outcomes through cluster analysis and distance-related comparison tests. Significant clusters of high asthma rates were observed in regions with elevated topsoil heavy metal concentrations, impacting both low- and high-income neighborhoods. The findings of this preliminary study suggest that the mine, smelter, and recent construction activities, especially on lands reclaimed from former tailings ponds, could be contributing to atmospheric dust containing high levels of heavy metals and exacerbating asthma outcomes for residents. However, the methods used in the study with aggregated health outcome data cannot determine causal links between the heavy metal contents of soil and health outcomes; they can only point to potential links and a need for further investigation. Such further investigation should involve individual-level data and control for potential confounding factors, such as socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and lifestyle factors, to isolate the effect of metal exposures on asthma outcomes. This study focused on atmospheric deposition as a source of heavy metal enrichment of topsoil. However, future research is also essential to assess levels of heavy metals in subsoil parent materials and local surface and groundwaters to be able to assess the links between the sources or methods of soil contamination and health outcomes.

Evaluation of the water quality of an artificial inter-andean lake in northern Peru

Lake Burlan, a lentic ecosystem artificially created by untreated runoff from adjacent rice fields, is located in the Amazon region within the dry forests of northern Peru. This body of water plays a fundamental role in agriculture and recreational activities in the area, which are fundamental to the local economy. This research aimed to evaluate the water quality of Lake Burlan using the Water Quality Index of Peru (WQI-PE). In addition, both spatial and depth variations of limnological parameters and trace elements were determined. The WQI-PE was calculated at seven sampling stations at two depths (surface level and one meter), using 18 limnological parameters and nine trace elements. The WQI-PE assessment indicated that the lake water quality ranged from poor to fair for both depths. Statistical analysis showed that nine limnological parameters and five trace elements showed spatial differences across seven sampling stations, while three limnological parameters and two trace elements showed depth-dependent variations. Concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead were in exceedance of the national and international standards on environmental water quality. Therefore, the water quality of Lake Burlan is affected mainly by the impact of the surrounding rice fields and recreational activities. This research establishes a starting point for future monitoring to assist in the implementation of prevention and mitigation.

Impact of ceramic packaging on the quality and safety of Armenian fermented dairy product Matsoun

Background: Packaging is essential for food safety, as it acts as a barrier against contaminants that can cause spoilage and affect human health. The Armenian fermented dairy product, matsoun, is packaged not only in plastic and glass but also in clay pots. However, the impact of traditional packaging on the quality and safety of matsoun, especially heavy metal migration, remains under-researched. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of ceramic packaging material on the quality and safety of matsoun during storage. Specifically, it compared the physicochemical properties (pH, titratable acidity), lactic acid bacteria (LAB) populations, and metal migration during storage. Methods: Six samples of matsoun were prepared and packaged in sterilized glass and ceramic containers. The samples were stored at 4 °C and analyzed on days 1, 7, and 15 of storage. The parameters measured included pH, titratable acidity, and LAB counts (coccus and bacillus). Heavy metal migration (Cd, Pb, Hg, As) was analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results: The pH of samples packaged in ceramic and glass containers decreased over 15 days of storage, from 4.61 to 4.24 and 4.6 to 4.27, respectively. Titratable acidity increased in both groups, reaching 1.2 % lactic acid. A decrease in bacilli was observed in ceramic-packaged matsoun. The lead concentration remained constant at 0.0045 ppm across all samples. In ceramic containers, cadmium concentration increased from 0.0015 ppm to 0.0029 ppm by day 15. Conclusion: This study observed a decrease in pH, an increase in titratable acidity, and a relatively constant number of lactic acid bacteria indicating ongoing fermentation. The results showed nondetectable concentrations of arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg). The lead (Pb) concentration in all samples remained within the World Health Organization’s (WHO) allowed limit of 0.02 ppm. However, the concentration of cadmium (Cd) concentration in ceramic-packed increased, exceeding the WHO limit of 0.002 ppm. Further research is necessary to identify the sources of cadmium contamination. Keywords: food packaging, ceramic, matsou​​n​, heavy metal migration, food safety

Assessing the potential ecological and human health risks of trace metal pollution in surface water, sediment, and commercially valuable fish species in the Pashur River, Bangladesh.

This research examines the contamination levels in the Pashur River in Bangladesh stemming from trace metal discharge originating from the Mongla seaport and various industrial outlets. It delves into both ecological risks and potential health hazards for humans consuming fish carrying accumulated trace metals. The research employed atomic absorption spectrometry to measure the concentrations of chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) in surface water, sediment, and fish samples. Target hazard quotient (THQ) and carcinogenic risks were calculated to determine the human health risk caused by the consumption of these targeted fish species. An RI value of 42.89 indicates that the collective presence of trace metals in sediment poses significant ecological risks to the study area. Although the majority of trace metals present in sediment are categorized under class 1 (ranging from unpolluted to moderately polluted) based on the Igeo values, Cd is classified under class 2, signifying a moderate level of pollution. Significantly, THQ values surpass the threshold of 1 for Cr and As, indicating potential health risks associated with the consumption of specific fish species. Among the trace metals analyzed, Ni demonstrates the highest cancer risk (CR) value, at 5.78 × 103, indicating a notable cancer risk associated with the consumption of targeted fish. Recommendations include the strict enforcement of waste disposal policies to mitigate anthropogenic discharge and safeguard the river from further pollution.

Remediation quantum of organic amendments to immobilize potentially toxic heavy metals in wastewater-contaminated soils through maize cultivation

Wastewater is considered a good reservoir of mineral elements that can be used for agriculture, aquaculture, and some other activities after adopting suitable measures. The gap between supply and demand for water is increasing exponentially because of the abrupt boost to the world’s population. This poses a threat to human life as it has reached alarming levels in some parts of the globe. Normally, wastewater consists of liquid waste produced by commercial or industrial sources for daily use, consumption, and production. It is time to refocus our attention on a kind of circulating water system by reusing municipal wastewater for agricultural purposes, particularly irrigation. The recycled or treated water would be used as an alternative to fresh water. In the current study, the impact of various organic amendments was studied to mitigate the toxic effects of pollutants present in wastewater by cultivating maize as a test crop. The present study comprised five treatments replicated four times with a randomized complete block design under field conditions. In this experiment, the treatments included T1 (treatment 1) = control (wastewater-polluted soil without the application of any amendment), T2 = farmyard manure (FYM) at 2.5 tons ha-1 (hectare-1), T3 = FYM at 5.0 tons ha-1, T4 = compost at 2.5 tons ha-1, and T5 = compost at 5.0 tons ha-1. The application of FYM at 5.0 tons ha-1 (T3) was recorded as being the most effective as the maximum improvement was observed in soil characteristics such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and organic matter, and for T3, these were 7.33, 2.22 dS m-1, 8.16, and 0.94%, respectively. T3 remained most superior in reducing the concentration of heavy metals in the soil; for example, lead, cadmium, nickel, and arsenic for T3 were 8.64, 1.34, 10.44, and 2.25 mg kg-1 (milligrams per kg), respectively. Maximum fresh biomass (fodder yield) of 9.98 tons ha-1 was harvested when FYM was applied at 5.0 tons ha-1 to the soil compared to 6.2 tons ha-1 in the control plot. The highest contents of nitrogen (1.20%), phosphorus (0.41%), and potassium (3.97%) were observed in maize plants for T3. In maize plants (T3), the concentration of lead, cadmium, nickel, and arsenic was reduced to levels of 1.92, 0.23, 2.28, and 1.25 mg kg-1, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded from the findings of the experiment that the application of FYM significantly reduced heavy metal concentrations and improved soil health, along with maize crop growth and productivity.

Implementation and performance monitoring of the treatment system to remove arsenic from dam water in a full-scale urban water treatment plant

Nowadays, health and environmental problems caused by elevated arsenic concentration in water sources have become a major concern for researchers and environmental experts. Therefore, it is necessary to study processes that significantly reduce the arsenic content in aqueous solutions, which is of great interest to environmental experts. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of the pre-oxidation/coagulation process with commercially available coagulants (FeCl3, Al2 (SO4)3·18H2O, and PACl) on the efficiency of arsenic removal (with initial concentration of 73 ± 2.5 μg/L) from Talvar Dam entering the Sheikhi Jan Hamadan water treatment plant. This was demonstrated on a laboratory and operational scale at the water treatment plant under different scenarios (pre-oxidant agents, type of coagulant, solution pH, and different coagulant dosages). It should be noted that, as part of an emergency project, the possibility of arsenic removal at the Sheikhi Jan water treatment plant, which receives Talvar Dam water at a flow rate of 1800 L/s, was investigated. The priority of the researchers and city officials in the present study was to use the potential of the water treatment plant and the existing equipment so that they could remove arsenic quickly and without additional costs. This study was conducted in three stages: laboratory scale, implementation of the process in the water treatment plant, and monitoring of the treatment plant's performance, which continues to this day. The results of this project showed that the pre-oxidation/coagulation process can effectively reduce the concentration of arsenic at the inlet of the treatment plant from to less than national and international recommended values.