Barium Concentrations Research Articles

‘Green firecrackers’ with reduced barium emissions in particulate matter

Ambient air quality is affected due to the emission of pollutants on a large scale after the bursting of firecrackers. Traditionally in all firecrackers, barium (Ba) compounds are used as oxidizers and also to impart green colour flame. Combustion products of barium compounds are water soluble and readily absorbed by the body affecting human health. Thus, the inherent risk of Ba pollution due to the bursting of firecrackers has consequent health effects. To reduce the ambient air pollution caused due to burning of conventional firecrackers, CSIR NEERI has developed reduced emission firecrackers (green crackers). This is achieved by reducing the amount of chemicals, barium nitrate, shell size and addition of additives such as zeolite and iron oxide. This study aims to specifically investigate the influence of additives on the level of barium in reduced emission firecrackers. Four types of conventional and reduced emission firecrackers were selected and tested inside a firecracker emission testing facility to check the levels of barium in PM10 and PM2.5. The measured mean concentrations of all types of reduced emission crackers (green crackers) provided by fireworks manufacturers show significantly reduced barium concentration by 30–60% compared to conventional crackers depending on the type of firecrackers, shell size and amount of chemicals used. The possible reason for reduced Ba level is attributed to i) reduced usage of Ba(NO3)2 and ii) formation of heavy density compounds, leading to soil fallout.

Case Report: Two-year consequences of barium sulfate aspiration

Aspiration of barium contrast is a rare, but well-known, event occurring during examinations of the upper gastrointestinal system using contrast media. We present a case of large-volume high-concentration barium sulfate aspiration in an 88-year-old male diagnosed with dysphagia, during the swallowing study. He rapidly developed difficulty in breathing, hypoxemia and chemical pneumonitis. The chest radiograph showed the infiltration of barium contrast at both sides with left lower lung predominance. His lowest oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry was 91%. His condition improved with supportive care including oxygen therapy. The patient was finally discharged a few days later with normal oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry. The follow-up chest radiograph at 2 years after the aspiration showed considerable interval clearing of the aspirated contrast material. The plasma and urine barium concentrations at 2 years after the aspiration were <0.5 μg/L and 13.6 μg/L, respectively. Currently, there is no reference urine barium level in the Thai population. These finding may be partially explained by our patient’s exposure of barium from food or water or might be gradually absorbed systemically from the residual barium in lungs.

Association of maternal and cord blood barium exposure with preschoolers' intellectual function: Evidence from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort (MABC) study

ObjectivesBarium is widely involved in drilling fluids, plastics, and personal care products. Although the neurodevelopmental toxicity of barium has been reported in animals, human data are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the effect of prenatal barium concentrations on preschoolers' intellectual function based on a birth cohort study. MethodsA total of 2164 mother-child pairs from Ma'anshan city, China were included in this study. We measured serum barium concentrations in the first, second, and third trimesters and in cord blood. Intellectual function in children aged 3.0–6.0 years old was assessed using the Chinese version of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV). Linear regression models were used to analyze the association between averaged barium exposure during pregnancy and intellectual function. Multiple informant models were performed to jointly test for differences in associations between four repeated barium exposure and intellectual function. All models were further stratified by child sex. ResultsCollectively, we observed significant inverse associations of average maternal barium exposure levels with verbal comprehension index (VCI), visual spatial index (VSI), processing speed index (PSI), and full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) scores. Maternal serum log10-transformed barium levels in the second trimester were inversely associated with VCI [−2.33 (95%CI: −4.02, −0.64)], VSI [−2.30 (95%CI: −4.08, −0.52)], working memory index (WMI) [−2.09 (95%CI: −3.71, −0.46)], PSI [−2.23 (95%CI: −3.82, −0.65)], and FSIQ scores [−2.73 (95%CI: −4.23, −1.22)]. Prenatal barium exposure was inversely associated with VCI, VSI, WMI, PSI, and FSIQ in girls, except for the fluid reasoning index (FRI). Additionally, inverse associations were found between prenatal barium exposure and VSI, PSI, and FSIQ in boys. ConclusionsPrenatal barium exposure had detrimental effects on intellectual function in preschoolers and girls drove these inverse associations more than boys. The second trimester may be the critical window of neurotoxicity to barium exposure.

High polychaete diversity in the Gulf of Guinea (West African continental margin): The influence of local and intermediate scale ecological factors on a background of regional patterns

The Tropical East Atlantic is one of the least studied areas in the world's oceans, and thus a blank spot on the map of marine studies. Shaped by dynamic currents and shifting water masses, it is a key region in discussions about marine ecology, biodiversity, and zoogeography, while facing numerous, poorly understood, and unmonitored threats associated with climate change, acidification, and pollution. Polychaete diversity was assessed along four transects along the Ghana coast, from shallow to deep bottoms and distributed along the whole upwelling marine ecoregion. Despite high sampling effort, steep species accumulation curves demonstrated the necessity of further sampling in the region. We observed zonation of fauna by depth, and a decrease in species richness from 25 m to 1000 m depth. Polychaete communities were influenced by sediment type, presence of oxygen minimum zones, and local disturbances caused by elevated barium concentrations. Similar evenness along the depth gradient reflected the importance of rare species in the community structure. Differences in phylogenetic diversity, as reflected by taxonomic distinctness, were small, which suggested high ecosystem stability. The highly variable species richness at small scale (meters) showed the importance of ecological factors giving rise to microhabitat diversity, although we also noticed intermediate scale (50–300 km) differences affecting community structure. About 44 % of the species were rare (i.e. recorded only in three or fewer samples), highlighting the level of patchiness, while one fifth was distributed on all transects, therefore along the whole upwelling ecoregion, demonstrating the influence of the regional species pool on local communities at particular stations. Our study yielded 253 species, increasing the number of polychaetes known from this region by at least 50 %. This casts doubt on previous findings regarding Atlantic bioregionalization, biodiversity estimates and endemism, which appear to have been more pronouncedly affected by sampling bias than previously thought.

Barium content of Archaean continental crust reveals the onset of subduction was not global

Earth’s earliest continental crust is dominated by tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) suites, making these rocks key to unlocking the global geodynamic regime operating during the Archaean (4.0–2.5 billion years ago [Ga]). The tectonic setting of TTG magmatism is controversial, with hypotheses arguing both for and against subduction. Here we conduct petrological modeling over a range of pressure–temperature conditions relevant to the Archaean geothermal gradient. Using an average enriched Archaean basaltic source composition, we predict Ba concentrations in TTG suites, which is difficult to increase after magma generated in the source. The results indicate only low geothermal gradients corresponding to hot subduction zones produce Ba-rich TTG, thus Ba represents a proxy for the onset of subduction. We then identify statistically significant increases in the Ba contents of TTG suites worldwide as recording the diachronous onset of subduction from regional at 4 Ga to globally complete sometime after 2.7 Ga.

Electron diffraction study and ionic conductivity of fluorite Ba1-xLaxF2+x and tysonite La1-yBayF3-y phases in the BaF2-LaF3 system

Crystals of fluorite phases with the CaF2 structure: Ba1−xLaxF2+x (x = 0, 0.05, 0.105, 0.25, 0.35, 0.40) and those of tysonite ones with the LaF3 structure: La1−yBayF3−y (y = 0, 0.05, 0.09) have been studied by electron diffraction and elemental analysis in a transmission electron microscope. Diffraction patterns of Ba1−xLaxF2+x crystals with x = 0.105, 0.25 exhibit diffuse scattering, which indicates the presence of clusters of structural defects. Blurred supercell reflections are seen in diffraction patterns of Ba1−xLaxF2+x crystals with a high lanthanum content (x = 0.35, 0.40) in addition to diffuse scattering. They indicate the existence of nanoscale ordered crystallites as well as clusters. It was found that LaF3 and the tysonite phase La1−yBayF3−y with a low barium content (y = 0.05) is of a low-temperature l-form (space group P3¯c1, Z = 6). A small fraction of tysonite crystallites in La1-yBayF3-y crystals with y = 0.09 is of a high-temperature h-form (space group P63/mmc, Z = 2). An intermediate crystal structure between l- and h-forms was also found.The maximum ionic conductivity σdc of tysonite crystals La1−yBayF3−y at 293 K is 800 times higher than that of fluorite ones Ba1−xLaxF2+x. A correlation was found between logarithm of conductivity and composition: lg σdc(x) = ax + b for fluorite Ba1−xLaxF2+x and tysonite La1−yBayF3−y crystals. The reason for the additive law of change in ionic conductivity in both types of nonstoichiometric phases in the BaF2-LaF3 system is apparently the similarity of defect structures of fluorite and tysonite phases.

Evaluation of heavy metal accumulation in sediment, surface water and some plants in the Karasu Riparian Zone

ABSTRACT. This study aims to determine and compare the heavy metal concentrations in the water, sediment, and plants of the Karasu river in Erzurum, Türkiye. In this context, aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and barium (Ba) concentrations were measured for this study. Salix excelsa (willow), Rosa canina L., Pyrus elaeagnifolia (wild pear), Malus sylvestris (wild apple), and Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn) plants were used as samples. Heavy metal concentrations follow the order of Al3+ > Fe2+ > Mn2+ > Ba2+ > Ni2+ > Zn2+ in the sediment. Heavy metal concentrations follow the order of Al3+ > Fe2+ > Ba2+ > Mn2+ > Zn2+ > Ni2+ in water. The leaf part of Salix excelsa has the highest bioconcentration factor (BCF) for Mn among plant parts. Mean BCF values were as follows: Zn2+ > Mn2+ > Ba2+ > Ni2+ > Al3+ ≈ Fe2+. In addition, the highest plant translocation factor (PTF) values were determined in Salix excelsa for Al and Fe; in Rosa canina L. for Ni and Zn; in Hippophae rhamnoides L. for Mn and in Malus sylvestris for Ba.
 
 KEY WORDS: Heavy metals accumulation, Sediment, Water, Plant, Riparian Zone
 Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2023, 37(1), 35-45. 
 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v37i1.4

Variation in Trace Element Concentrations with Size in Sea Urchin Skeletal Components

Environmental ecotoxicology studies use sea urchin skeletal components to examine potential changes in concentrations of trace element pollutants. To date, such studies have not considered how body size may alter the innate concentrations of trace elements in a given skeletal component. The present study examines this issue using the common nearshore sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus as a model species. Concentrations of barium, boron, manganese, and strontium was measured using ICP-OES in three major skeletal subcomponents (Aristotle's lantern, spines, and test) of individuals' representative of five size cohorts spanning the late juvenile to adult. Concentrations of three of the four elements, barium, boron, and manganese, varied significantly with body size, largely declining as test diameter increased. As concentrations of trace elements was normalized to skeletal mass originated from collections of individuals in pristine bay waters and from the same population at the same time, differences in trace element concentrations are innately ontogenetic. Accordingly, future ecotoxicological studies employing skeletal subcomponents of sea urchins should consider the relationship between trace element concentration and body size when designing sampling regimes.

Associations between prenatal multiple plasma metal exposure and newborn telomere length: Effect modification by maternal age and infant sex

Exposure to metals during pregnancy may affect maternal and infant health. However, studies on the combined effects of metals on the telomere length (TL) of newborns are limited. A prospective cohort study was conducted among 1313 mother–newborn pairs in the Guangxi Zhuang Birth Cohort. The concentrations of metals in maternal plasma during the first trimester were measured using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. We explored the associations between nine plasma metals and newborn TL using generalized linear models (GLMs), principal component analysis (PCA), quantile g-computation (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). The GLMs revealed the inverse association between plasma arsenic (percent change, −5.56%; 95% CI: -7.69%, −3.38%) and barium concentrations (−9.84%; 95% CI: -13.81%, −5.68%) and newborn TL. Lead levels were related to significant decreases in newborn TL only in females. The PCA revealed a negative association between the PC3 and newborn TL (−4.52%; 95% CI: -6.34%, −2.68%). In the BKMR, the joint effect of metals was negatively associated with newborn TL. Qgcomp indicated that each one-tertile increase in metal mixture levels was associated with shorter newborn TL (−9.39%; 95% CI: -14.32%, −4.18%). The single and joint effects of multiple metals were more pronounced among pregnant women carrying female fetuses and among pregnant women <28 years of age. The finding suggests that prenatal exposure to arsenic, barium, antimony, and lead and mixed metals may shorten newborn TLs. The relationship between metal exposures and newborn TL may exhibit heterogeneities according to infant sex and maternal age.

Optical Properties and Gamma Radiation Shielding Capability of Transparent Barium Borosilicate Glass Composite

In this study, both radiation shielding capability and optical properties of prepared SiO2-ZnO-Na2CO3-H3BO3-BaCO3 glass composite with different concentrations of barium carbonate (0–30 mol%) have been studied. Gamma attenuation properties, such as the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), mean free path (MFP), and exposure build-up factor (EBF), are experimentally and theoretically investigated. The detected XRD patterns for the prepared glass composites confirm their amorphous nature. It is evident from the obtained data that all tested parameters, such as mass density, molar volume, refractive index, dielectric constant, refraction loss (%), and molar refraction, have been increased as BaCO3 mol% increased. At the same time, the results of the optical bandgap show a gradual decrease with increasing barium concentration. It was also found that the mass attenuation coefficients increased with BaCO3 concentration from 0.078 at zero mol% BaCO3 to 0.083 cm2/g at 30 mol%. Moreover, the half-value layer (HVL) and the exposure build-up factor (EBF) up to 40 mfp penetration depth were investigated in addition to the effective atomic number (Zeff) and the corresponding equivalent atomic number (Zeq) at the energy range of 0.015–15 MeV. The produced glass composite might be considered for many shielding applications based on the obtained results that require a transparent shielding material.

Structure and magnetism across the Sr2−xBaxNiOsO6 phase diagram: Understanding magnetic superexchange between first and third row transition metal ions

The crystal chemistry and magnetism of compositions in the Sr2−xBaxNiOsO6 phase diagram have been investigated to better understand the superexchange interactions between 3d and 5d transition metal ions. Compositions with x ​< ​1.35 crystallize with the double perovskite structure, while those with x ​> ​1.83 crystallize in a trigonal structure that is a cation ordered variant of the 6H hexagonal perovskite structure. The Sr-rich double perovskites undergo a cubic to tetragonal distortion upon cooling that is driven by out-of-phase octahedral tilting. The tetragonal distortion occurs upon cooling below 650 ​K in Sr2NiOsO6. The temperature of this transition decreases as the barium content increases and is completely suppressed for x ​≥ ​1.2. All compositions in the double perovskite region become spin glasses below Tg ​≈ ​40 ​K, due to the competition between ferromagnetic Ni–Os and antiferromagnetic Ni–Ni and Os–Os superexchange interactions. The double perovskite compositions that are rich in barium, like Sr0.8Ba1.2NiOsO6 show some signs of magnetic ordering in small clusters, but the presence of Ba/Sr disorder inhibits long-range magnetic order. Trigonal Ba2NiOsO6 orders ferrimagnetically below TC ​= ​108 ​K. The magnetic structure of this compound contains ferromagnetic ∼180° Ni–O–Os interactions and antiferromagnetic ∼90° Ni–O–Os interactions, both in agreement with the Goodenough-Kanamori rules.

GEOCHEMICAL MARKERS OF THE JOINT STRUCTURAL AND COMPOSITIONAL EVOLUTION OF THE BASEMENT AND COVER (NORTHERN LADOGA SWECOFENNIDES, RUSSIA)

Detailed studies of the deeply metamorphosed Early Precambrian rocks of the Northern Ladoga region allowed us to distinguish three deformation stages of the Svecofennian tectogenesis during which there occurred significant structural and compositional transformations of the "cover (Paleoproterozoic) – basement (Archean)" system. In addition to the structural-paragenetic analysis, which allowed to allocate transversal structural paragenesis in both floors, there are some other opportunities in the recognition of their-hosted granitoid veined bodies with a positive Eu anomaly. The rock varieties with this anomaly are always high in barium and do not show a direct correlation between the Eu anomaly and (La/Yb)n, Ca and Sr. This is contrary to the ideas about the occurrence of a positive Eu anomaly due to the substitution of divalent strontium by Eu++ and suggests that the formation of such rocks took place under the influence of deep reduced fluids. It was found that granitoids with a positive Eu anomaly were formed during the first and last stages of the structure evolution, with a predominance of brittle deformations and a deep-reduced fluid breakthrough. At the second stage, with the dominant manifestation of plastic deformations, when such fluids could be "blocked" within the system, there was a formation of granitoids with low barium concentrations and a negative Eu anomaly.

Preliminary assessment of heavy metals intake via food in CKDu affected Uddanam region of Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to assess metal/heavy metal intake by the population via food environment of the Uddanam region, a hotspot for chronic kidney disease of uncertain aetiology (CKDu) in India. The food samples included rice/paddy, marine/freshwater fish, green gram/black gram (whole), and green leafy vegetables (GLVs, i.e. amaranth/spinach). These were analysed for metal/heavy metal (chromium, nickel, copper, arsenic, lead, magnesium, calcium, aluminium, manganese, iron, zinc, barium, cadmium, mercury, and uranium) content using standard procedures. The total heavy metal intake was calculated as a sum of the intake from each food source. The daily dietary intake was compared to safe intake levels (from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies and National Institute of Nutrition). The intake was higher than safe levels for lead, chromium, and manganese. It is advisable to reduce heavy metal exposure by adopting agricultural practices and public health interventions in terms of diet.

Investigation of pollutant metals in road dust in a post-industrial city: Case study from Detroit, Michigan

Inhalation and/or ingestion of toxic heavy metals enriched in road dust have toxic effects on humans. From inhalation and ingestion of dust, release of readily bioavailable elements sorbed on to dust, could lead to health issues such as lung or skin cancer, kidney dysfunction, hypertension, dermal lesions, peripheral neuropathy, and vascular disease. On 49 road dust and soil samples collected in the Metro Detroit area, we analyzed a suite of trace metals in &amp;lt;63 μm and size-separated fractions to quantify the extent of metal enrichment and contamination status. We evaluated Enrichment Factor (EF), Pollution Index (PI), Geoaccumulation Index (GI), and Pollution Load Index (PLI). The average Chromium (Cr) concentration of 198 ppm is the highest reported for any global city in literature while in ∼80% samples, Barium (Ba), Cr, Lead (Pb), and Zinc (Zn) concentrations exceeded the USEPA limit. The EF for Barium (Ba) was found to be ≥9 in all samples, and for the rest of other elements was &amp;gt;1.5. The PI values for Cr, Ba, Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb), and Selenium (Se) indicate elevated levels and for Ba, Cr, and Zn up to a moderate level. PLI values in &amp;gt;50% of road dusts were ≥3, indicating many sites are ‘heavily polluted’. The PLI value in Detroit road dust is higher than those reported for some other global cities including Shanghai. Observed strong correlations between Cr-Zn and Cadmium (Cd)-Silver (Ag) likely indicate a common metal source. Cluster analysis of data for Cd, Arsenic (As), Pb, and Zn appears to be distinct between different proximally related clusters, while Nickel (Ni) and Ba are potentially more distinct between property type clusters. In general, metal concentrations of industrial samples are more commonly distinct with over half of metals (≥6 of 11) differing from residential and/or soil samples. Three generalized “groups” were identified from the combination of hierarchical cluster and PCA analyses followed by varimax rotation: Group 1 characterized by Cr, Cd, Ni, Ag, Zn, and Copper (Cu); Group 2 characterized by Pb, As, Mercury (Hg), and minor Ba; and Group 3 characterized by Se. This is the first study to report all four metrics of metal pollution along with rigorous statistical analysis.

Possible links with methane seepage and gas hydrate dynamics inferred from authigenic barite records in the northern south china sea

Numerous methane seepage events occurred in periods of low or falling sea level since 330 ka BP, which is attributed to decrease in hydrostatic pressure and subsequent gas hydrate dissociation in the northern South China Sea (SCS). The seepage intensity likely decrease due to gas hydrate stabilization once there was a relatively high-stand sea level. However, there are few geochemical records of decline in upward methane flux in the northern South China Sea. Here, combing porewater and solid-phase analyses, the geochemical cycling of barium was investigated in two piston cores from sites HD109 and HD319 within two areas with inferred gas hydrate occurrence in the Taixinan Basin of the northern SCS, in order to track the net decrease in the upward methane flux and to estimate the total duration time of these events in the studied sediments. The results indicate that there are four intervals with barium enrichments in the sediment section overlying the occurrent sulfate-methane transition zone (SMTZ) at both cores, suggesting the SMTZs have downward migrated through time. Based on the excess barium contents and the diffusive Ba2+ fluxes above the current SMTZ, we estimate the total time for barium accumulation at both cores is about ten thousand years. It is suggested that some methane seepage events temporarily enhance the upward flux of methane, inducing anaerobic oxidation of methane and associated SMTZ close to the sediment surface before the Holocene. After the most intensive seepage event ceased in the post-glacial period, the upward methane flux decreased and the SMTZ migrated downward gradually, preserving enrichments of diagenetic barite. Overall, these new data confirm the episodic decrease in upward methane flux recorded by authigenic barite after the last glacial maximum, which is likely related to the stabilization of underlying gas hydrate reservoir. This study may fill in the gap of the geochemical records of the variations in methane seepage and gas hydrate system during the post-glacial period in the northern SCS.

Which Videofluoroscopy Parameters Are Susceptible to the Influence of Differences in Barium Product and Concentration?

Prior studies suggest there may be differences in videofluoroscopic measures of swallowing across different barium concentrations. Whether different barium products of identical concentration result in similar swallowing physiology remains unknown. This is important, as barium intended for videofluoroscopy (i.e., Bracco Varibar) is not available globally. Our aim was to identify differences in healthy swallowing across five different barium stimuli. Twenty healthy adults (10 women), aged 22-54 years, underwent videofluoroscopy including comfortable sips of thin liquid barium: two sips of 20% weight-to-volume (w/v) barium prepared with E-Z-HD powder, and two sips each of 20%w/v and 40%w/v barium prepared with Liquid Polibar Plus and E-Z-Paque powder. Recordings were analyzed according to the Analysis of Swallowing Physiology: Events, Kinematics and Timing Method. Measures of timing, kinematics and residue were obtained. Chi-square, Friedman's, and Wilcoxon signed-ranks test were used to identify differences across stimuli. Significant differences were seen across barium stimuli for upper esophageal sphincter (UES) opening duration, UES diameter, pharyngeal area at maximum constriction, and residue. In all cases, smaller values were seen with the 20%w/v E-Z-HD stimulus; however, this stimulus had questionable opacity for visualization. Patterns of residue severity were not explained by barium concentration. This study confirms that some measures of swallowing are influenced by barium product and/or concentration. Measures are not necessarily similar across different barium products at the same concentration. This study illustrates the importance of using standard and appropriate stimuli in videofluoroscopy, and for clinicians to report not only the product but also the concentration of stimuli used. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.20669712.

Associations of exposure to multiple metals with blood pressure and hypertension: A cross-sectional study in Chinese preschool children

Exposure to metals might be a risk factor for hypertension, which contributes largely to the global burden of disease and mortality. However, relevant epidemiological studies of associations between metals exposure with hypertension among preschoolers are limited. This study aimed to explore the associations of urine metals with blood pressure and hypertension among Chinese preschoolers. A total of 1220 eligible participants who had urine metals measurement, blood pressure measurements, and relevant covariates were included in this cross-sectional study. Urine concentrations of metals were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The single and multiple metals regression models were used to investigate the associations of urine metal with blood pressure and the risk of hypertension after adjusting for potential confounders. We observed urine concentrations of chromium, iron, and barium were negatively associated with levels of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and the risk of hypertension in the single metal model (all P-FDR adjustment <0.05). Significant associations of urine chromium concentrations with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and the risk of hypertension were found in the multi-metal model (β or OR (95% confidence interval) was −3.07 (−5.12, −1.02), −2.25 (−4.29, −0.22), and 0.51 (0.26, 0.97) for 3rd quartile, compared with 1st quartile, respectively). The same association was found for barium concentrations in the multi-metal model, while none of the associations among iron quartiles was significant. In addition, urine chromium, iron and barium may have joint effects on systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and hypertension. Children's age and body mass index could modify the associations of chromium, iron, and barium concentrations with blood pressure. Our findings suggested that exposure to chromium, iron, and barium was inversely associated with blood pressure and hypertension among preschool children. These findings need further validation in prospective studies.

High Concentrations of Uranium, Barium, and Lead in Cancer Patients and Healthy Controls in the Malwa Region of Punjab, India

Abstract Background: Anthropogenic risk factors contribute worldwide to an unfavorable environmental situation, which in the population can lead to cancer and other environmental-related diseases. Heavy metals accumulate in tissues and affect human health. Objectives: This review evaluates data for the possible role of uranium (U), barium (Ba), and lead (Pb) in the cancer development in people living in the Malwa Region of Punjab, India. Methods: A literature search was performed using the databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Publications in English were included. Preference was given to studies of high methodological quality (systematic reviews and surveys of studies of various designs). The results of cross-sectional studies were taken into account. Discussion: A study has shown that cancer patients in the Malwa region of Punjab, India have unexpectedly high concentrations of U, Ba, and Pb in hair. We hypothesize that higher hair concentrations of U and other bone-seeking elements in hair of cancer patients may be due to the release of these elements from the skeleton, partly because of the patients age (following the menopause in women) and partly due to disease factors such as bed rest, bone metastases, and enhanced glucocorticoid secretion. Conclusions: Further research is needed to distinguish the effect of age on bone-seeking elements from real disease associations, regardless of the relationship with the pathology is a causal one or not.

Determination of the macro- and microelement composition of the saliva of СHPP workers

BACKGROUND: Chemical homeostasis is a necessary component for maintaining health, and an excessive or insufficient level of macro and microelements in the body is considered a risk factor for the development of pathological changes. AIM: To determine the micro and macro-element composition of the saliva of СHPP workers by capillary electrophoresis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the saliva samples from Omsk СHPP personnel aged 2545 years (main group; n=104) and healthy volunteers aged 2345 years who were not related to the СHРP company (control group; n=195). Capillary electrophoresis was used to evaluate the potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, lithium, strontium, barium, and manganese content of all samples. RESULTS: It has been established that potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium ions were present in all the samples investigated; however, their balance is considerably disrupted under conditions of technogenic pollution. It was observed that lithium, barium, strontium, and manganese were identified in a greater number of saliva samples from СHPP workers compared to the control group. Strontium was not identified in the saliva of volunteers in the control group; its appearance correlated with working conditions. CONCLUSION: The proposed method allows estimating the degree of technogenic load on the body and identifying a risk group for which appropriate preventive measures and greater attention to the diagnosis of occupational diseases as part of a planned medical evaluation are required.

Chapter 8 Scottish mineral Geological Conservation Review sites – Replacement minerals

This is, the eighth and final paper of a series that describes the Scottish mineral Geological Conservation Review (GCR) sites within both mainland Scotland and the associated Isles. It features locations where the mineralogy of the original rock unit has been either largely or completely replaced as a consequence of their interaction with either fluids or gaseous components derived from external sources. At both Lunda Wick and the Queyhouse Quarry, Unst, deformation of ultrabasic rocks located within or close to Cambrian-age obduction-related shear zones has resulted in the formation of new mineral species including talc, actinolite, chlorite and biotite. Within the former mine site at Craignure, copper and nickel mineralisation is a consequence of the metasomatic alteration of metabasic igneous intrusions within the youngest part of the Dalradian Supergroup sequence resulting in the formation of pyrrhotite, pentlandite and chalcopyrite. The Lecht Mine site involves Dalradian and younger rocks, where iron and manganese oxides, derived from the metamorphic host rocks, have replaced both clasts and matrix within Devonian-age intrusive breccia pipes. The predominant replacement mineral within this setting is cryptomelane, but also includes ramsdellite, pyrolusite, chalcophanite, lithiophorite, woodruffite and caconexite. These replacement minerals also contain enhanced concentrations of barium, zinc, thallium, molybdenum and silver.