Changes In Metal Concentrations Research Articles

Metal and oxidative potential exposure through particle inhalation and oxidative stress biomarkers: a 2-week pilot prospective study among Parisian subway workers

ObjectiveIn this pilot study on subway workers, we explored the relationships between particle exposure and oxidative stress biomarkers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and urine to identify the most relevant biomarkers for a large-scale study in this field.MethodsWe constructed a comprehensive occupational exposure assessment among subway workers in three distinct jobs over 10 working days, measuring daily concentrations of particulate matter (PM), their metal content and oxidative potential (OP). Individual pre- and post-shift EBC and urine samples were collected daily. Three oxidative stress biomarkers were measured in these matrices: malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-2′deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 8-isoprostane. The association between each effect biomarker and exposure variables was estimated by multivariable multilevel mixed-effect models with and without lag times.ResultsThe OP was positively associated with Fe and Mn, but not associated with any effect biomarkers. Concentration changes of effect biomarkers in EBC and urine were associated with transition metals in PM (Cu and Zn) and furthermore with specific metals in EBC (Ba, Co, Cr and Mn) and in urine (Ba, Cu, Co, Mo, Ni, Ti and Zn). The direction of these associations was both metal- and time-dependent. Associations between Cu or Zn and MDAEBC generally reached statistical significance after a delayed time of 12 or 24 h after exposure. Changes in metal concentrations in EBC and urine were associated with MDA and 8-OHdG concentrations the same day.ConclusionAssociations between MDA in both EBC and urine gave opposite response for subway particles containing Zn versus Cu. This diverting Zn and Cu pattern was also observed for 8-OHdG and urinary concentrations of these two metals. Overall, MDA and 8-OHdG responses were sensitive for same-day metal exposures in both matrices. We recommend MDA and 8-OHdG in large field studies to account for oxidative stress originating from metals in inhaled particulate matter.

Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Associations Between Metal Mixtures and Serum C3, C4: Result from the Manganese‑exposed Workers Healthy Cohort.

Exposure to metal mixtures compromises the immune system, with the complement system connecting innate and adaptive immunity. Herein, we sought to explore the relationships between blood cell metal mixtures and the third and fourth components of serum complement (C3, C4). A total of 538 participants were recruited in November 2017, and 289 participants were followed up in November 2021. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis at baseline and a longitudinal analysis over 4years. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) was employed to identify the primary metals related to serum C3, C4; generalized linear model (GLM) was further used to evaluate the cross-sectional associations of the selected metals and serum C3, C4. Furthermore, participants were categorized into three groups according to the percentage change in metal concentrations over 4years. GLM was performed to assess the associations between changes in metal concentrations and changes in serum C3, C4 levels. At baseline, each 1-unit increase in log10-transformed in magnesium, manganese, copper, rubidium, and lead was significantly associated with a change in serum C3 of 0.226 (95% CI: 0.146, 0.307), 0.055 (95% CI: 0.022, 0.088), 0.113 (95% CI: 0.019, 0.206), - 0.173 (95% CI: - 0.262, - 0.083), and - 0.020 (95% CI: - 0.039, - 0.001), respectively. Longitudinally, decreased copper concentrations were negatively associated with an increment in serum C3 levels, while decreased lead concentrations were positively associated with an increment in serum C3 levels. However, no metal was found to be primarily associated with serum C4 in LASSO, so we did not further explore the relationship between them. Our research indicates that copper and lead may affect complement system homeostasis by influencing serum C3 levels. Further investigation is necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

The geochemical processes affecting the mobility of Cu, Pb, Zn during phytostabilization on sulfidic mine tailings revealed by a greenhouse study

Sulfidic mine tailings have the potential to release toxic metals into the surrounding environment. Phytostabilization can stabilize these toxic metals in the rhizosphere, providing a sustainable method for mine reclamation. However, previous research has not examined the inorganic geochemical processes in the rhizosphere that are significant for controlling acid mine drainage. Therefore, a greenhouse study was conducted to explore the geochemical processes affecting the mobility of Cu, Pb, and Zn through the establishment of phytostabilization on sulfidic mine tailings. The mineralogy of substrates before and after experiments and the changes in metal concentrations and pH of the drainage were analyzed. The results showed that at the end of the experiments, pH of pot substrates with plants became acidic (pH ranging from 2.59 to 3.77), the concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Zn in the drainage increased (up to 20.14 mg/L of Cu, 2.28 mg/L of Pb, and 3199.87 mg/L of Zn), leading to the generation of acid mine drainage. It was concluded that, in addition to the sulfide oxidation, two other acidification processes played a role: the decomposition of organic matter and the release of roots exudates, in decreasing pH and increasing metal concentrations in the drainage from amended tailings. The acidity in the rhizosphere was neutralized sequentially through the following geochemical processes: (1) dissolution of carbonates, (2) dissolution of Al&Fe (oxy)hydroxide, and (3) silicates weathering. The long-term reliability of phytostabilization can be achieved by re-applying amendments to initiate these neutralization processes. This research has filled the research gap regarding the geochemical mechanisms controlling the migration of metals in the rhizosphere during phytostabilization with two grass species (Pascopyrum and Lolium multiflorum). It provides a valuable reference for designers and engineers when considering metal immobilization in sulfidic mine tailings through the technique of phytostabilization during mine reclamation and closure stage.

Relation between air and soil pollution based on statistical analysis and interpolation of Nickel (Ni) and Lead (Pb): Case study of Zagreb, Croatia

Purpose. This paper focuses on the comparison of Ni and Pb concentrations in air and soil pollution in the Zagreb area. Due to the very limited amount of publicly available data from soil analysis samples, 2016 and 2019 were chosen as the best possible indicators of related changes in metal concentrations in soil and air. Methods. Testing the normality of Ni and Pb concentrations in the total deposited matter (TDM) confirmed the feasibility of using two parametric statistical tools – the Pearson correlation coefficient and the t-test. The Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation method was selected as the best approach for a small number of measurements. Findings. The insufficient amount of data is the main shortcoming for urban health policy in a large area like Zagreb. The small number of air measurement stations and especially soil sampling sites cannot lead to any reliable conclusions about urban pollutants, their activity over time and direct links to soil toxic degradation based on statistical or geological methods and analyses. However, there is no doubt that urban pollution sources fill the soil with accumulated toxic elements such as Ni and Pb, especially in suburban areas located along the paths of the dominant wind directions. Originality. This is an original research that for the first time statistically analyzes and maps publicly available air and soil pollution data for the period 2016-2019. Practical implications. This research is a necessary step in determining the future planning of air and soil measurement stations in the Zagreb urban area.

Pond Sediments Reveal the Increasing Importance of Road Runoff as a Source of Metal Contamination in Industrialized Urban Environments Downwind of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA).

Toxic levels of trace metals from human activities accumulate in natural environments, yet these metal mixtures are rarely characterized or quantified. Metal mixtures accumulate in historically industrial urban areas and change as economies shift. Previous research has often focused on the sources and fate of a specific element, which limits our understanding of metal contaminant interactions in our environment. Here, we reconstruct the history of metal contamination in a small pond downstream of an interstate highway and downwind of fossil fuel and metallurgical industries that have been active since the middle of the nineteenth century. Metal contamination histories were reconstructed from the sediment record using metal ratio mixing analysis to attribute the relative contributions of contamination sources. Cadmium, copper, and zinc concentrations in sediments accumulated since the construction of major road arteries in the 1930s and 40s are, respectively, 3.9, 2.4, and 6.6 times more concentrated than those during industry-dominated time periods. Shifts in elemental ratios suggest these changes in metal concentrations coincide with increased contributions from road and parking lot traffic, and to a lesser extent, from airborne sources. The metal mixture analysis demonstrates that in near-road environments, contributions from modern surface water pathways can obscure historical atmospheric industrial inputs.

Persistence of trace metal contamination in a fluvial system: Lahn River, central Germany

To monitor short-term changes in trace metal concentrations (Cu, Pb, Zn) at geomorphically sensitive floodplain locations and examine the persistence of contaminants in the fluvial environment, near-channel sites along the Lahn River, central Germany, that were sampled in 2007 were revisited in 2019. Thirty-three cores were extracted from sites <5 m from the active channel along a 75-km reach of the river. The median concentrations of Cu and Zn in 2019 were statistically unchanged from concentrations in 2007, but median concentrations of Pb in 2019 were statistically higher than in 2007. Concentration of all three trace metals remain above the background concentrations, but only Zn concentrations exceed the 2ϭ background upper limit. On an individual sample site basis, the Cu concentration increased at 48 % of the sites and the Zn concentration increased at 45 % of the sites between 2007 and 2019. Pb concentration increased at 70 % of the sites. Concentrations of trace metals generally increased with distance downstream; the lowermost reach of the Lahn River continues to have the highest concentration of trace metals. Between 2007 and 2019, the concentrations (mean and median) of all three metals increased in the uppermost and lowermost sections of the study area whereas in the middle section the mean and median concentrations of Cu and Zn and the median concentration of Pb decreased (the mean concentration of Pb increased in the middle reach). Changes in metal concentrations between 2007 and 2019 do not appear to be caused by factors such as changes in substrate of samples, variable sedimentation rates and flood history, or the percentage of clay and organic matter content. Elevated concentrations of trace metals persist in near-channel sediments and will continue to pose a risk of future downstream heavy metal pollution in the study reach, especially along the lowermost reach of the Lahn River where the most contaminated sediments are located. Trace metal concentrations in the study reach appear to have become “uncoupled” from overall decreases in metal releases to the environment.

Urban Sustainability at Risk Due to Soil Pollution by Heavy Metals—Case Study: Volos, Greece

The focus of this case study is the meticulous observation of urban soil pollution by heavy metals (HMs), or, alternatively, potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The study took place in the urban center of Volos, Greece. Moreover, 248 soil samples were collected during 2018–2021 (62 samples annually), while 3.65 km2 was, approximately, the study area. The breakdown of total concentrations took place for the interpretation of different soil parameters, also according to mean values and medians of the total concentrations of HMs, the following decreasing order was monitored: Mn &gt; Zn &gt; Cr &gt; Ni &gt; Cu &gt; Pb &gt; Co &gt; Cd. During the 4-year study, an increasing trend of metal concentration was observed (for each year compared to the previous one). Furthermore, the imaginary triangle, which was observed, is bordered by the historic train station, the two city bus and intercity coach stations and the commercial harbor. Statistical analysis was implemented in order to interpret the exceedances of HMs concerning the Directive 86/278/EEC. Principal component analysis (PCA) is an additional technique that was conducted because of the correlations and interdependences between the HMs. A strong correlation was observed between the HMs, but mainly between Cd and Zn, which is probably due to their common origin. During the COVID-19 pandemic, significant changes in metal concentrations were observed in different parts of the city, due to the limited movement of motorized wheeled vehicles, but also due to the long operating hours of the heating systems in the residential area. Further research is needed in the future in order to identify the sources of pollution and to find possible ways to reduce it. All in all, urban soil pollution by HMs is a great conundrum of the environmental aspect of sustainability.

Increased Magnetic Susceptibility in the Deep Gray Matter Nuclei of Wilson's Disease: Have We Been Ignoring Atrophy?

BackgroundHistopathological studies in Wilson's disease (WD) have revealed increased copper and iron concentrations in the deep gray matter nuclei. However, the commonly used mean bulk susceptibility only reflects the regional metal concentration rather than the total metal content, and regional atrophy may affect the assessment of mean bulk susceptibility. Our study aimed to quantitatively assess the changes of metal concentration and total metal content in deep gray matter nuclei by quantitative susceptibility mapping to distinguish patients with neurological and hepatic WD from healthy controls.MethodsQuantitative susceptibility maps were obtained from 20 patients with neurological WD, 10 patients with hepatic WD, and 25 healthy controls on a 3T magnetic resonance imaging system. Mean bulk susceptibility, volumes, and total susceptibility of deep gray matter nuclei in different groups were compared using a linear regression model. The area under the curve (AUC) was calculated by receiver characteristic curve to analyze the diagnostic capability of mean bulk susceptibility and total susceptibility.ResultsMean bulk susceptibility and total susceptibility of multiple deep gray matter nuclei in patients with WD were higher than those in healthy controls. Compared with patients with hepatic WD, patients with neurological WD had higher mean bulk susceptibility but similar total susceptibility in the head of the caudate nuclei, globus pallidus, and putamen. Mean bulk susceptibility of putamen demonstrated the best diagnostic capability for patients with neurological WD, the AUC was 1, and the sensitivity and specificity were all equal to 1. Total susceptibility of pontine tegmentum was most significant for the diagnosis of patients with hepatic WD, the AUC was 0.848, and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.7 and 0.96, respectively.ConclusionBrain atrophy may affect the assessment of mean bulk susceptibility in the deep gray matter nuclei of patients with WD, and total susceptibility should be an additional metric for total metal content assessment. Mean bulk susceptibility and total susceptibility of deep gray matter nuclei may be helpful for the early diagnosis of WD.

Spatial and temporal variability and sources of dissolved trace elements in the Sava River (Slovenia, Croatia).

The spatial and temporal variability of dissolved trace elements (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sr, Ti, U, V and Zn) in the upper and middle reaches of the Sava River during two campaigns (2007/2008 and 2017/2018) was examined. The study also included important tributaries and wastewater effluents. No crucial change in metal concentrations in the Sava River water between the two sampling periods was detected. Elements Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Sb and Zn had higher concentrations at several sites in the first period, whereas Ba, Cd and Pb in the second period. The influence of wastewater discharges proved to be negligible. The highest levels of potentially toxic metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Sb, V and Zn) were found downstream of the industrial town of Sisak. Concentration-discharge relationship of dissolved elements showed a chemostatic behaviour for As, Cr, Cu, Sr and V and chemodynamic behaviour for all other elements. The UNMIX model, used to identify and quantify metal sources, indicated that soil weathering was the main source of most elements (Al, As, Ba, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Ni, Sb, Sr and V), with an anthropogenic contribution for Cd, Mo, Pb, Ti and Zn, while Mn and U were associated with colloid formation. The Sava River was defined as moderately polluted regarding metals, whose water quality meets environmental quality standards (EQS). These results may help to better understand the behaviour of dissolved metals in rivers under anthropogenic pressure and to control pollution in the Sava River Basin.

Associations between birthweight and metals: A real world example of bias amplification in a North Carolina birth cohort

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Air pollution comprises a mixture of gases and small particles, including metals, and has been associated with changes in mean birthweight (BW). Often, studies estimate exposure for a single metal in isolation or multiple metals simultaneously, but rarely evaluate both or examine the potential bias amplification. METHODS: We evaluated census tract level concentrations of 8 metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, and nickel) from the 2011 National Air Toxics Assessment linked with 431,929 infant-mother pairs with births between 2012-2015. Correlations were low to moderate (r0.62) between the metals. The change in BW (grams, g) and 95% confidence interval (CI) per one log-transformed unit of change in concentration was estimated with generalized estimation equation models, adjusted for race/ethnicity, age, marital status, education, and Medicaid status. Exposure to each metal was considered in isolation (IPM) and part of a multiple pollutant model (MPM) of 8 metals (mutually adjusted). RESULTS:We observed the largest decrease in BW for manganese [-8.0g(95% CI:-10.0,-6.1)] in the IPM and for arsenic [-11.5g(-19.0,-4.0)] in the MPM. The greatest increase in BW was observed with cadmium for both models [isolated: 16.5g(11.5,21.56); multiple: 13.7g(6.2,21.2)]. The direction of association changed with arsenic, chromium, and lead between the IPM and MPM. All metals, except manganese, were associated with more than a 10% change in BW per one log-transformed unit change in metal concentration when comparing the results from the IPM to the MPM, suggesting possible bias amplification. CONCLUSIONS:We observed changes in directionality and substantial changes in the magnitude of the associations between IPM and MPM. Evaluating MPM may over or under emphasize associations due to residual confounding or collinearity, leading to bias amplification. Considering the potential for bias amplification and its magnitude is useful in evaluating MPM. This abstract does not reflect EPA policy. KEYWORDS: Birth outcomes, Heavy metals, Multi-pollutant, Mixtures analysis, Air pollution

A Natural History of Northern Maine, Usa, since Deglaciation

We present a multi-proxy, postglacial paleorecord from Chase Lake, a 1.63-km2 drainage lake in northern Maine. This record, along with published paleorecords from several smaller lakes and hollows allow us to synthesize a long-term natural history of the area. Northern Maine is unique in the northeastern USA as it was the last part to be deglaciated and has maintained a relatively cold climate and boreal flora. The diverse lake/catchment sites differed in dates of deglaciation (13,700 to 13,200 cal yr BP) and the duration of the ensuing tundra period (1700 to 2900 cal yr). A dry, cold climate slowed plant establishment. Chase Lake had low aquatic productivity until the end of the tundra period. The Chase record shows that afforestation began ∼10,600 cal yr BP, ∼1000 years after the end of the Younger Dryas, and 700–1400 years later than at the other sites, and was completed by 9200 cal yr BP. Initial open woodlands of Picea (spruce) (largely P. mariana [Black Spruce]), Abies balsamea (Balsam Fir), Larix laricina (American Larch), Pinus (pines), Betula papyrifera (Paper Birch), and Populus (poplars) gradually became closed forest. Climate substantially warmed at the outset of afforestation. Despite evidence of an increasingly wetter climate, as indicated by rising water levels at 2 seepage lakes, fire was common for the first 2000–3000 years of woodland and forest history, probably enabled by summer droughts. This fire period is not matched in intensity and duration later in the paleorecords. At Chase, afforestation was accompanied by an increase in insect remains including microlepidopteran defoliators, and these remained abundant for the rest of the record. Major increases of aquatic biota accompanied afforestation. Spruce greatly decreased by ∼7500 cal yr BP as northern hardwoods and Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock) increased, but hemlock abundance remained low compared to farther south in the Northeast. From 7500 to 1300 cal yr BP, temperate tree taxa were at maximum abundances. Spruce and fir were at postglacial minima 6250–4400 cal yr BP. A relatively dry period 5300–3300 cal yr BP nearly eliminated hemlock at the outset, when it was replaced largely by Fagus (beech). Hemlock's partial recovery late in that period was accompanied by increasing Thuja (cedar) and decreasing Quercus (oak), the beginning of climate cooling and resumption of wetter conditions. This climate trend intensified after 3300 cal yr BP, resulting in further increases of cedar, spruce (largely Picea rubens [Red Spruce] and Black Spruce) and fir, which reached greatest postglacial abundances in the most recent 1000–1500 years. Long-term natural histories of selected woody taxa provide insights on ecological factors accounting for changes in species abundances. For example, the flourishing of cedar in the late-Holocene could have been abetted by increasing winter severity that eliminated Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer), heavy browsers on cedar. The geochemical history of the Chase catchment demonstrates ongoing weathering and depletion of several metals, resulting in enrichment of soils with silica. Several changes in metal concentrations are linked to afforestation, including increased transport to the lake sediment of Ca, K, Al, Fe, Cu, and Zn in/on increased organic detritus. Accumulation rates of metals and organic materials in the Chase Lake sediment were probably heavily influenced by physical processes including catchment erosion, shifts in sediment sources, and in-lake focusing.

Geochemical baseline of trace and major elements in sediments in the Rio de Ondas Basin (Bahia, Brazil)

Sediments provide essential information about geochemical processes occurring in aquatic systems and are useful to monitor temporal changes in metals concentrations. In this work, we conducted a geochemical survey in the Rio de Ondas basin, situated in the inland cerrado area from the northeast Brazilian region, to establish environmental reference values to identify metal origins related to anthropogenic and natural sources. Also, we evaluated the temporal dynamics of soil to assess the anthropic pressure over the soil surface and its potential effects on geochemical compositions of sediments. To this end, we combined geochemical and Geographic Information System (GIS) information, including remote sensing imagery, X-ray diffraction analysis, and geochemical analytical tools. We applied multivariate statistical analysis, determination of Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), and enrichment factors (EF) to interpret the dataset. The results showed that 47.35% of the Brazilian cerrado in this zone was suppressed due to agricultural activity expansion. Mineralogy analysis indicated the presence of quartz silicates, varying from 65.1% (w/w) to 86% (w/w). Overall, the sediments showed low metal contamination levels and moderate levels near urban centers, probably due to domestic sewage discharge. It was also observed in very similar proportions of mineral constituents, obtaining environmental reference data and their associations with the region's geological formation. Thereby, sediment geochemical compositions probably reflect weathering processes, which may accelerate due to landscape modifications induced by economic activities, notably agriculture.

Immediate and long-term impacts of one of the worst mining tailing dam failure worldwide (Bento Rodrigues, Minas Gerais, Brazil)

The rupture of Fundão Dam is considered one of the largest environmental disasters in Brazilian history and one of the largest in the world involving tailings dams. The present study analyzed the changes in metal concentrations in the dissolved, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediment in the period just after (15 days) and six months after the dam rupture, together with the biological and cytogenotoxic effects, from the collapse site until the Doce River mouth in the Atlantic Ocean. After the dam rupture, the tailings were mainly transported as SPM. After six months, with the deposition, there was a decrease in metal concentrations in dissolved and SPM and increased levels were observed in the sediment. Cr, Ni, Cd and Hg levels in sediment were higher than the threshold effects level (TEL/NOAA), especially six months after the dam rupture. The water induced immediate negative biological effects at different levels of the trophic chain, together with Al, Fe, Mn and Zn accumulation in fish muscle. Both water and sediment also showed cytotoxic, genotoxic and mutagenic effects. These data demonstrate the importance of long-term monitoring with abiotic and biotic parameters to clarify the impacts of mining tailings and can help to direct future monitoring programs.

Colonialism and the environment: The pollution legacy of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest copper mine in the 20th century

Mining has been a major contributor to economic development in Australia since British arrival in the late 1700s, with little to no thought regarding the long-term environmental consequences. This study assesses the metal pollution legacy caused by different smelting methods and mining activities during the British colonialism in western Tasmania. This region was the largest copper producer in the Southern Hemisphere during the 20th century. Lake sediments from Basin Lake and Owen Tarn, 12 and 5 km from Queenstown’s mines, respectively, were used to reconstruct historical metal contamination. Temporal changes in metal concentrations (iron, copper, arsenic, selenium and lead) were assessed in relation to the scale of mining activities and the technologies used. Sedimentation rates and metal influxes increased from 1900, reflecting the beginning of copper mining in Mount Lyell. Observed metal concentrations peaked after 1930, coinciding with the introduction of large-scale open-cut operations and an expansion of the mining machinery used. All elements underwent at least minor enrichment (EF 1-3) during the lifespan of the mine, with lead and copper undergoing extremely severe enrichment (EF &gt; 50). Although smelters contributed to metal increases in the lakes, large open-cut large operations in the 1930s contributed most to metal contamination. Local metal deposition from mining-related activities decreased significantly once operations decreased, with selenium and arsenic decreasing nearly to background levels within 50 years. Lead and copper, the elements which underwent major enrichment, have not yet reached background values. The ecological consequences include the current degraded local landscape, poor water quality and disrupted local biota. Knowledge about the environmental impacts of mining in western Tasmania is less known compared to other sites around the world with a similar history. Our results demonstrate the urgent need to develop better policies and remediation programs that can mitigate the consequences of metal pollution from abandoned mines in Australia.

Microbial potentiometric sensor technology for real-time detecting and monitoring of toxic metals in aquatic matrices

Considering that toxic metals can affect metabolic processes in microorganisms adversely, it can be hypothesized that these metals in water matrices would induce a decrease in metabolic activity of the biofilm microorganisms populating the surface of a sensing electrode, which could be registered as a change in the open-circuit potential (OCP) generated by the biofilm microorganisms. The goal of this study was to test this hypothesis and demonstrate the underlying principle that microbial potentiometric sensor (MPS) technology could be used for long-term and real-time monitoring and detection of rapid changes in metal concentrations in realistic aquatic environments. To address the goal, four objective were addressed: (1) a batch reactor with three graphite-based MPS electrodes was fabricated; (2) a set of single-ion solutions and one multiple ion solution were prepared reflecting realistic concentrations of metals found in electroplating wastewaters; (3) the responses of the MPS to the simultaneous presence of multiple toxic metal ions in a single solution were measured; and (4) the changes of the MPS signals to the presence of individual metal ion solutions were examined. While the hypothesis was validated, the study also revealed that the MPS was sufficiently sensitive to not only detect, but also quantify, toxic metal ion concentrations in aqueous solutions. The coefficients of determination, which were R2&gt;0.995, and responsiveness of &lt;1 μmol/L for some toxic metal cations, strongly support the performance of MPS technology in the echelons of expensive analytical tools capable detecting and measuring trace elements.The magnitude of the MPS response was toxic metal specific. When the molar concertation normalizes the inhibition portion of the signal area, the assessed sensitivity order was: Se&gt;Cd&gt;Pb&gt;Ag&gt;Ni&gt; Zn. The study provides valuable information for enforcement agents, environmental professionals, and wastewater treatment operators, so toxic metal pollution and its detrimental impacts can be prevented and mitigated.

Temporal changes in metal concentrations in Andean condor feathers: a potential influence of volcanic activity.

Geothermal activities (e.g., volcanic eruptions) represent one of the most important natural sources of metal emissions (heavy metals and metalloids). They can be one of the main risks for the ecosystems in regions like North of Argentiniean Patagonia, a sparsely populated area, close to an extensive network of active volcanoes on the AndesRange. The 2011 eruption of the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcanic complex (PCCVC) has been the largest volcanic event of the last decades. The effects of exposure to ashes on wildlife and humans have been sparsely studied, and only one biomonitoring study has used higher trophic species. The exposure to metals of the species in Patagonia has been poorly studied. The main objectives of our study were to assess metal screening and to evaluate a possible relation between the levels of metals in the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus)population and the volcanic activity of the area. We investigated the effects of the eruption of the PCCVC in 2011, using samples of molt primary feathers of the Andean condor, collected in nine roosts around Bariloche, Argentina (maximum distance 85km). Data available suggest the molt of the primary feathers of the Andean condor has a duration of 6years. We carried out sampling before (2007, 2009) and after (2017) the volcanic eruption(2011). The feathers sampled in 2017 should have been developed in 2011-2012, reflecting the environmental situation of the period immediately following the eruption of the PCCVC. For the first time, we have screened metals in 48 molted primary feathers of Andean condor, showing the levels of 9 metals and metalloids (Si, Cr, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Pb, Hg). Si, Zn, As, and Cd showed higher levels in the feathers sampled after the eruption. The levels of Cr and Pb (although apparently not related to the volcanic eruption) in some samples are compatible with potential adverse effects in living organisms. The screening results represent an important database (the first for this species) that can be used in in future studies for comparative purposes. HIGHLIGHTS: •We present the first database of metals in condor feathers, which may be useful for future studies. •Volcanic eruptions might represent an important source of metal and metalloid emissions in this area. •The Andean condor from Argentine Patagonia could be affected by volcanic activity in the area. •Andean condor feathers may be good biomonitoring units of this contamination. •Pb pollution does not seem to be related to the volcano's eruption.

The value of EDTA treatment of hatchery water to rear Greenshell™ mussel (Perna canaliculus) larvae

The chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is used throughout the world to improve the yield of early stage D-larvae during bivalve hatchery production. Adding EDTA (12 μM) to seawater significantly increases the survival of Greenshell™ mussel (Perna canaliculus) larvae during their first 48 h of development. However, whether there are benefits of continuing to use EDTA beyond this first stage of larval development remain unknown and were tested in this study. After rearing for 48 h in the presence of EDTA, P. canaliculus larvae were experimentally raised to 22-day post-fertilisation in seawater with and without 12 μM EDTA. The survival, shell length growth, algal ingestion rate, swimming activity and potential toxic metal accumulation by the larvae were compared over this period. There were minimal benefits from continuing addition of EDTA. However, significant changes in metal concentrations within the larvae were observed. Zinc, cadmium and mercury were detected at significantly lower concentrations in 22-day-old larvae reared with EDTA versus those without EDTA. Collectively, the results indicate that the use of EDTA is critical only during the first 48 h of larval development, during which time larval shell formation is initiated and appears highly vulnerable to interference by heavy metal ions.

Can the “Green Tides” Affect the Metal Distribution in the Coastal Sediments? A Case Study in the Eastern Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea

Our study has been conducted along the coastline of the eastern Gulf of Finland for three years. It had been shown that accumulation of algal biomass caused by the “green tide” events significantly influenced the metal distribution in the surface sediments. Metal concentrations differed significantly under algal mats and at the sites, which were free of algae. Our study showed significant changes in metal concentrations (Zn, Cd and Pb) along the coast in study years, which, in our opinion, reflect influence of the ports Vysotsk and a new one—Bronka. Principal component and classification analysis extracted two main factors, which can be interpreted as a factors related to the distance from a river mouth and to the input from the new anthropogenic sources. Taking into account a global climate change and the results of our study, we may conclude that in the future extended macroalgal blooms may provoke intense sediment contamination by organic matter and associated metals.

Assessment of biochar and/or nano zero-valent iron for the stabilisation of Zn, Pb and Cd: A temporal study of solid phase geochemistry under changing soil conditions.

The remediation of a soil contaminated with Zn, Pb and Cd was tested by using biochar (BC), nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) and a combination of these two (BC+nZVI). Each amendment was individually applied to the soil at 2wt%. We tested the influence of (i) the used amendments, (ii) time, and (iii) soil moisture conditions on the metal availability and soil physico-chemical parameters using various extraction methods, as well as soil pore water samplings. We found that metal availability was mainly affected by pH under the influence of time and water content. Among the tested treatments, BC was the most successful, resulting in the lowest amounts of the target metals in the pore water and the smallest temporal changes in metal concentrations and pH in the soil. The use of nZVI efficiently decreased water-extractable Pb in the short- and long-term. The BC+nZVI treatment also yielded promising results regarding the immobilisation of the studied metals. Time provoked a general decrease in pH, which occasionally increased the available metal concentrations. Raising the soil water content increased the pH and subsequently lowered the available metal concentrations in the pore water. The mechanisms of metal stabilisation were further investigated by SEM/EDS. The results indicated that the used soil amendments enhanced the binding of Zn, Pb, and Cd on Fe/Mn/Al oxides/hydroxides, which in turn resulted in the stabilisation of the target metals.

Determining toxic metal concentration changes in landscaping plants based on some factors

Toxic metals are one of the most culpable air pollutants. They do not dissolve naturally. Rather, they tend to be bioaccumulative, and some of them have toxic or carcinogenic effects even at low measures. Therefore, the ability to measure and monitor toxic metal concentrations in the air is vital in fighting pollution. To achieve this, bioindicators are widely used due to their efficiency and global availability. Bioindicators are plants that accumulate some of the toxic metals found in the soil or air. This study aims to determine the differences in toxic metal concentrations depending on plant species, plant organelles, and traffic density in certain landscaping plants grown in Kastamonu town center. The results showed that the elements subjected to the study varied significantly between the different species. The highest accumulation values of such metals were obtained in cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera), and the lowest values of all metals were found in the European ash (Fraxinus excelsior). Based on our observations in this study, we determined that the most suitable species used as biomonitor is the cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera). We noticed that the concentrations of the metals differed significantly according to the species. The biggest difference recorded was five times more in Ni metal concentration. The concentrations of the studied elements were also varied depending on organelles and on traffic density, which will be discussed in detail in this paper.