Cold Vapor Research Articles

Analytical Methods and GAPI Assessment Used for the Determination of Toxic Metals in Commercial Cosmetic Products: A Review

Background: The toxic metal content of cosmetics causes worry because of the daily and repeated use of these products, which are placed over thin and sensitive areas of the skin such as the face, eyelids, and lips. Objective: Toxic metals like Fe, Cr, Hg, Cu, Cd, Ni, and As are determined in various types of cosmetics such as colour cosmetics, hair cosmetics, body and face care products, and herbal cosmetics. Last studies estimate that in commercial cosmetics toxic metals might present in amounts making a risk to human health. Methods: Many analysis methods used for determining toxic metals in cosmetics were established. The instruments involving FAAS, ICP-AES, ICP–MS, Hydride generation, Cold vapor, and CE spectrometers with many novel methods were described in this review. Green analytical methods should be developed for determining toxic metals in cosmetics and particularly during the preparation of analytical cosmetic samples. Results: The most tools used for assessing analytical protocols related to green analytical chemistry are GAPI (Green Analytical Procedure Index). GAPI gives good information on the safety of analytical chemistry procedures, depending on the five pentagrams shaped with three color symbols that can be used (green, yellow, and red) referring to low, medium to high impact, respectively. Conclusion: This review offers an overview, analytical chemistry methods and instruments used for the estimation of toxic metals in cosmetics and their GAPI assessment.

“Ayenst trauelynge fendys by nyghte”: Simple Medicines, Practical Innovation, and the Premodern Conceptualization of the Nightmare

ABSTRACTSleep paralysis, as it is known today, was one of the most remarked-upon maladies in premodern medicine. The feeling of being choked during sleep was usually seen by physicians as being caused by an abundance of melancholic humors. Others interpreted the experience as a supernatural attack. However, the distinctions between medical and “superstitious” remedies against nightmares were rarely so clear cut, especially given the belief that demons were able to manipulate the bodily humors. In this article I will chart the various substances—plant and stone—that were traditionally believed to assuage the symptoms of the nightmare. I will examine how “hot” herbs, such as peony, and minerals with occult heating properties, such as gagate, could rebalance the dangerously cold and heavy vapors that provoked a nightmare attack. It will be seen that even seemingly “magical” apotropaic practices were entirely rational within the milieu of humoral theory.

Health Risk Assessment Attributed to Consumption of Fish Contaminated with Mercury in the Rio Branco Basin, Roraima, Amazon, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to assess the health risk attributable to the consumption of mercury-contaminated fish for the urban and non-urban populations living in the Roraima state, Amazon, Brazil. Seventy-five fish specimens distributed across twenty different species, comprising four trophic levels (i.e., herbivore, omnivore, detritivore, and carnivore), were collected at four locations in the Branco River Basin. The fish samples were sent to the Toxicology Laboratory at Evandro Chagas Institute to determine the total-Hg levels by using the cold vapor atomic system (CVAAS). The total-Hg levels ranged from 0 to 3.159 µg/g. The average concentration in non-carnivorous species (n = 32) was 0.116 µg/g, and among carnivorous fish (n = 43), it was 0.869 µg/g. The weighted average of contamination levels for all samples was 0.545 µg/g. The health risk assessment was conducted according to the methodology proposed by the World Health Organization and different scenarios of human exposure were considered, based on three levels of fish consumption (low: 50 g/day; moderate: 100 g/day and high: 200 g/day). Women of childbearing age ingest 5 to 21 times more mercury than the dose considered safe by the U.S. EPA and intake a dose from 2 to 9 times higher than the safe dose proposed by FAO/WHO. Children under 5 years of age ingest from 18 to 75 times the dose proposed by the U.S. EPA and from 8 to 32 more mercury than the limit proposed by FAO/WHO. In summary, regardless of the level of fish consumption, type of residency (urban or non-urban), and the subset of the population analyzed, anyone who consumes fish from the locations sampled is at high risk attributable to mercury ingestion, with the only exception of adult men, who consume an average of 50 g of fish per day.

Evaluation of mercury content in combustible tobacco products by employing cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy and considering the moisture content: a comprehensive study

Plants are mainly made up of water, which constitutes between 80 and 90% of their weight. Moisture factor comes across as one of the most important in tobacco products. Rapid determination of moisture content in tobacco products comes at necessity in any tobacco management plants (before and after production). Therefore, the concern has been raised in this study to evaluate the moisture content in four kinds of combustible tobacco products using the gravimetric method. In addition, a total mercury content using cold vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy has been evaluated in all chosen combustible tobacco products in this study. Determining moisture content in four types of tobacco products does not show significant differences within a product group. Moisture content ranged from 7.9% in bidis to 25% in pipe tobaccos. Mercury content in tobacco ranged from 13 µg/kg to 32 µg/kg while in cigarette wrapper paper and filter from the limit of detection (LOD) < 1.3 µg/kg to 8.2 µg/kg. As evidenced, cigarette wrapper paper and filters alone are unlikely to be a significant source of consumer exposure to mercury. However, the proposed sample preparation method provides good results for the preparation of specific material, such as tobacco products.Graphical abstract

Mercury content in beetroot and beetroot-based dietary supplements

Total mercury (THg) concentrations in fifty-four beetroot-based DSs and seven lots of conventional and organic beetroots (divided into unpeeled, peeled, and skins) were determined by direct thermal decomposition-gold amalgamation cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. The analytical procedure was optimised and validated. The recovery (%) for Hg was 101.9 and 92.73 in BCR-463 and DOLT 4, respectively. The intermediate precision value (4.7%) exceeded the repeatability value, which was as expected. The estimated LOD and LOQ values of the analytical procedure used were 0.096 and 0.29 [ng], respectively, and were converted to corresponding MDL and MQL values, which were 0.96 and 2.9 [ng/g], respectively. The highest contents of THg were found in conventional (28.03 ng/100 g w.w.) and organic (56.2 ng/100 g w.w.) beetroot or powder supplements (0.65 ng/g). Statistical analysis confirmed the differentiation of the analysed group of products at the level of significance 0.05 and 0.001. There were found statistically significant relationships in terms of: dietary supplement-beetroot (p < 0.001), beetroot-part of vegetable (p < 0.05) and dietary supplement-pharmaceutical form (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the analysed DSs did not pose a significant risk for a consumer in terms of permissible contamination limit, Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake realisation, and the Target Hazard Quotient.

A Comparison of Conventional and Ultrasound-Assisted BCR Sequential Extraction Methods for the Fractionation of Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge of Different Characteristics.

The purpose of this study was to determine the heavy metal (HM: Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg) content in particular chemical fractions (forms) of sewage sludge with different characteristics (primary and dewatered sludge) using conventional (CSE) and ultrasound-assisted (USE) BCR sequential extraction methods (Community Bureau of Reference, now the Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme). The concentrations of HMs were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical spectrometry (ICP-OES). Only mercury was assayed with cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). Ultrasound treatment was conducted in the ultrasonic bath (Sonic 5, Polsonic). The optimal sonication time (30 min) was determined using ERM-CC144 (Joint Research Center; JCR) certified reference material. The conducted experiment revealed that the use of ultrasound waves shortened the extraction time to 4 h and 30 min (Stages I to III). The recoveries (RM) of heavy metals ranged from 62.8% to 130.2% (CSE) and from 79.8% to 135.7% (USE) for primary sludge, and from 87.2% to 113.2% (CSE) and from 87.8% to 112.0% (USE) for dewatered sludge. The only exception was Hg in dewatered sludge. The conducted research revealed minor differences in the concentrations and fractionation patterns for Cd, Ni, and Zn extracted from sludge samples by the tested methods. However, it was confirmed that the above findings do not significantly affect the results of a potential ecological risk assessment (with minor exceptions for Cd and Zn in the primary sludge), which is extremely essential for the natural use of sludge, and especially dewatered sludge (the final sludge). The shorter extraction time and lower energy consumption prove that ultrasound-assisted extraction is a fast and simple method for HM fractionation, and that it provides an alternative to the conventional procedure. Therefore, it can be considered a “green method” for the assessment of the bioavailability and mobility of heavy metals in solid samples.

A new magnetic metal–organic framework composite synthesized via a post-synthetic functionalization approach for ultra-trace extraction/determination of mercury in real matrixes

Herein, a novel magnetic metal–organic framework (MMOF) composite was prepared via a post-synthetic modification method was employed to the ultra-trace determination of mercury in food samples. At first, magnetite nanoparticles were fabricated and afterward functionalized with a SiO2 layer (MNPs@silica). After that, MIL-101(Fe) as a MOF was synthesized in the presence of MNPs@silica to obtain magnetic MIL-101 (MMIL-101). Finally, MMIL-101(Fe) was functionalized with dithizone as a chelator via diazonation reaction. The nanomaterial fabrication was approved by diverse techniques including, SEM, EDX-mapping, TEM, XRD, FT-IR, VSM, BET, and CHNS. Optimizing of affecting experimental factors on the extraction process was conducted via a Box-Behnken design approach. Determination of the mercury ions was conducted by a cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometer. The LOD and LOQ values were 0.015 µg kg−1 and 0.045 µg kg−1, respectively, and the method's repeatability as RSD% was evaluated for 1.0, 20, and 50 ng mL−1 standard solutions (n = 5), which were 10.1, 7.6, and 4.8 %, respectively. The new method was validated by analyzing a CRM. The maximum adsorption capacity of 213 mg g−1 was obtained, and the preconcentration factor was 316. Finally, the fabricated nanomaterials was successfully utilized to the separation/quantification of mercury in diverse food samples, and satisfactory results were obtained (RSD, 5.9–10.2 %; recovery, 82–112 %).

The presence of hydroquinone, and mercury in skin toning creams, as well as lead in turmeric powder, pose potential health risks to Bangladeshi women

Skin toning creams and turmeric powders are widely used among Bangladeshi fashion and beauty concerned women and young girls in general. However, it has been reported that excessive use of skin toning cream and turmeric powder can cause various dermatological problems, including skin cancer. These creams and turmeric powder contain a wide variety of active ingredients, including Hydroquinone (HQ), Mercury (Hg), and Lead (Pb), that are toxic, and hazardous to health, especially after prolonged application. As a result, in the current study, we tried to assess HQ and Hg level in commonly used skin toning creams and Pb in turmeric powder in the context of Bangladeshi women collected from the local markets in Dhaka city. HQ, Hg, and Pb levels were analyzed for 40 different Bangladeshi skin toning cream products and 40 different turmeric powder samples. The HQ level was determined by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, the Hg level was determined by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (CV-AAS) using an automatic mercury analyzer, and Pb was measured by the flame atomic absorption spectrometry method. Among the 40 samples, 23 samples (57.5%) did not contain HQ, whereas 17 samples (42.5%) contained a high level of HQ compared to the standard limit. In the case of Hg analysis, we found that 28 (70%) out of 40 samples complied with the standard level of Hg, whereas 12 samples (30%) contained a higher level of Hg compared to the standard limit. Among the 40 samples of turmeric powder, 20 samples (50%) complied with the standard level of Pb, whereas 20 samples (50%) contained a high level of Pb compared to the standard limit. After three and six months of storage, we had similar results in all the samples for the three cases. After combining HQ and Hg data sets, we found that 14 (35%) out of the 40 samples had HQ and Hg levels within the standard limit, and 3 samples (7.5%) had higher quantities of both HQ and Hg levels and did not comply with the standard limit. 14 samples (35%) in the data set had higher HQ levels but complied only with the standard Hg level, whereas 9 samples (22.5%) had higher Hg levels and thus complied only with the standard HQ level. So, in 65% of the samples, we found the presence of excess level of either both HQ and Hg at the same time or any one of the measured chemical parameters. The use of these creams and turmeric powders, which did not comply with the standard limit, may pose a serious health risk to consumers. So, consumers should be aware of the risks associated with using these creams and turmeric powders, and policymakers should take appropriate measures to prevent the manufacturing and marketing of skin toning creams containing high levels of HQ and Hg and turmeric powder with high levels of Pb. Bioresearch Commu. 8(2): 1132-1142, 2022 (July)

A study on the leakage of mercury vapor from pre-capsulated dental amalgam according to storage temperature

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the amount of mercury vapor from one pre-capsulated dental amalgam according to the storage temperature and to investigate whether the storage temperature suggested by the manufacturer or ISO is appropriate for the storage.Materials and Methods: GK Amalgam and Ultracaps+ were used in this study. One pre-capsulated dental amalgam was placed in a Tedlar Bag and the Tedlar Bag was filled with 2 L of (4±2) ℃ air. The Tedler Bag was stored at one of the three different temperature conditions; (4±2) ℃, (23±2) ℃ and (30±2) ℃ for 24 hours. By applying Ontario hydro method, mercury vapor in the Tedlar Bag was oxidized in KMnO4-H2SO4 solvent and pre-treated, followed by analyses using the Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Five measurements were obtained from each group.Results: The average mercury vapor from GK Amalgam was (0.068±0.024), (0.300±0.100) and (0.544±0.133) mg/m3 , and Ultracaps+ was (0.026±0.008), (0.088±0.013) and (0.146±0.023) mg/m3 at (4±2) ℃, (23±2) ℃ and (30±2), respectively. There was a significant difference between GK Amalgam and Ultracaps+ at each temperature, and depending on the storage temperature in each material (p&lt;0.05).Conclusions: It was evident that storage at (23±2) ℃ result in exposure of mercury vapor exceeding 340 to 1,170% of the expo-sure amount compare to the standard set by the Ministry of Labor in Korea. In order to reduce the amount of mercury vapor leaking from pre-capsulated dental amalgam, it is considered an effective method for users to periodically ventilate storage places, store them in refrigerators or keepin sealed container, and manufacturers to produce them in individual packaging.

Determination of mercury values in urine and air of chloralkali workers by copper nanoparticles functionalized in carboxylic carbon nanotubes and the effects of mercury exposure on oxidative stress

Mercury exposure can produce toxic organic compounds in the body. Also, mercury can potentially cause oxidative damage and cellular disorders. In this study, the determination of mercury values in urine and air of chloralkali workers based on copper nanoparticles functionalized in carboxylic carbon nanotubes (CuNPs@CNT-COOH) were obtained by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometer (CV-AAS). The urine samples were determined by magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) at pH 8.0. By measuring the mercury level in the air and the urine sample of workers, the level of oxidative stress (Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (Cat)), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α) as the proinflammatory cytokines were measured in the subject group. The results revealed statistically significant differences in the mercury level of the urine samples in the case and control groups (p&lt;0.001). Similarly, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level was significantly different between the two research groups (p&lt;0.001). Catalase concentration was not significantly different in the two groups (p=0.059). The LOD and linear range for mercury determination in urine were achieved at 0.012 µg L−1 and 0.05-7.0 µg L−1, respectively. Workers’ exposure to mercury can significantly increase oxidative stress and inflammatory cell signaling molecules such as cytokines.

Thiomersal determination in vaccines using graphene quantum dots-TiO2 nanocomposite to promote temporally selective photo-production of Hg cold vapor

Determination of thiomersal was made by the temporally selective photo-degradation, mediated by graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and TiO2 nanoparticles (GQDs-TiO2) composite, producing the Hg0 quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) using a multipass detection cell. The UV photo-reactor was directly adapted to the mercury dedicated spectrometer with samples mixed, into quartz tube, to a solution (buffered at pH 4.0) containing formic acid (1% v/v) and the dispersed GQDs-TiO2 (0.18 mg L−1). Hg0 temporal profile from thiomersal was detected after 16 min of UV exposure. Different kinetics of Hg0 releasing allowed speciation as the Hg0 from other mercurial species were produced at different times. Analytical linear range was from 15 ng L−1 (LOD) up to 1000 ng L−1. Temporal separation of Hg0 formation was confirmed by gas chromatography coupled to atomic fluorescence spectrometry, also indicating that thiomersal is firstly degraded to ethylmercury before turning into Hg2+ and then into Hg0. The method was applied in the determination of thiomersal in vaccines and residual levels of Hg2+ and ethylmercury were also detected.

Mercury in Dried Market Fish of Hong Kong and San Francisco: Human Health Implications

Asian, Asian Pacific Islanders, and Asian American residents of San Francisco have higher exposure to mercury and the associated health risks associated with methylmercury toxicity from fish consumption than other demographics across the United States. Due to their higher annual fish consumption, Hong Kong Chinese residents have elevated risks to methylmercury exposure. Objectives: We investigate samples of dried market fish from San Francisco and from Hong Kong as potential sources of mercury contamination in fish commonly consumed by Asian and Asian American residents. Methods: We analyze 81 samples of dried market fish from San Francisco and Hong Kong for mercury concentration using Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrograph and Processing Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry. We binned into market categories, trophic level, and habitat type for statistical analysis. Results: No significant difference was observed in the mercury levels of samples between San Francisco and Hong Kong (p-value = 0.47). Dried samples did show higher rates of mercury than wet samples reported by the FDA. Data from dried market fish samples also show evidence of bioaccumulation: the concentration of toxins in higher trophic levels of fish (p-value &lt; 0.01). Eliminating apex predators, nearly all samples of fish from both locations and from lower trophic levels had levels below the lowest health advisory thresholds of 0.5 ppm methylmercury by weight. Discussion: Dried fish samples from markets in San Francisco and Hong Kong showed mercury levels with the potential to exceed guidelines set by the EPA and the EFSA, but consumption rates are lacking to know if this threshold is actually being exceeded by consumers. We make recommendations regarding the health risks of dried market fish and of consuming or avoiding fish from certain trophic groups.

Eradication of exotoxin A and its producer in freshwater by means of cold-vaporized hydrogen peroxide-enhanced SDBD: A sustainable processing

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a multidrug-resistant bacterial strain with the ability to produce exotoxin A which can pose a serious threat to freshwater ecosystems by having pathogenicity against eukaryotes. Detoxification of exotoxin A and disinfection of P. aeruginosa are the main aims of this study. Using a high dosage of antibiotics might have more toxic effects on ecosystems while cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) can promise reliable, rapid, and environmentally friendly detoxification and disinfection. In this study we produced CAP reinforced by H2O2/H2O cold vapor to detoxify exotoxin A and inactivate P. aeruginosa in freshwater. We used Gammarus roeseli as the indicator of ecotoxicity in freshwater. The mortality of G. roeseli individuals elucidated that 420 s of CAP-based treatment under a surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) set up can effectively passivize exotoxin A in freshwater. Meanwhile, a considerable decline in the concentration of exotoxin A was observed in treated samples due to the disruption of the protein structure. Ignorable side effects and changes to the physiochemical properties were observed. On the other hand, 8.2-log reduction of P. aeruginosa viable cells was observed after 300 s of treatment by our CAP-based strategy. This study also showed that the combination of hydrogen peroxide and CAP can significantly increase the decontamination power of hydrogen peroxide and our strategy can eliminate the need of using high concentrations of H2O2 which decreases environmental concerns.

Levels of Heavy Metals Contamination (As, Cd, Hg, Pb) in Some Human Consumption Water Sources in Agbangnizoun and Za-Kpota Town Halls, Southern Benin

In the current decades, the increasing presence of metallic contaminants in water for human consumption has become a major public health concern. This concern is even more pronounced in rural areas such as in the Town Halls of Agbangnizoun and Za-Kpota where the majority of households use surface water, wells and tanks to satisfy their daily drinking water needs, without any prior treatment, due to the low level of access to drinking water supplied by the State. This study aims at assessing the levels of contamination of these resources in mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As). The mercury was determined using the cold vapor technique by the Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA-80) while lead and cadmium were analyzed by molecular absorption spectrophotometry by the DR 3900. The Arsenic was extracted by distillation using the silver diethyldithiocarbamate method then measured by molecular spectrophotometry technique. The results show that surface waters contain great quantities of metals than well and cistern waters. Lead (220.97 &amp;plusmn; 9.45 &amp;micro;g/L) and cadmium (20.13 &amp;plusmn; 0.17 &amp;micro;g/L) in surface waters have levels above WHO guidelines and B&amp;eacute;nin standards. On the other hand, there is no significant difference between the metal concentrations of well and cistern waters at the 5% threshold compared to the borehole water (witness sample). Significant correlations are established between toxic metals (Pb and Cd) and physical parameters (turbidity and suspended matters) at the threshold of 1 %. As for mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As), the concentrations are very lower than these of Cd and Pb and below the quantification limit of the device. These results confirm that the surface waters consumed by the populations of the Town Halls of Agbangnizoun and Za-Kpota do not respect drinking water standards.

Direct coupling of liquid–liquid extraction with 3D-printed microplasma optical emission spectrometer for speciation analysis of mercury in fish oil

A simple method coupling liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) with 3D printed cold vapor generation point discharge microplasma optical emission spectrometry (CVG-µPD-OES) was constructed for the speciation analysis of mercury in fish oil. Mercury species contained in fish oil (mainly inorganic mercury (IHg) and methylmercury (MeHg)) were efficiently extracted into an aqueous medium containing 1.5% (m/v) L-Cysteine and 1% (m/v) ammonium acetate after a 3 min of vortex oscillation. Subsequently, the aqueous extracted solution was analyzed by CVG-µPD-OES. IHg was reduced to mercury cold vapor (Hg0) by the reaction with 0.02% (m/v) KBH4 in the absence of KMnO4, whereas total mercury (MeHg and IHg) could be converted to Hg0 by CVG after the pre-oxidation of KMnO4. All the generated Hg0 was separated from the condensed liquid phase and analyzed by µPD-OES. Under optimal experimental conditions, limits of detection (LODs) were found to be 0.1 μg L−1 for both MeHg and IHg, with relative standard deviations (RSDs, n = 11) of better than 4.3%. Two Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) and eight fish oils were analyzed to validate the accuracy and applicability with good recoveries (84%−114%). Since the 3D printing technique significantly decreases its instrument manufacturing difficulty and LLE improves its analytical performance, the LLE-CVG-µPD-OES featured portability, simplicity, low energy consumption, and high sensitivity, showing a promising prospect for the rapid and accurate safety assessment of fish oil and its relevant dietary supplements.

The Elemental Profile of Beer Available on Polish Market: Analysis of the Potential Impact of Type of Packaging Material and Risk Assessment of Consumption.

Twenty-five elements, including the most essential and toxic metals, were determined in fifty beer samples stored in cans and bottles by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (CVAAS) techniques. The packaging material was analyzed using the Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) technique. The control of the level of individual metals is necessary, not only to maintain the organoleptic properties of the product, but also to fulfill the standards regarding the permissible maximum concentrations. Metals can originate from different sources, including the brewing water, malt grains, hops, adjuncts, fruits, and spices. They may also come from contamination from the brewery equipment, i.e., vessels and tanks, including beer packing, storing and transporting (kegs, casks, cans). Discriminant analysis revealed that the differentiation of three types of beer (Lager, Ale, Craft) was possible, based on elemental concentrations, for the reduced data set after their selection using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The analysis of the impact of the packaging material (can or bottle) proved that when this parameter was used as a differentiating criterion, the difference in the content of Na, Al, Cu and Mn can be indicated. The risk assessment analysis showed that the consumption of beer in a moderate quantity did not have any adverse effect in terms of the selected element concentrations, besides Al. However, in the case of Al, the risk related to consumption can be considered, but only for the beer stored in cans produced from aluminum.

Determination of Mercury (Hg) and Lead (Pb) in Sedimen of Batanghari River in Dharmasraya Regency

Batanghari River is a river that crosses the Province of West Sumatra and Jambi Province, which flows through the Dharmasraya Regency area. Along this river, many illegal gold mines are found, which use mercury (Hg) as a gold-binding medium, and fuel oil containing lead (Pb) as fuel for machinery used in mining operations. This mining activity is the cause of the presence of Hg and Pb in the mining environment which is passed by the Batanghari river. The source of Pb is also from tailings, which is the remaining metal ore processing that does not meet the requirements to be taken at the time of mining. the presence of Hg and Pb metals in the aquatic environment will have an impact on the environment and interfere with the health of miners and the surrounding community, because Hg and Pb are heavy metals that are toxic. Research has been carried out on the Batanghari river sediments in January and April 2019 using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS) method to measure Pb and the Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (CV AAS) method for Hg metal. The results showed that each metal Hg and Pb, in mg metal per Kg sediment, in the range of 0.08 mg/kg – 10.21 mg/kg, and 1.81 mg/kg – 23.10 mg/kg. Based on these data, it can be said that in January and April 2019 the metal content of Hg and Pb in the Batanghari river air was above the river water quality standard according to the Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia, namely 0.001-0.002 mg/L for Hg and 0.03 mg/L for Pb

Composition of trace residues from the contents of 11th-12th century sphero-conical vessels from Jerusalem.

The residues from the internal surface of four archaeological ceramic sherds, excavated from the Armenian Gardens, Jerusalem were analysed to characterise the contents of the original vessel. The sherds derive from four small, thick-walled, sphero-conical vessels recovered from a destruction layer, dating between the 11th and 12th century, Jerusalem. The residue has been analysed using light microscopy, biochemical characterisation, gas chromatography mass spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy and cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry. This analysis established the presence of various compounds including fatty acids and notable levels of mercury, sulphur, aluminium, potassium, magnesium, nitrates and phosphorous. The contents and probable functions of the four vessels were characterised from the residues on these sherds as different from each other, reflecting their different decoration, manufacture and ceramic typologies. One of these vessels contains residue that indicate the vessel held oils. The residue of the second vessel is consistent with either scented materials or medicinal contents, while a third probably contained medicinal material. The unique fourth sherd is from a stoneware sphero-conical vessel with very thick walls, no decoration and the residue supports the possibility it was used for the storage of chemicals or may have held the chemical ingredients for an explosive device, consistent with a medieval grenade. This residue analysis of Mamluk sphero-conical vessels provides insight into luxury items, medicines, technology and trade in medieval Jerusalem.

Analysis of Heavy Metal (Hg, Pb, Ni) Content in Marsh Clam, Polymesoda expansa Collected from Butuan Bay, Philippines

Butuan Bay is an amalgamation of resources and wastes, with the Agusan River as its main river source. Multiple industrial operations near the area make it susceptible to pollution, thereby affecting the aquatic organisms and the people who depend on the bay for food and livelihood. Thus, the main objective of the study was to determine the Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), and Nickel (Ni) concentration in the flesh of Marsh clam (Polymesoda expansa) in different mangroves wetlands across Butuan Bay. Heavy metal concentration was assessed using cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy for Hg and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry for Pb and Ni. The results revealed that Hg and Pb concentrations were below the detection limits (BDL), while Ni concentrations were within the tolerable limits established for bivalves. Human health risk via the consumption of P. expansa was calculated using the estimated daily intake (EDI) and Target Quotient Hazard (THQ). Results show that the EDI of Ni exceeded the oral reference dose, but its THQ was below the standard THQ value. In conclusion, the consumption of P. expansa does not pose any adverse health effects on human health. Still, further investigation and monitoring of the mangrove ecosystems are encouraged to secure the environment's health and the communities that depend on it.

Mercury speciation in estuarine water using dithiol-based magnetic solid-phase extraction and cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry

In this work, a method for mercury speciation using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) coated with dithiol and detection by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CV AFS) was developed. The magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were coated with Al2O3 and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and functionalized with 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2,5-dithiol (TDT). The resulting functionalized MNPs (FMNPs, Fe3O4@Al2O3-TDT) were dispersed in the water samples, and the sorption performance with different mercury species was investigated. Once retained on the surface of Fe3O4@ Al2O3-TDT MNPs, the mercury species were magnetically separated from the sample and eluted with HCl. The organic mercury species were oxidized employing KBr-KBrO3 (100 and 17 mM, respectively) in an acid medium (HCl 1.0 M), and the results were expressed considering the total inorganic mercury concentration. It was successfully applied in mercury speciation analysis in the estuarine water, followed by CV AFS determination. In the proposed method under optimal conditions (pH 6), inorganic mercury was quantified in a linear range from 10 to 2000 ng L−1, with a limit of detection of 0.55 ng L−1, relative standard deviation (RSD) < 1.62%, and an enrichment factor of twelve. The recoveries in spiked estuarine water samples ranged from 94 to 106% for Hg(II), 85–91% for MeHg, 83–94% for EtHg, and 84–95% (PhHg) using two levels of concentration (100 and 500 ng L−1). The method is accurate, precise, and efficiently applied in mercury species determination in a complex matrix without laborious and time-consuming sample preparation.