Concentrations Of Toxic Metals Research Articles

Health risk assessment of toxic metals and DNA damage in somatic and germ cells by soil and groundwater of a major cement factory in Nigeria.

The waste generated from cement manufacturing is an important source of heavy metal contamination of groundwater and soil. This study investigated the concentration of toxic metals in the soil of a major cement factory and nearby groundwater. Ecological and carcinogenic risks of the metals were calculated. Potential reproductive toxicity and genotoxic effects of the samples were assessed in sex and somatic cells of male mice using sperm abnormalities and bone marrow micronucleus (MN) assays, respectively. Also, the serum ALP, ALT, AST, Total Testosterone (TT), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH); and liver SOD and CAT activities were measured in the treated mice. Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Mn, Cd, and Pb levels in the soil and groundwater exceeded the allowable maximum standard. Ingestion and dermal contact were the most probable routes of human exposure with children having about three times higher probability of exposure to the metals than the adults. Ni, Pb, and Cr presented carcinogenic risks in children and adults. In the MN result, nuclear abnormalities in the studied mice especially micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes increased significantly (p < 0.05). Compared to the negative control, the ratio of PCE/NCE showed the cytotoxicity of the two samples. Data further showed a significant increase in the serum ALP, AST, and ALT while the liver CAT and SOD activities concomitantly decreased in the exposed mice. Sperm morphology result showed that the samples contained constituents capable of inducing reproductive toxicity in exposed organisms, with alterations to the concentrations of TT, LH, and FSH. Toxic metal constituents of the samples were believed to induce these reported reproductive toxicity and genotoxic effect. These results showed the environmental pollution caused by cement factory and the potential effects the pollutants might have on exposed eukaryotic organisms.

Potential of Selected Species of Spiraea L. for Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals from Soils of Urban Areas

Four taxa of Spiraea were selected for this study: S. × cinerea Zabel ‘Grefsheim’, S. nipponica Maxim. ‘Snowmound’, S. splendens É. N. Baumann ex K. Koch and S. × vanhouttei (Briot) Carrière growing for a minimum of 5 years along heavily trafficked traffic routes. This study included the genus Spiraea due to its popularity in horticultural practice (commercial availability, widespread in urban environments). In addition, the use of ornamental shrubs for phytoremediation in urban green spaces effectively combines the aesthetic needs of residents with those of caring for the urban environment. This study was conducted in Poznań (population 550,000, the fifth largest city in Poland). Soils and foliage were examined in spring and autumn. Soil pH and specific electrolytic conductivity (EC) were determined. The content of micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn) and toxic heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb) in soil dry matter and leaves was determined. The uptake capacity of bioavailable forms of heavy metals by Spiraea from the soil was analyzed by determining the bioconcentration factor (BCF). It was found that the studied taxa meet the basic requirements for plants used for soil phytoremediation processes, especially for chromium phytoextraction. The degree of salinity of the tested soils did not pose a threat to the shrubs growing there, and most of the sites, despite the alkaline reaction, are suitable for their cultivation. S. × cinerea and S. × vanhouttei have BCFs for lead &lt;1. The remaining taxa are characterized by strong concentrations of all analyzed elements. A particularly high BCF, above 10, was recorded for chromium and high for manganese and nickel.

Metal contamination in mangrove tissues, seeds, and associated sediments from the Vattanam mangrove forest of Palk Bay, southeastern India: An ecological risk assessment

In the present work, the concentrations of toxic heavy metals in mangrove sediments, mangrove leaves, and seeds collected from five stations in the Vattanam mangrove of Palk Bay, southeastern India, as well as the effects of the monsoon season on toxic heavy metals concentrations were determined. The concentrations were 17.5 μg/g for zinc (Zn), 9.11 μg/g for copper (Cu), and 6.03 μg/g for lead (Pb) in sediments; 10.71 μg/g (Zn) and 8.94 μg/g (Cu) in mangrove leaves; and 26.24 μg/g (Zn) and 17.01 μg/g (Cu) in mangrove seeds. At all sampling stations, the Cd concentration was below the limit of detection. These mangroves seem to have adapted successfully to their environment given their selective intake of only essential metals (Cu and Zn) and the restricted movement of non-essential metals (Cd and Pb). The concentrations of metals were below the maximum residual limits regulated by national and international standard limits.

Photosystems functioning, the content of chemical elements, flavonoids and brassinosteroids in leaves of chimera Cornus controversa

he formation of chimera is a well-known phenomenon in variegated ornamental and wild plants, but the biochemical peculiarities of this phenomenon are not well studied. The purpose of this work was to conduct a comparative study of the photosynthetic apparatus functioning, the content of macro-, microelements, flavonoids and brassinosteroids in the variegated and green leaves of the periclinal chimera Cornus controversa plant grown in the collection of M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine. Sampling was made during the period from June to October 2022. The content of photosynthetic pigments and brassinosteroids was measured spectrophotometrically, autofluorescence of leaf tissues was studied using an inverted microscope with a multi-channel fluorescence imaging system, Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) – using GreenSeeker devices and fluorimeter, the level of macro- and microelements – using plasma emission spectrometer. Phenolic secondary metabolites were separated by HPTLC. To assess the protective capacity of flavonoids, a bioassay on the germination of radish seeds Raphanus in the presence of AlCl3 was used. It was shown that green leaves of C. controversa chimera, compared to variegated ones, had a twice as high NDVI index, maintained photosynthetic function longer in autumn, and had higher content of macronutrients (Mg, Ca and S) but lower concentration of toxic metals (Al, Cu, Fe, Zn, Ti). Instead, variegated leaves accumulated more brassinosteroids and phenolic metabolites, which were found not only to reduce the toxic effect of aluminum but also to have a growth-stimulating effect on the roots of radish seedlings. Such specialization of green and variegated leaves may contribute to better plant chimeras adaptation to environmental pollution. Keywords: brassinosteroids, Cornus controversa, macroelements, microelements, NDVI index, periclinal chimera, phenolic metabolites, photosynthetic pigments, tissue autofluorescence

Metal tolerance of Río Tinto fungi.

Southwest Spain's Río Tinto is a stressful acidic microbial habitat with a noticeably high concentration of toxic heavy metals. Nevertheless, it has an unexpected degree of eukaryotic diversity in its basin, with a high diversity of fungal saprotrophs. Although some studies on the eukaryotic diversity in Rio Tinto have been published, none of them used molecular methodologies to describe the fungal diversity and taxonomic affiliations that emerge along the river in different seasons. The aim of the present study was to isolate and describe the seasonal diversity of the fungal community in the Río Tinto basin and its correlation with the physicochemical parameters existing along the river's course. The taxonomic affiliation of 359 fungal isolates, based on the complete internal transcribed spacer DNA sequences, revealed a high degree of diversity, identifying species belonging primarily to the phylum Ascomycota, but representatives of the Basidiomycota and Mucoromycota phyla were also present. In total, 40 representative isolates along the river were evaluated for their tolerance to toxic heavy metals. Some of the isolates were able to grow in the presence of 1000 mM of Cu2+, 750 mM of As5+ and Cd2+, and 100 mM of Co2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+.

Human Exposure through the Diet to Arsenic and Other Toxic Elements: A Literature Review of Scientific Studies Conducted in Catalonia, Spain, in the Current Century.

Human exposure to arsenic and other toxic elements such as cadmium, lead and mercury may lead to a wide range of adverse health effects. In relation to this, it is well established that the diet is the main route of exposure to both essential and toxic trace elements. In recent years, the levels of toxic elements in foodstuffs have been measured in numerous studies conducted all over the world. Scientific databases show that, in the current century, China and Spain have been the countries where the most surveys on this topic have been carried out. Regarding Spain, Catalonia is the region where most studies aimed at determining the concentrations of trace elements in food have been performed. The objective of this paper was to review the studies carried out in Catalonia on the concentrations of As and toxic metals (including Cd, Hg and Pb) in food, as well as their estimated dietary intakes (EDIs). The results of total diet studies (TDSs) and duplicate diet (DD) studies have been included. For most toxic elements, a continued reduction in the EDI has been observed. This reduction is associated with a decrease in their concentrations in food, and with certain changes in dietary habits. Fish and seafood is the food group showing the highest content of toxic elements. However, none of the adult groups exceeded-in general-the safety thresholds for As, Cd, Hg and Pb established by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA).

Toxic heavy metals content in different agrochemicals available in markets of Bangladesh and their loads to the agricultural lands.

A study was conducted to determine the concentration of toxic heavy metals in various agrochemicals available in Bangladesh and to assess the burden of these metals on agricultural soils. An atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) was used to measure the content of 4 toxic metals (Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni) in the aqueous extract of various agrochemicals. There were significant differences in the amounts of Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni in different brands of insecticides (mean < 0.01, 3.16, 17.32, and 47.33 µgg-1), fungicides (mean 12.42, 10.19, 9.63, and 243.34 µgg-1), phosphatic fertilizers (mean 25.43, < 0.01, 206.33, and 210.69 µgg-1), micronutrient fertilizers (mean 0.68, < 0.01, 43.43, and 65.79 µgg-1), and plant hormones (mean < 0.01, < 0.01, 9.90, and 43.08 µgg-1). The concentrations of Cd and Ni were on anaverage higher in phosphatic fertilizers, which exceeded the maximum acceptable limit of fertilizers in Bangladesh by 2.5 and 4.2 times, respectively. The study also revealed that the burden of toxic heavy metals from agrochemicals on farm soils was in the following order: phosphatic fertilizers > fungicides > micronutrient fertilizers > plant hormones > insecticides. Among the toxic heavy metals, Ni posed the highest burden on Bangladeshi farm soils due to a single application of different agrochemicals in a year. The average total burden of each metal in the soils of Bangladesh showed a decreasing trend in the order of Ni > Cr > Cd > Pb, resulting in a total metal burden of 22.88gyear-1ha-1. Finally, the study recommended that certification about the content of metals be made mandatory for agrochemical manufacturing firms to ensure that their products entering in Bangladeshi markets are free from toxic metals.

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

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

Simple fuzzy classification of metal qualities of Ona River, Ibadan, Nigeria, and its implication for fish production and other uses

Elevated concentrations of metals in rivers can pose significant risks to human health. Consequently, it is essential to monitor metal levels in river water to minimize human exposure, particularly through consumption of harvested fish and other uses. This study examined the water quality of the Ona River in Ibadan, Nigeria. Seven potentially toxic elements (PTEs), namely Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr and four macronutrients: Mg, Na, K, Ca were investigated. Surface and pore water samples were collected from six sampling points during the peak of the dry and the rainy seasons. These were analyzed according to standard procedures and processed using the Simple Fuzzy Classification (SFC) model with four classes. The results revealed that the PTEs: Fe, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Mn were detected above guideline limits in several sampling points, indicating possible contamination from anthropogenic sources. Simple fuzzy classification puts the quality of water in the investigated portion of the river in the range of 67.4–88.5% in the C1 (pristine) category during the dry season and 61.9–88.6% in C1 (pristine) during rainy season. However, there were membership functions of up to 58.7 and 63.2; 61.2 and 75.4 as well as 44.3 and 43.5% in C2, C3, and C4 categories (contaminated, polluted and extremely polluted, respectively) during the first and second sampling, respectively. Due to the high concentrations of toxic and bioaccumulative metals in the river, efforts should be made to control the discharge of pollutants into the river. These will prevent human health exposure risks tendencies for various uses, including fish production.

Analysis of Fibropapillomatosis in Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) Confirms High Content of Heavy Metals.

In recent decades, there has been an increase in European wild ungulate populations, often associated with a decline in health and spread of disease. This is true for the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), the most common European cervid, with populations apparently affected by fibropapillomatosis, an increasingly common cancer. To date, however, there has been little research into this disease, thus many interactions remain unclear and descriptions of tumour composition are poorly validated. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence and concentration of toxic heavy metals in roe deer skin tumours. Our results confirmed the presence of virtually all the metals tested for, i.e., Pb, Hg, Cd, As, Cr, Mn, Al, Co, Cu, Ni, Se, Zn, and Fe, with the highest average concentrations found for Cr (0.99 mg/kg-1 ± 2.23 SD), Cd (0.03 mg/kg-1 ± 0.03 SD), and Hg (0.02 mg/kg-1 ± 0.02 SD), exceeding FAO limits for meat from slaughtered animals. We also observed a significant positive relationship between heavy metal concentration and age, especially for Pb, As, Hg, Mn, Se, Al, Zn, and Ni. Our findings provide a strong baseline for further research on the impact of fibropapillomatosis, not only on the welfare and health status of game but also on the final consumer of venison, which in many respects is regarded as a high-quality, ecological, and renewable wild resource. While deer with this disease are not considered qualitatively or medically defective, they could represent a potential reservoir of substances toxic to humans and could affect substance levels in adjacent tissues or the animal as a whole.

Comprehensive analysis of nutritive and toxic metal contents in canned tuna: Implications for safety and consumer health

Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cr, As, Cd, Pb and Hg levels of canned tuna fish marketed in Turkey were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Ca content ranged from 80 to 2930 mg/kg, Mg from 900 to 1910 mg/kg, Na from 5930 to 12130 mg/kg, and K from 6930 to 44340 mg/kg. Fe (4.73–27.34 mg/kg), Cu (0.21 and 0.98 mg/kg), Mn (0.12–0.44 mg/kg), Zn (32–45 mg/kg), Ni (0.88–2.06 mg/kg) and Cr (0.03–0.11 mg/kg) contents of the canned foods did not exceed the provisional tolerable weekly intake limit. Cd was detected in two groups (C4=0.02 mg/kg, C18=0.15 mg/kg), while Pb was found in one group (C10=0.48 mg/kg). As content ranged from 0.27 to 1.75 mg/kg in all groups. Most of the tuna cans contained Hg between 0.046 and 0.099 mg/kg, but the highest concentration was found in sample C4 (0.81 mg/kg). Based on the increased lifetime cancer risk findings, the consumption limits of Group 4 and Group 14 should be limited to around 60 g/week (less for children). As a result of the findings that were obtained from this study careful observations should be followed up for the safer consumption of canned tuna.

Studies on the content of toxic metals in teeth: A narrative review of literature.

The presence of toxic metals in the human environment can have detrimental effects on people's wellbeing. This literature review examines the ways in which various environmental and non-environmental factors can contribute to the accumulation of heavy metals in hard dental tissues. It is of the utmost importance to ensure the safety of the environment by restricting the presence of toxic metals originating from both industrial and non-industrial sources. The aim of this study is to analyze current research and identify the primary sources of heavy metal exposure and the mechanisms by which these metals are deposited in dental tissues. Moreover, the objective of this review is to synthesize data from various studies to determine the main environmental and non-environmental sources of toxic metal exposure that contribute to their presence in dental tissues, as well as the biological and chemical processes that are responsible for the deposition of heavy metals in hard dental tissues. Additionally, the review aims to assess the impact of heavy metal accumulation on dental health and its potential systemic effects on overall well-being. The accumulation of heavy metals in the teeth is influenced by a number of factors, such as age, systemic conditions, the nutritional status, and dental caries. The presence of supernumerary teeth results in altered levels of microelements, including an increase in cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu). Additionally, smoking exacerbates toxic metal accumulation, especially Cd and lead (Pb), and disrupts the balance of essential minerals within the teeth. These findings underscore the impact of environmental pollution on dental health and highlight the potential of teeth as biomarkers of environmental exposure, emphasizing the need for continued research to address the health risks associated with environmental toxins.

Assessment of groundwater quality, irrigation suitability, and health risks from radon and heavy metals near Ilokun dumpsite, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

ABSTRACT Concentrations of 222Rn and other toxic metals (Ni, Cu, Fe, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cr, and Mn) were measured by alpha spectrometry using Rad7 and atomic absorption spectrophotometry, respectively, in the water samples from the Ilokun dumpsite, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. The physicochemical parameters of the groundwater were also assayed to determine its suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes. While the physicochemical parameters met the World Health Organization (WHO)-safety standards, Cu, Fe, Cd, Pb, Cr, and Mn exceeded permissible limits. Hazard index (HI) values for adults (8.40) and children (39.23) indicated heightened susceptibility to non-carcinogenic health risks among both age group populations. The 222Rn concentrations present in the studied samples range from 5.4 to 23.1 Bq l−1 with an average of 13.9 Bq l−1. Approximately 60% of the samples have radon concentrations above the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-maximum contaminant level of 11.1 Bq l−1. The evaluated radiation doses to the stomach and respiratory tract due to radon content in the water are well below the WHO-specified individual dose criterion of 0.1 mSv year−1. This study suggests a need for groundwater resource management strategies and measures to protect human health from radiological and toxicological risks associated with groundwater consumption around the Ilokun dumpsite.

High geological background concentrations of As and Cd in karstic soils may not contribute to greater risks to human health via rice consumption

High geological background concentrations of toxic metal(loid)s arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) from natural enrichment in soils of karst regions have attracted much attention. In this study, paired soil-rice samples were collected from karst and non-karst regions in Guangxi, China to assess the potential risks of metal(loid) transfer from soil to rice grains, and rice grains to humans. Our results indicate that the karstic soils had greater As (25.7 vs. 12.4 mg·kg-1) and Cd (2.12 vs. 1.04 mg·kg-1) contents than those in non-karstic soils. However, metal(loid) transfer from soil to rice grains (ratio of rice grains to soil content) of As and Cd was 40 % and 49 % lower in karst regions, which may relate to their 42 % and 61 % lower HNO3-extractable As and CaCl2-extractable Cd, resulting in similar As/Cd contents in karstic and non-karstic rice grains. In vitro assay using a modified physiologically-based extraction test shows that karstic rice grains had a lower As/Cd bioaccessibility than non-karstic grains, which can be attributed to their ∼50 % greater P content, which negatively correlated with As/Cd bioaccessibility. Additionally, karstic rice grains had 39 % greater phytate and exhibited 45 % and 9.4 % lower As and Cd bioaccessibility in the gastric phase with phytate supplement at 0.6 %. Our work indicates that despite the greater As/Cd contents in karstic soils, the risks of As/Cd transfer from soil to rice grains as well as their exposure risks to humans via rice consumption may not be greater than non-karst regions.

Determination of Trace Elements Content of a Popular Traditional Herbal Medicine Used for Internal Hemorrhoids Treatment in Katsina State, Nigeria

Study’s Excerpt/Novelty Assessment of toxic metal concentrations of a widely used traditional herb in Katsina state, was carried out. Flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry and descriptive statistical analysis was employed in the research. Pb, Cr, and As were found to be beyond WHO/FAO thresholds. Full Abstract There has been an increase in the utilization of traditional herbal drugs for different medications and health care in Katsina state. This is possibly due to the growing need for complementary disease treatment, relative cheapness, availability, and wider distribution. Raw samples of a popularly used traditional herb (locally named - Dan Lambar Rimi) were purchased from local markets, prepared, and analyzed using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer for Pb, Cr, As, Co, Ni, and Cd concentrations. The obtained concentrations were then summarized using descriptive statistics in SPSS Version 27. The results for the elements analyzed were Ni (0.83 ± 0.15), Cd (0.20 ± 0.01), Pb (21.5 ± 6.63), As (2.10 ± 0.70), Cr (2.36 ± 0.37), and Co (1.15 ± 0.22) ppm. Cr, Pb and As concentrations were greater than the WHO/FAO threshold limits for herbal medicines, while that of Cd was within the recommended threshold. Furthermore, the concentrations of these metals (As, Cr, and Pb) were greater than the WHO/FAO acceptable threshold in 50% of the herbal samples analyzed. Therefore, these metals can pose a threat to public health, especially considering the conventional way in which this herbal medicine is used. With deliberate improvement in hygiene during its preparation prior to consumption, the risk will be brought to a minimal. Future studies should perform a detailed chemical risk assessment, especially when we look at the increase in the number of diseases of unknown etiology in the region.

Hybrid machine learning approach integrating GMDH and SVR for heavy metal concentration prediction in dust samples.

In agricultural regions prone to dust storms, heavy metal contamination of soil and crops from airborne particulates poses significant risks to food safety and public health. This study has assessed the potential of machine learning models for predicting concentrations of toxic heavy metals like arsenic, chromium, and lead in dust from the agricultural Sistan region of southeastern Iran. This region experiences frequent dust storms mobilizing particulates from local dried lakes onto agricultural lands. The metals including nickel, copper, magnesium, cobalt, zinc, chromium, arsenic, and lead were measured in summer dust samples during 2012-2018 across 15 stations. Two hybrid models were developed combining group method of data handling (GMDH) and support vector regression (SVR) machine learning with harmony search optimization (H) so as to predict toxic metals arsenic, chromium, and lead using nickel, copper, magnesium, cobalt, and zinc inputs. Standard error maps were uncertainty higher in southern and western areas, and they are most impacted by dust storms. Results demonstrated that the hybrid GMDH + H and SVR + H models improved the accuracy of individual GMDH and SVR models in predicting heavy metals. The GMDH + H model performed the best for the lead with an agreement index (d-index) of 0.98, root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.87ppm, normalized RMSE (NRMSE) of 0.12, and coefficient of determination (RR) of 0.96. The SVR + H model showed the highest accuracy for arsenic and chromium, obtaining d-index 0.96, RMSE 0.47ppm, NRMSE 0.09, and RR 0.92 for arsenic, and d-index 0.96, RMSE 11.24ppm, NRMSE 0.16, and RR 0.93 for chromium. Taylor's diagram and heatmap analysis confirmed the superiority of the hybrid techniques. This work demonstrates the utility of state-of-the-art computing for addressing complex environmental health challenges.

Elemental composition and potential toxicity of the riverine macrophyte Podostemum ceratophyllum Michx. reflects land use in eastern North America

Land use influences surface water quality, often alleviating stoichiometric constraints on primary production and altering biogeochemical cycling. However, land use effects on nutrient content and potential trace metal accumulation in aquatic plants remain unclear, and high concentrations of metals and altered nutrient ratios could impact the health of herbivores and detritivores. We tested for land use effects on nutrient and trace metal accumulation in a widespread riverine macrophyte, Podostemum ceratophyllum, collected from 91 locations from Georgia to Maine, USA in 2014–2016. We quantified carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), their molar and mass ratios, N and C stable isotopes, and 17 additional elements in dried plants collected from each location to estimate relationships between plant tissue content and watershed land use, which we quantified as agriculture, forest, and development. Decreasing forest cover was correlated with increasing δ15N, Mg, Mn, and P in Podostemum tissue. Increasing urban development was correlated with increasing δ15N, Mg and P, while increasing agriculture was correlated with a decrease in C: P and the concentrations of multiple metals, along with increases in P, Mg and δ15N. Decreases in ratios of N: P and C:P with increasing agriculture and urban development in the watershed indicate more rapid P storage relative to C and N in plant tissue, and increased resource quality of the plant to consumers in these watersheds. We also observed potentially toxic dietary concentrations of some trace metals (B, Cd, Tl, Zn) in plant tissue which could be related to the plant's natural herbivory defense system or to land use. We conclude that land use influences the elemental composition of P. ceratophyllum, and potentially the quality and toxicity of the plant to herbivores and detritivores in eastern North American rivers.

Magnetite nanoparticles from representative coal fired power plants in China: Dust removal capture and their final atmospheric emission

Information on the emission of coal combustion-sourced magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) is lacking, which is critical for their health-related risks. In this study, MNPs in coal fly ashes (CFAs) from various coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) in China equipped with various dust removal devices were extracted and quantified using single particle ICP-MS. The number concentrations of MNPs in CFAs captured by dust removal increased with stage, while their size decreased. Among all the dust removal devices, electrostatic-fabric-integrated precipitators showed the best removal of MNPs. Furthermore, throughout all the coal combustion by-products in a typical CFPP, MNPs in EFA (fly ash escaped from the stack) showed the highest number concentration (1.2 × 107 particles/mg) and lowest size (78 nm). Although the mass of CFA escaping through the stack is extremely low, it still had an emission rate of 1.9 × 1015 particles/h, contributing 3.56 % of the total emissions of MNPs in number. In addition, the purity of MNPs and their associated toxic metals showed a size-dependent variation pattern. As the particle size of MNPs decreased, the proportion of Fe in MNPs increased from 43 % in bottom ash (BA) to 84 % in EFA, while the abundance of trace toxic metals in EFA was 3.3 times higher than that of BA. These MNPs with the highest purity can adsorb elevated concentrations of toxic metals, and can be discharged directly into the atmosphere, posing a risk of synergistic toxicity.

Do aluminum, boron, arsenic, cadmium, lipoperoxidation, and genetic polymorphism determine male fertility?

Male infertility is a world multifactorial problem modulated by environmental and genetic factors. Male aspects account for 20–50 % of infertility cases. Our results are unique because they treat the importance of components participating in the determination of male infertility (environmental and immunogenetic determinants, seminological analysis, lipoperoxidation, genetic determinants, role of aluminum, arsenic, cadmium and boron). We analyzed agents affecting male reproductive potential (aluminum, boron, cadmium, arsenic, lipid peroxidation, gene polymorphisms (MTHFRv.C677T (rs1801133) (chromosome-1) and IL-4v.C589T (rs2243250) (chromosome-5) in men with semen disorders (n=76) and with normozoospermia (n=87) from Central Poland. Polymorphisms of MTHFRv.C677T and IL-4v.C589T genes indirectly shape toxic metals concentration and lipoperoxidation but do not exert direct influence on male fertility disorders (monomorphism and lack of differences in genotypes frequency). Men with genotype TT or CC (IL-4v.C589T) show some differentiation in elements concentration and intensity of lipoperoxidation. Analysis of TT or CC (IL-4v.C589T) genotype brought correlations with B, Al, Cd, and lipoperoxidation (P<0.05) and suggesting that mentioned factors jointly shape male reproductive capability. Toxic metals may play an important role in shaping of men genetic polymorphisms, since Cd was identified as a factor increasing risk of qualification to infertile group, predisposing to fertility disorders. B, Al and Cd may be considered as important modulators of reproductive condition. However, lipoperoxidation as an isolated predictive parameter does not produce convincing results in male reproductive potential (higher MDA concentration in healthy men). Our results may be helpful in the diagnosis of male infertility, in the reduction of idiopathic cases of unknown origin and in implementation of targeted and more effective treatment (pharmacological, hormonal). Identification of environmental stressors and their correlations with fertility disorders can help to eliminate or reduce the impact of factors unfavorable to fertility. Our results highlight the importance of environmental and immunogenetic factors in shaping of defensive potential against destruction of spermatozoa and infer a role of oxidative stress in the induction of gene polymorphisms, affecting male fertility.

Habitat-specific allocations of elements in Atriplex lentiformis seeds indicate adaptation to metal toxicity.

Self-sustaining vegetation in metal-contaminated areas is essential for rebuilding ecological resilience and community stability in degraded lands. Metal-tolerant plants originating from contaminated post-mining areas may hold the key to successful plant establishment and growth. Yet, little is known about the impact of metal toxicity on reproductive strategies, metal accumulation, and allocation patterns at the seed stage. Our research focused on the metal tolerant Atriplex lentiformis. Specifically, we examined the effects of toxic metal(loid) concentration in soils on variability in its reproductive strategies, including germination patterns, elemental uptake, and allocation within the seeds. We employed advanced imaging techniques like synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microscopy (2D scans and 3D tomograms) combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to reveal significant differences in metal(loid) concentration and distribution within the seed structures of A. lentiformis from contrasting habitats. Exclusive Zn hotspots of high concentrations were found in the seeds of the metallicolous accession, primarily in the sensitive tissues of shoot apical meristems and root zones of the seed embryos. Our findings offer novel insights into phenotypic variability and metal tolerance and accumulation in plants from extreme environments. This knowledge can be applied to enhance plant survival and performance in land restoration efforts.