Cadmium Concentrations Research Articles

A comprehensive environmental analysis of heavy metal contamination, ecological risks and health impacts in Ilokun area, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Heavy metal contamination in ecosystems is a global environmental and health concern. This study assessed the ecological and health risks associated with heavy metal pollution in farmland, dumpsite, stream land, and plant roots in Ilokun, Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria. Samples were collected from different locations and analyzed for levels of heavy metal concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Various pollution indices such as enrichment factor, contamination factor, and geo-accumulation index were employed. Ecological risk methods were used to investigate the pollution status, heavy metal sources, and health risks associated with urban soil. The results showed that the concentrations of these metals exceeded permissible levels at most sampling sites, indicating significant contamination of the samples. Manganese, Cu, Pb, and Zn were the dominant metals in our study, and overall, the following trend: Mn > Zn > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > Cd. The contamination factor revealed that Cu, Zn showed moderate contamination, and Pb, Ni, and Mn showed high soil contamination. The ecological risk assessment demonstrated that Pb and Ni were associated with high risks due to anthropogenic influences related to coal combustion, vehicle exhausts, and automobile brakes. The findings indicate severe heavy metal media enrichment in the study area, which may lead to adverse ecological effects and health risks.

Efficient Pb(II) removal from contaminated soils by recyclable, robust lignosulfonate/polyacrylamide double-network hydrogels embedded with Fe2O3 via one-pot synthesis

Soil heavy metal removal strategies are increasingly valued for effectively reducing contamination and preventing secondary pollution. In this work, a double network hydrogel (Fe2O3@LH), consisting of lignosulfonate (LS) and polyacrylamide with embedded Fe2O3 nanoparticles, was synthesized successfully via a one-pot method and subsequently applied to adsorb lead (Pb) from contaminated soil. Incorporating Fe2O3 into the hydrogel enhances the adsorption capacity of Fe2O3@LH for Pb(II). The Fe2O3@LH hydrogel demonstrates a maximum Pb(II) adsorption capacity of 143.11 mg g–1, with Pb(II) removal mechanisms involving electrostatic adsorption, cation exchange, precipitation reactions, and the formation of coordination complexes, achieving a 22.3 % maximum removal efficiency in soil cultivation experiments. Additionally, the application of Fe2O3@LH markedly reduces the concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) in the soil, meanwhile enhances the levels of total nitrogen (TN), soil organic matter (SOM), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) by 23.1 %, 10.6 %, and 16.9 %, respectively. Following 90 days of continuous application in the soil, the recovery rate of Fe2O3@LH remains above 75 %. The toxicity assay using zebrafish larvae indicates that Fe2O3@LH demonstrates good biosafety. This study demonstrates the considerable potential of Fe2O3@LH hydrogel for practical application in reducing Pb(II) levels in contaminated soil.

Influence of cadmium and zinc contamination on the sediment microbiome of estuarine and coastal ecosystems in the Southwest Coast of India.

Metals and their nanoparticles can induce toxicities that influence the survival of both microorganisms and macroorganisms. The current study reports on the impact of heavy metal pollution on the microbiome of estuarine and coastal sediments, where the settling and final remineralization of organic matter occur. Sediment samples collected from the Cochin estuary along the southwest coast of India and its adjacent coast showed high concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn). The contamination factor (CF), calculated by comparing the concentration of metals in each station with that of shale value for Cd and Zn, ranged from 5.2 to 8.7 and 1.5 to 2.0 respectively, in the estuarine and coastal stations. Microbiome analysis revealed that bacteria were common across all stations but varied in relative abundance. Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Actinobacteria, Desulfobacteria, and Acidobacteria were the major bacterial phylum found in all stations. More than 70% of the bacteria were tolerant to 1mM concentration of Cd. The findings of our study suggest that metal pollution can influence the microbiome of sediments in the estuaries and coasts. Bacteria with metal tolerance may dominate in polluted areas, but their participation in remineralization may be impaired, as evident in our previous reports. This impairment could ultimately influence the dynamics of the food web and the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, necessitating further research.

Early postnatal and concurrent exposure to metals and neurobehavioral outcomes at 5 years: Associations with individual environmental exposures and mixtures

BackgroundLittle is known about the effect of postnatal exposure to heavy metals on children’s behavior problems. This study aimed to investigate the association between metal exposure during different stages of postnatal life and neurobehavioral outcomes in preschool children. MethodsUrinary concentrations of six metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, and vanadium) were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 220 participants at two time points: before 1 year and at 5 years of age. Mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist when the children were 5 years old. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between metal concentrations and behavioral outcomes. We employed Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to assess possible joint effects and potential interactions between metal mixtures and behavioral outcomes. ResultsConcentrations of urinary arsenic (As) in infants were associated with higher scores for anxious/shy behavior problems (β ranging from 0.03 to 0.23). Further analyses showed that As exposure increased the odds of scores falling into the borderline or clinical range on anxious/depressed, affective, and pervasive developmental problems (ORs: 2.45–3.40). Stratification by sex indicated significance in girls but not in boys. BKMR analysis showed that, among the metal mixtures, As displayed a major effect on behavior scores. Concentrations of urinary cadmium in infants were also associated with higher behavioral scores but did not increase the risk of clinical problems. A cross-sectional survey in 5-year-olds did not show a significant association between concurrent metal exposure and behavioral outcome. ConclusionOur results showed that exposure to As and Cd during infancy was associated with emotional problems in children. The effect of arsenic exposure was more pronounced among female infants. We suggest reducing exposure to toxic metals during early postnatal life to prevent behavioral problems in children."

Associations of urinary heavy metals with age at menarche, age at menopause, and reproductive lifespan: A cross-sectional study in U.S. women

Female reproductive timing and lifespan, with a close relation to long-term health outcomes, have been altered in U.S. women over the past decades. However, epidemiologic evidence of the potential causes was lacking. On the basis of 1981 naturally postmenopausal women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2020, this study aimed to investigate the associations of urinary heavy metals with age at menarche, age at menopause, and reproductive lifespan. Multivariate generalized linear regression and addictive models were used for single metal exposure analysis, and weighted quantile sum (WQS) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were employed for mixed exposures. In the fully adjusted model, higher urinary antimony concentration was associated with earlier age at menarche of 0.137 years, while higher concentrations of cadmium, cesium, lead, antimony, and thallium were associated with delayed age at menopause of 0.396–0.687 years. Additionally, urinary barium, cesium, lead, antimony, and thallium levels were associated with longer reproductive lifespan ranging between 0.277 and 0.713 years. Both WQS and BKMR models showed significantly positive associations of metal mixtures with age at menopause (β: 0.667, 95 % CI: 0.120–1.213) and reproductive lifespan (β: 0.686, 95 % CI: 0.092–1.280), with cadmium and lead identified as principal contributors. In conclusion, heavy metal exposures were associated with reproductive timing and lifespan of U.S. women, highlighting the need for further prevention and intervention strategies.

Investigation of Lead, Cadmium, and Nickel in Water Samples from Al-Muthanna Governorate, Iraq, and Evaluation of The Pollution Indicators

Background: The Iraqi environment, especially in the southern region, has been contaminated as a result of human activities. The detection of heavy metals in water samples is the preferred method for monitoring the toxic levels, which are very important for environmental protection and human health. Methods: Heavy metal concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni) were investigated in water samples from Al-Muthanna governorate, southern Iraq. The selected water samples were taken from different sources of tap water and river samples from the Euphrates and collected from various locations: residential, agricultural, and industrial. Results: The mean values of Pb, Cd, and Ni in tap water samples are 3.76, 2.62, and 84.88 μg/L, respectively, while the corresponding element levels in river water are 11.21, 7.58, and 104.31 μg/L, respectively. Rivers water samples recorded higher levels of toxic metals than tap water samples. Concentrations of toxic elements in water samples from industrial locations of Al-Muthanna governorate are higher than in the agricultural and residential places. Toxic metals in water samples can be arranged in the following sequence: Ni > Pb > Cd. Conclusion: The levels of heavy metals in most water samples were above the permissible levels according to USEPA; therefore, it is recommended that the water samples should be regularly monitored for heavy metals to prevent the effect of heavy metals contamination in the human food chain.

Establishment of a Rapid Detection Method for Cadmium Ions via a Specific Cadmium Chelator N-(2-Acetamido)-Iminodiacetic Acid Screened by a Novel Biological Method.

Heavy metal ions such as cadmium, mercury, lead, and arsenic in the soil cannot be degraded naturally and are absorbed by crops, leading to accumulation in agricultural products, which poses a serious threat to human health. Therefore, establishing a rapid and efficient method for detecting heavy metal ions in agricultural products is of great significance to ensuring the health and safety. In this study, a novel optimized spectrometric method was developed for the rapid and specific colorimetric detection of cadmium ions based on N-(2-Acetamido)-iminodiacetic acid (ADA) and Victoria blue B (VBB) as the chromogenic unit. The safety evaluation of ADA showed extremely low biological toxicity in cultured cells and live animals. The standard curve is y = 0.0212x + 0.1723, R2 = 0.9978, and LOD = 0.08 μM (0.018 mg/kg). The liner concentrations detection range of cadmium is 0.1-10 μM. An inexpensive paper strip detection method was developed with a detection limit of 0.2 μM to the naked eye and a detection time of less than 1 min. The method was successfully used to assess the cadmium content of rice, soybean, milk, grape, peach, and cabbage, and the results correlated well with those determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Thus, our study demonstrated a novel rapid, safe, and economical method for onsite, real-time detection of cadmium ions in agricultural products.

Source to Receptor: Assessing Health Risks from Heavy Metal Exposure in Mining Soils

This research quantifies the health risks associated with exposure to heavy metals in the Matjhabeng Local Municipality, a gold mining region in South Africa, utilising a deterministic source–pathway–receptor approach. This study uniquely integrates both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk assessments across multiple heavy metals, providing a comprehensive perspective on health impacts in mining-impacted communities. The study measured concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) in soil samples, with mean values found to be 3.2 mg/kg, 2.5 mg/kg, 45 mg/kg, 17 mg/kg, and 25 mg/kg for As, Cd, Pb, Co, and Cr, respectively. The deterministic assessment revealed minimal non-carcinogenic risks for ingestion across all demographics (HQ < 1), while significant dermal risks were identified for Cd, Pb, Co, and Cr (HQ > 1), particularly for the adult group. The inhalation pathway emerged as a critical exposure route, with HQ values ranging from 5 to 15 and chronic hazard index values significantly exceeding safe limits (CHI > 5). The carcinogenic risk through inhalation notably surpassed the acceptable thresholds set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (1 × 10−4 to 1 × 10−6), with a calculated lifetime cancer risk far exceeding the limit for As, Cd, Cr, Co, and Ni for both adults and juveniles. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted risk mitigation strategies in the community to address the significant health risks posed by airborne heavy metal exposure.

A hyperspectral metal concentration inversion method using attention mechanism and graph neural network

Soil heavy metal contamination has emerged as a global environmental concern, posing significant risks to human health and ecosystem integrity. Hyperspectral technology, with its non-invasive, non-destructive, large-scale, and high spectral resolution capabilities, shows promising applications in monitoring soil heavy metal pollution. Traditional monitoring methods are often time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive, limiting their effectiveness for rapid, large-scale assessments. This study introduces a novel deep learning method, SpecMet, for estimating heavy metal concentrations in naturally contaminated agricultural soils using hyperspectral data. The SpecMet model extracts features from hyperspectral data using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and achieves end-to-end prediction of soil heavy metal concentrations by integrating attention mechanisms and graph neural networks. Results demonstrate that the OR-SpecMet model, which utilizes raw spectral data, achieves optimal prediction performance, significantly surpassing traditional machine learning methods such as multiple linear regression, partial least squares regression, and support vector machine regression in estimating concentrations of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg). Moreover, training specialized OR-SpecMet models for individual heavy metals better accommodates their unique spectral-concentration relationships, enhancing overall estimation accuracy while achieving a 20.3 % improvement in predicting low-concentration mercury. The OR-SpecMet method showcases the superior performance and extensive application potential of deep learning techniques in precise soil heavy metal pollution monitoring, offering new insights and reliable technical support for soil pollution prevention and agricultural ecosystem protection. The code and datasets used in this study are publicly available at: https://github.com/zhang2lei/metal.git.

The environmental and agronomic benefits and trade-offs linked with the adoption alternate wetting and drying in temperate rice paddies

ContextAlternating wetting and drying (AWD) is an irrigation practice, alternative to continuous flooding, to improve the agro-environmental sustainability of rice cultivation. Benefits include reduction in water consumption, methane (CH4) emissions and arsenic (As) concentrations in grain. However, drainage periods during AWD can negatively affect nitrogen (N) use efficiency by the crop and grain yields, while increasing nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and cadmium (Cd) contents in grain. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to provide a holistic evaluation of AWD adoption in temperate rice cropping systems, including associated trade-offs. We hypothesized that the adoption of AWD in water seeded rice paddies can reduce the global warming potential (GWP) without affecting plant N uptake or introducing yield gaps, and also maintain a high quality of rice grain by limiting the uptake of metal(loid)s present in the soil, thereby resulting in an overall positive agro-environmental performance. MethodsIn a two-year field experiment in NW Italy two alternative irrigation practices involving water seeding followed by AWD management of different severity (AWDsafe and AWDstrong) were evaluated relative to the conventional water seeding and continuous flooding (WFL), comparing three different rice varieties. Yields and yield components, plant N uptake, apparent N recovery (ANR), metal(loid) concentrations in grain, and CH4 and N2O emissions were evaluated. ResultsAWDsafe and AWDstrong maintained or increased yields compared to WFL depending on varieties, despite an increase in sterility. There were no consistent differences in N uptake and ANR. Both AWDsafe and AWDstrong significantly reduce As concentration in grain, but significantly increase Cd and nickel (Ni). AWDsafe and AWDstrong reduced CH4 emissions by 45–55 % and 40–73 %, respectively, compared toWFL, while no increase in N2O emissions was observed. This resulted in a reduction in the GWP of 46 and 54 % with AWDsafe and AWDstrong, respectively. Conclusions and ImplicationsAWD was shown to be effective for mitigating GHG emissions from temperate rice cropping systems while maintaining high yield performance comparable or higher than WFL. AWD may represent a viable alternative to continuous flooding to improve agro-environmental sustainability of temperate rice cropping systems, but the trade-off between decreasing As and increasing Cd and Ni contents in the grain may represent an important concern for food safety with the adoption of this alternative water management practice.

Chemical characterization of pellet stove ashes: Elemental fractionation of ashes results in volatile particles with high concentrations of cadmium and lead

Use of wood-based biomass for home heating has increased as a more sustainable and economical alternative to fossil fuel heating sources. However, concerns remain regarding particulate emissions and potential human health effects. Pellet stoves are very efficient combustion sources but still emit high particle numbers of nanoparticles into the environment and generate ash within the stove that could be an exposure source during cleaning. In this study we chemically characterize pellet ash collected from zones (upper and lower) from three stoves and determine the chemical composition of room air during cleaning events. Ash was acid digested using reverse aqua regia and microwave digestion and analyzed by ICP-MS. Indoor air was sampled using impingers before and during stove cleaning to assess ultrafine particulate release and exposure. Within the pellet stove different fractions of ash could be identified by color and macro-scale morphology. Ash fractions collected lower in the stove were predominantly calcium-based, 25 % by weight, and high in refractory trace elements, Fe, Cr, Mn and Ni. In contrast, ash collected higher in the stove was predominantly K and S based (25 and 5 % respectively) and had high concentrations of volatile elements Zn (0.4 %), Cd and Pb. Maximum Cd and Pb ash concentrations were 274 mg/kg and 807 mg/kg respectively corresponding to enrichment factors of 1581 and 870 compared to the respective pellets. Electron microscopy of the particles suggested that ash particles were agglomerates of smaller primary particles and EDS identified areas of high K and S concentration on the particles. Impinger studies of room air during cleaning showed an increase in K, S, Zn, Cd and Pb suggesting a mobilization of upper ash particles into room air upon stove cleaning.

Exposure to toxic cadmium concentration induce physiological and molecular mechanisms alleviating herbivory infestation in Wedelia

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity induces significant disruptions in growth and development, plants have developed strategies to alleviate metal toxicity promoting establishment even during herbivores infestation. The study demonstrates that W. trilobata maintains growth and development under the combined stress of Cd exposure and herbivore invasion by Spodoptera litura, in contrast to W. chinensis. Cd toxicity markedly reduce shoot elongation and total fresh biomass, and a significant decrease in the dry weight of the shoot biomass and leaf count by 19%, 18%, 16%, and 19% in W. trilobata compared to controls. An even more pronounced decrease of 35%, 43%, 45% and 43% was found in W. chinensis. Compared to W. chinensis, W. trilobata showed a higher increase in phytohormone production including abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA3), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and methyl jasmonic acid (JA-me) under both Cd and herbivory stress as compared with respective controls. In addition, leaf ultra-structure also showed the highest damage to cell membranous structures by Cd-toxicity in W. chinensis. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis revealed numerous genes viz., EMSY, MCCA, TIRI, BED-type, ABA, JAZ, CAB-6, CPSI, LHCII, CAX, HNM, ABC-Cd-trans and GBLP being differentially expressed between Cd-stress and herbivory groups in both W. trilobata and W. chinensis, with a particular emphasis on genes associated with metal transport and carbohydrate metabolism. Analyses employing the Gene Ontology (GO) system, the Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) categorization, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database, highlight the functional and evolutionary relationships among the genes of the Phenylpropanoid and Flavonoid biosynthesis pathways and brassinosterod metabolism, associated with plant growth and development under Cd-toxicity and herbivory. W. trilobata opposite of W. chinensis, significantly improve plant growth and mitigates Cd toxicity through modulation of metabolic processes, and regulation of responsible genes, to sustain its growth under Cd and herbivory stress, which can be used in stress improvement in plants for sustainable ecosystem biodiversity and food security.

Data on vermicompost effect on the uptake of cadmium from soil by the roots of radish (Raphanus sativus)

Cadmium is a common environmental heavy metal that is very toxic and carcinogenic for human and other flora and fauna. Therefore, this study is aimed to evaluate the fisibility of vermicompost fertilizer for cadmium uptake from soil by the root of radish (Raphanus sativus). For the purpose of the study, four different ratios of one case control, 1 per 1, 1 per 4, 2 per 4, 3 per 4 vermicompost fertilizer per soil with 0, 50000 and 100000 µg/L cadmium concentrations was evaluated. Cadmium in the samples was measured using an Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The results showed that the minimum uptake of cadmium by the plant was observed for 3 per 4 ratio of fertilizer per soil. In addition, results revealed that highest growth rate of Raphanus sativus roots occurred in maximum ratio of fertilizer per soil usage (3 per 4). This study showed that vermicompost as a organic fertilizer has a good ability to adsorb cadmium metal from soil. Therfore, vermicompost application can be considered as an inexpensive natural adsorbent in arable land contaminated with cadmium.•Heavy metals are very toxic and carcinogenic to human and animals.•Adding organic fertilizer to the soil increases the absorption of heavy metal (cadmium) in the soil and prevents it from entering the food chain.•The relationship between the concentration of cadmium absorbed by the tuber of radish plant and the percentage of vermicompost added to the soil is presented.

Serum and urinary cadmium and zinc profiles in breast cancer patients and their association with estrogen and HER-2 receptors, and redox status

BackgroundCadmium, a metal implicated in environmental toxicity, is linked to tumor growth and cancer. On the other hand, zinc plays an essential function in oxidative stress and can counteract cadmium toxicity and carcinogenicity. This research aims to evaluate the urine and serum values of cadmium and zinc in breast cancer (BC) patients and their association with estrogen (ER) and HER-2 receptors, and redox status. MethodsForty BC patients and thirty healthy subjects participated in this study. Cadmium and zinc levels were measured in serum and urine samples by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Redox status markers were determined by colorimetric methods. ResultsThe amount of cadmium in the BC patients was substantially greater than in the healthy subjects. Zinc levels were significantly lower in patients with BC compared to controls. Breast cancer patients with ER-positive tumors had significantly higher urinary cadmium concentrations (U-Cd) compared to patients with ER-negative tumors. There was no significant difference between the parameters of redox status and the value of cadmium and zinc between patients with BC in the HER-2 subgroup. Malondialdehyde levels in the serum were substantially greater in BC patients than in healthy subjects. Total thiol level and catalase and superoxide dismutase activity in serum were considerably lower in BC patients than in healthy subjects. ConclusionsThe etiology of BC may be due to a disturbance in redox status and levels of elements. Increasing U-Cd and lowering zinc levels in the serum could be the risk factors for BC.

The Impact of Organic and Chemical Organic Fertilizers on the Efficiency of Cadmium Mobility Reduction by Potassium Hydroxide Modified Biochar

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of organic and chemical organic fertilizers on the translocation of cadmium in crude oil-contaminated soil treated with potassium hydroxide-modified biochar (KOH-biochar). The soil sample was collected from Chonburi Province. The soil was characterized as moderately acidic sandy loam with relatively low organic matter, medium salinity, medium cation exchange capacity, and high nutrient levels. The concentration of cadmium in the soil fell within the acceptable range for agricultural use. The KOH-biochar exhibited strong alkalinity, a high carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio, and an oxygen/carbon (O/C) ratio. Crude oil was slightly acidic, with high organic matter content and low sulfur and cadmium concentrations. The synthetic soil created in this study composed of 5% crude oil, and 100 mg/kg of cadmium. KOH-biochar, organic and chemical organic fertilizers were applied to this synthetic soil. Subsequently, the soil was subjected to extraction with 0.005 M diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA), and a sequential extraction method was employed to determine six different forms of cadmium in the soil samples. Cadmium concentrations in the extracts were measured using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The findings revealed that fertilizers effectively slowed down the movement of cadmium. Fertilizer application led to the transformation of cadmium from unstable forms to more stable forms within the soil. Fertilizer with the highest organic matter content and pH showed the least cadmium mobility. Increased nitrogen and phosphorus content in the fertilizer resulted in slightly higher cadmium mobility within the soil. Conversely, higher potassium content in the fertilizer led to slightly reduced cadmium mobility in the soil.

Wild Mushrooms as a Source of Bioactive Compounds and Their Antioxidant Properties-Preliminary Studies.

Determination of active compounds by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was carried out in addition to thermogravimetric determinations, quantitative determination of total polyphenols by spectrophotometry using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, determination of antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl radical (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-di-[3-ethylbentiazoline sulphonated] (ATBS). In addition, spectrometric analysis of selected minerals and heavy metals was performed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The mushrooms analysed varied in terms of their bioactive constituents. They contained components with varying effects on human health, including fatty acids, oleamide, 1,2-dipalmitoylglycerol, (2-phenyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-methyl ester of oleic acid, deoxyspergualin, 2-methylenocholestan-3-ol, hexadecanoamide, isoallochan, 2,6-diaminopurine, and adenine. All contained polyphenols and varying amounts of minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, copper, silicon and manganese) and exhibited antioxidant properties of varying potency. No exceedances of the permissible concentration of lead and cadmium were observed in any of them. All of the mushrooms studied can provide material for the extraction of various bioactive compounds with physiological effects. In addition, the presence of polyphenols and minerals, as well as antioxidant properties and the absence of exceeding the permissible concentration of heavy metals, indicate that these species could be interesting material in the design of foods with health-promoting properties, nutraceuticals or dietary supplements. However, the use of the fruiting bodies of these mushrooms requires mandatory toxicological and clinical studies.

A Systematic Review on Phytoremediation of Cadmium-Contaminated Soils: Identifying Hyperaccumulator Plants, Assessing Soil Quality, Analyzing Contamination Sources and Determining Health Risks

Cadmium is a highly toxic heavy metal found in soils due to various anthropogenic and natural sources, posing significant environmental and health risks. This systematic review aimed to identify plant species that can effectively accumulate cadmium, assess soil quality and contamination sources in cadmium- affected areas, and evaluate potential health risks within affected communities. Relevant studies and articles were methodically selected from databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Research Gate, and Zendy, following Prisma Guidelines. The reviewed studies, both local and international, were published after 2000. The review found that several plant species can accumulate high levels of cadmium, with Athyrium wardii (Hook.) (Makino) achieving a 55% removal rate, Linum usitatissimum L. (Flax) achieving 32-49% removal, and T. caerulescens (Alpine Pennycress) achieving 19-36% removal. These plants showed the highest cadmium concentrations in their roots, followed by stems and leaves. Anthropogenic sources of cadmium in farm soil include agricultural activities and emissions from fuel combustion, with petrochemical industries significantly contributing through oil and gas flares, leading to elevated levels of nickel and cadmium. The review highlighted that higher cadmium accumulation poses substantial health risks, with risk concentrations higher in agricultural lands than in urban areas, implying a higher carcinogenic risk for people in these regions.

Source Identification of Potentially Toxic Metals in Plants of Alpine Ecosystems of Mt. Madra by Positive Matrix Factorization.

In this study, the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in plants sampled from Mt. Madra were investigated. Furthermore, the distribution characteristics and source identification of potentially toxic metals were investigated with the application of Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) modelling. Samples of 26 different plant species were taken from Mt. Madra at elevations ranging from 177 to 1347m using the multi-point sampling approach. The metal quantities measured by ICP-OES are the following sequences (mean ± SD) (mg/kg): Fe (974.96 ± 29.6) > Mn (111.81 ± 2.6) > Zn (27.28 ± 0.2) > Ni (2.17 ± 0.03) > Pb (0.77 ± 0.01) > Cd (0.12 ± 0.01). According to the plant samples in which the highest values were determined, the metals are as follows: Cd (Lathyrus laxiflorus, 0.401mg/kg), Fe (Ajuga orientalis, 7621.207mg/kg), Mn (Castanea sativa, 724.927mg/kg), Ni (Prunella laciniata, 6.947mg/kg), Pb (Crataegus stevenii, 3.955mg/kg) and Zn (Prunella laciniata, 50.802mg/kg). The results of the PMF model showed that Cd had an atmospheric transport factor originated and transported from industrial activites, Ni had a substrate factor, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn were influenced by different anthropogenic factors.

Trends in mercury, lead and cadmium concentrations in 27 European streams and rivers: 2000–2020

Temporal trends for concentrations of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were evaluated from year 2000–2020 in 20 (Hg), 23 (Pb) and 11 (Cd) watercourses in remote forest catchments in Europe. Decreasing trends were observed in 15% (Hg), 39% (Pb) and 45% (Cd) of the watercourses during the period of evaluation. Decreasing trends were mainly observed between 2000 and 2005 for Hg and between 2000 and 2015 for Pb and Cd. For the last five years of the studied time period (2015–2020), more watercourses showed significant increasing, rather than decreasing Hg, Pb and Cd trends. This was interpreted as a legacy effect of metals still retained in catchment soils. The overall negative trends during the earlier part of the study period were likely driven by declining deposition of metals over Europe, especially for Pb and Cd. Other changes related to metal transport and chemistry may have contributed to the observed trends as well, including recovery from acidification and the ongoing browning of surface waters at northern latitudes. Here we found that organic carbon could explain the seasonal variation in Hg and Pb, but was not related the interannual trends. This study highlights the need for long-term monitoring and robust statistical methods that can detect multidirectional, long-term change in water chemistry.

Determination and contamination status of mercury and other heavy metals in artisanal and small-scale gold mining at Banyumas region, Central Java, Indonesia, using ICP-OES

ABSTRACT The determination of mercury and other heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb) has been carried out as toxic metals for the human body. Sample preparation was carried out by the microwave digested assist. The determination of heavy metals was carried out using the ICP-OES. The validation parameters used were linearity, Limit of Detection (LoD), Limit of Quantitation (LoQ), precision, and accuracy. Mercury, Arsen, Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel, and Lead average content in sediment gold ore processing waste was 1617.64, 5525.09, 20.24, 484.96, 259.67, and 1210.27 μg/kg, respectively. Linearity used a standard solution of 10–1000 μg/kg, and it produced a regression equation with r2 > 0.9992. The Limit of Detection (LoD) and the Limit of Quantitation (LoQ) was below 1.56 μg/kg and 6.27 μg/kg, respectively. The precision was calculated by the repeatability method, with a result of %RSD below 2.30%. Accuracy was obtained by recovering a spiked standard. The recovery value was found to be between 83% and 118%. Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Metal Pollution Index (MPI), Degree of Contamination (Cdeg), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) in this study was −8.62–1.43, 0.02–5.33, 8.80, and 168.59, respectively. The waste processing site at Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining is generally contaminated by mercury and other heavy metals. All the validation parameters of the method are in the acceptability range, so the method can be used as a routine method for determining mercury and other heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb) levels in gold ore processing waste.