Direct Mercury Analyzer Research Articles

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 ± 9.45 µg/L) and cadmium (20.13 ± 0.17 µg/L) in surface waters have levels above WHO guidelines and Bénin 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.

On-Site Determination of Methylmercury by Coupling Solid-Phase Extraction and Voltammetry.

A measurement and speciation procedure for the determination of total mercury (HgTOT), inorganic mercury (HgIN), and methylmercury (CH3Hg) was developed and the applicability for on-site determination was demonstrated. A simple, portable sample pretreatment procedure was optimized to extract the analytes. Home-made columns, packed with a new sorbent material called CYXAD (CYPHOS 101 modified Amberlite XAD), were used to separate the two forms of the analyte. HgTOT and CH3Hg were determined by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV), using a solid gold electrode (SGE). Two certified reference materials (BCR-463 Tuna Fish and Tuna Fish ERM-CE 464) and eight fresh fishes were analyzed. Then, the results that were obtained following the optimized portable procedure were compared with the concentrations obtained, using a direct mercury analyzer (DMA). This quantification, using the two techniques, demonstrated the good performance of the proposed method.

Processed animal proteins (PAPs) in animal nutrition: Assessment of the chemical risk of essential and non-essential elements

BackgroundProcessed animal products (PAPs) could be a great alternative to common protein supplements and represent a good example of recycling and valorization of by-products. Due to the reintroduction of certain types of PAPs in feed, a deeper knowledge of these heterogeneous matrices is needed. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the levels of essential elements and inorganic contaminants in 55 PAPs considered as potential alternatives to common protein supplements. MethodsPAPs samples were analysed for essential (cobalt, nickel, chromium, copper, zinc, iron and manganese) and non-essential elements (arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury) by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS), Graphite Furnace Atomization Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (GF-AAS) and dual cell Direct Mercury Analyzer spectrometer (DMA-80). ResultsEssential elements were found with the following decreasing order iron>zinc>copper>manganese>chromium>nickel>cobalt (mg kg−1). Only one sample was found non-compliant to lead concentration according to the European Union Regulation while negligible values of others non-essential elements were found. ConclusionsThis study suggests that PAPs could be a useful supplement for animal diet due to their natural content of essential elements. A careful monitoring of chemical elements should be required and eventually guidelines have to be drafted for a correct use of PAPs to ensure a safe and sustainable feed production.

Epitomizing mercury concentrations in incenses as a potential marker to respiratory ailments

Recent years witnessed the use of incense in aromatherapy, religious festivals, warding negative vibes, and indoor air refreshers at home. Their consequences to respiratory ailments over a long period in relation to pollution from trace metals were least studied. The present study aimed to analyze the elemental mercury (Hg) concentrations directly and indirectly in different marketed incenses and validated their effect on respiratory ailments in residents. Sixteen common brands of incense of pollution interests from the local markets were analyzed using a direct mercury analyzer that measured samples from 0.0015ng/g onwards with precise and reproducible results. Subsequently, residents apportioned in six Governorate areas of environmental interest were provided with questionnaires and sought responses to the use of incenses and their health issues. Analysis revealed high Hg concentrations in the perfume-soaked incenses compared to the non-perfume-soaked incenses besides their significant site-wise variations. The questionnaire from 60 respondents who used ‘Bokhour’ often and were exposed to smoke for >8h showed mild to severe respiratory ailments in line with the indoor-outdoor air quality. Despite the beneficial effect of incenses described in the past, Hg concentration was observed high in the incense that caused varying respiratory ailments which were attributed to the native’s selectivity, regional specificity, and recurrent uses of incenses. This study labeled Hg in incense as an additive bio-indicator to indoor pollution. Furthermore, restricting the burning of unmonitored locally available incense is recommended to prevent health issues and subsequent indoor pollution.

Risk Assessment and Determination of Heavy Metals in Home Meal Replacement Products by Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and Direct Mercury Analyzer.

This study quantified six heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As, Sn, Hg, and Me-Hg) in home meal replacement products. Satisfactory linearity (R2 > 0.99), recovery (80.65–118.02%), limits of detection (0.02–2.81 μg/kg), limits of quantification (0.05–8.51 μg/kg), accuracy (80.49–119.87%), precision (0.26–14.93%), standard uncertainty (0.082–0.321%) and relative standard uncertainty (0.084–0.320%) of the six heavy metals were obtained. The average concentration of the six heavy metals was 8.87 μg/kg. Heavy metal concentrations were converted to food intake data of 0.009 μg/kg to recalculate the 95th percentile food intake data (g/day) of individual heavy metals. These were then divided by age group to evaluate the average exposure to heavy metals and determine the 95th percentile of exposure from daily intake and for the whole population, of home meal replacement products. The chronic daily intake amount of six heavy metals was 1.60 × 10−2 μg/kg/day. Based on total chronic daily intake values, the risk and margin of exposure of each of the heavy metals was 9.13 × 107, demonstrating that intake associated with home meal replacement products is negligible.

New Eco-Sustainable Feed in Aquaculture: Influence of Insect-Based Diets on the Content of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Experimental Model Zebrafish (Danio rerio).

According to the concept of circular economy, insects represent good candidates as aquafeed ingredients. Nevertheless, there are some potential chemical risks linked with insect consumption. In this study, we reared the teleost Danio rerio, used as an experimental model, with five experimental diets characterized by increasing levels (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) of full-fat Hermetia illucens (Hi) prepupae, substituting for fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO). We investigated the presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) Cd, Pb, Ni, As, and Hg in larval (20 days), juvenile (2 months), and adult (6 months) fish. Quantitative determinations of Cd, Pb, Ni, and As were made with an atomic absorption spectrometer; the total mercury content was determined by a direct mercury analyzer. The substitution of FM and FO with Hermetia illucens meal led to a reduction in the content of some PTEs, such as Pb, As, and Ni, in fishfeed, leading to concentrations below the legal limit of undesirable substances in animal feed. By increasing the Hi meal dietary content, we observed in the Danio rerio specimens an increase in Cd, Pb, and Ni content and a reduction in As content for all life stages. Moreover, a general increase in the content of Cd, Pb, Hg, and Ni from larvae to juvenile was measured, while the shift of Danio rerio from the juvenile to the adult stage involved a significant increase in the content of Pb, Hg, and Ni. Larvae had a reduced ability to bioaccumulate metal(loid)s compared to juveniles and adults. In conclusion, the content of PTEs in Danio rerio is influenced both by the type of diet administered and by the life stage of the animal itself. This research demonstrates the possibility of using Hi prepupae as an aquafeed ingredient without exposing fish to a chemical risk and, in perspective, allows applying these eco-sustainable diets for the breeding of edible fish species, without endangering human health.

Quantification and thermo-desorption studies of mercury in sediments from Mokolo River, Limpopo Province, South Africa

ABSTRACT Mercury can travel over long distances, and bioaccumulate in the trophic chain thereby posing a threat to not only humans but also animals and plants. Mercury also causes neurological problems such as the Minamata diseases. Pollution and toxicity of mercury have become a global problem that requires immediate attention. In this study, a thermal-desorption technique using a Zeeman direct mercury (Hg) analyser (DMA) was employed for the quantification of Hg in river sediments as well as for Hg thermo-scanning to investigate the behaviour of Hg release from sediments. Thermal speciation was based on comparison of the temperatures at which Hg species in sediments were thermally released to the temperatures at which Hg in known standards were released. Moreover, total Hg concentrations in river sediments were measured using a DMA. The accuracy of the method for total Hg quantification was confirmed by the analysis of several standard reference materials of sediment (SRM2709a, NCS DC 73325, NCS DC 73374, NCS DC 73316 and NCS DC 73322) and quantitative percentage recoveries ranging from 84 to 99% were obtained. The total Hg concentrations in sediments ranged from 7.4 to 35.2 ng/g and 2.1 to 21.2 ng/g in the low and high flow seasons, respectively. Different forms of Hg associated with river sediments were successfully identified by thermo-desorption technique. The concentrations of Hg in the sediment samples were all below 200 ng/g which is the sediment quality guideline set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Different species of Hg were present in the sediment samples, with humic acid and/or iron oxide being the most predominant forms of Hg associated with the sediments.

When the Detail of Organism Makes the Difference in the Seascape: Different Tissues of Phallusia nigra Have Distinct Hg Concentrations and Show Differences Resolution in Spatial Pollution

This study indicates the use of Phallusia nigra as a potential biomonitor of mercury contamination. In this way, Hg levels were measured in seawater and different parts of ascidians (tunic, hepatopancreas, and branchial basket) from eight different sites in the Todos os Santos Bay, Salvador-Bahia. The ascidians were lyophilized, weighed, and taken to the DMA-80 (direct mercury analyzer); the method accuracy was confirmed by analyzing the certified material DORM- 4 muscle tissue and MEES-3 marine sediment with a confidence level of 95%. The results were evaluated through the Tukey’s test and it was possible to observe a higher concentration of Hg (82.00-312.7 ng g-1) in the branchial basket, followed by the hepatopancreas (69.67‑130.7 ng g-1) and tunic (21.63-33.27 ng g-1). Thus, the branchial basket was the only tissue capable of identifying spatial differences in pollution between the points.

Trace elements in stomach oil of Scopoli's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) from Linosa's colony

Calonectris diomedea is a colonial Procellariiform breeding on Mediterranean islands. The stomach oil produced during chick rearing is a peculiar trait of this species. The composition of the stomach oil is likely to reflect the composition of the prey ingested and might reveal the contaminants uptake with prey becoming a possible tool for the marine pollution monitoring. We examined the concentration of 15 trace elements by ICP-MS and direct mercury analyser. The principal component analysis revealed a heterogeneous pattern of metal concentration, showing a significant separation between samples collected 20 and 70 days after hatching. The data obtained in this work give preliminary information on the feeding habits and breeding ecology of Linosa's colony of Scopoli's shearwater. The trace metals variability found suggest that the stomach oil may have a role as trophic markers to understand predator-prey relationships and to have evidence on the accumulation of pollutants in the latter.

Evaluation of heavy metal contaminants in prepared noodles: source allocation and health risk assessment.

In recent years, special attention has been given to emission research that led to the deposition of toxicants from road traffic. Thus, it is imperative to focus on heavy metal (HM) stressors in food items, their source contribution, and health risk assessment providing insight into their spatial role at the population level. In this study, heavy metal in the street vended noodles was studied while correlating the quality of noodle with different environmental origins. The samples were prepared using acid digestion and analysed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer, except Hg which was analysed by direct mercury analyser. The results showed that some heavy metals like Cr, Pb, Mn, Cd, and Hg exceed their permissible limits established by the international legislation for food products. In the noodle samples, the concentration of heavy metal ranged from < 0.1 to 0.904mg/kg for Pb, < 0.09 to 0.843mg/kg for Ni, < 0.004 to 0.201mg/kg for Cd, < 0.0001 to 0.004mg/kg for Hg, < 0.01 to 1.388mg/kg for Cu, < 0.015 to 8.049mg/kg for Mn, and < 0.02 to 16.514mg/kg for Cr. Noodle samples vended on high traffic density streets are directly associated with increased HM content due to atmospheric deposition from the surrounding. Source apportionment study determines that HM contamination belongs to the same source of origin, except Cr. Based on the cluster analysis, these samples fall into three major groups that were further validated by the canonical discriminant function. Health risk prediction by Monte Carlo simulation revealed an elevated non-carcinogenic health hazard risk to consumers with a hazard index (HI) shift from 71 to 75%. Health hazard analysis showed that consumers of high traffic density street vended food are at higher risk of developing health-related issues. This study is important to evaluate the health risk of the population exposed to heavy metals due to ingestion of street vended food.

Pollution indices of heavy metals in the Western Arabian Gulf coastal area

An environmental assessment of the Western Arabian Gulf Coastal regions was done by assessing heavy metals in sediments and seawater, as well as other environmental parameters. A total of 94 sediment samples and 94 water samples were collected from 22 locations to estimate 12 heavy metals in each sample. This was achieved by using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer -ICP-OES and Direct Mercury Analyzer. In general, metals were significantly higher in sediment samples compared with water samples. The pollution index PI and sediments pollution index SPI proved that the study areas were unpolluted to slightly polluted with regard to sediments and water except for one location. Cadmium showed polluting levels in five sites of the studied area, thus it was considered as the most polluting heavy metal among the other studied metals. Zinc was contaminating two sites, while each of Mn, Cu, Pb, and Cr reached pollution levels in one site. On the other hand, Fe, Ni and Hg had non-polluting levels. The study revealed that about 82% of the Arabian Gulf western coasts are non-polluted to slightly polluted.

Particle size distributions and seasonal concentrations study of atmospheric pollutants (particulates, Hg(p)) at an agricultural site in Taiwan

The concentrations of ambient air particulates of various sizes (PM1, PM2.5, PM6.25, PM10 and PM18) were measured using a MOUDI sampler at an agricultural sampling site in central Taiwan from January to September, 2020. The concentrations of particulate-bound mercury Hg(p) that were attached to particulates of various sizes (PM1, PM2.5, PM6.25, PM10 and PM18)) were analyzed using a Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA-80). The results revealed that the mean particulate and Hg(p) concentrations associated with PM18, PM10, PM6.25, PM2.5 and the back filter were all highest in autumn and winter. The mean mass median diameter (m.m.d.) value for ambient air particulates was highest in the summer and lowest for Hg(p). The mean m.m.d. value for ambient air Hg(p) was highest in the winter and lowest for ambient air particulates. The northeast monsoon prevails in the winter season of Taiwan. Thus, The sources of particulates and Hg(p) pollutants might came from the northeast side of Taiwan - especially in spring and winter seasons. Thus, ambient air particulate concentrations are higher in the winter than in the spring. However, ambient air particulate-bound mercury Hg(p) tended to be associated more with coarse particulates than with other particulates. Finally, Hg(p) concentrations in Taiwan have increased over the last 15 years. Reducing atmospheric Hg(p) concentrations has become an important environmental goal in all countries - especially those in Asia.

Assessment of the Temporal and Spatial Variation of the Mercury Content of Lake Nokoué in Southern Benin Republic (West Africa).

Anthropogenic input of mercury into watersheds is becoming increasingly noticeable and is the cause of fishery products contamination. This had led to the Convention of Minamata signed and ratified by the vast majority of the countries in the world. Lake Nokoué in Benin Republic, the most fishery products provider in West Africa, is subject to mercury pollution. The health threat to both the benthic and the consumers of the fishery products from this lake has to be anticipated by precisely determining the dynamics of mercury contamination of the waters and sediments of Lake Nokoué, taking into account the anthropogenic contribution. Water and sediment samples were collected on 23 sites twice a month for four sampling campaigns. Parameters such as pH, salinity, COD, and SS are evaluated in the water. The assessment of total mercury is conducted by cold vapor atomic absorption according to the US EPA 7473 method, using a direct mercury analyzer (DMA-80). On average, the mercury content in Lake Nokoué water is 0.43 ± 0.57 μg/kg. Its variation is linked not only to the seasonal variation but also to that of the suspended matter. South of the lake, the sediments are extremely polluted (5 ≤ Igeo) and present a risk of frequent effects for the benthic species present.

Rodent hair is a Poor biomarker for internal manganese exposure

Hair is used as a biomarker of manganese (Mn) exposure, yet there is limited evidence to support its utility to quantify internal vs external Mn exposure. C57BL/6 J mice and Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed in two blocks of 3 subcutaneous injections every 3 days starting on day 0 or 20. The control group received two blocks of saline (vehicle); Treatment A received the first block as Mn (50 mg/kg MnCl2 tetrahydrate), with the second block as either methylmercury (MeHg at 2.6 or 1.3 mg/kg) for mice or vehicle for rats; and Treatment B received Mn for both blocks. Hair was collected on days 0 and 60 from all treatment groups and Mn quantified by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and total Hg by Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA). No correlation between internal Mn dose and hair Mn was observed, whereas hair Hg was significantly elevated in MeHg exposed vs non-exposed mice. Whole body Mn content at day 60 was quantified postmortem by neutron activation analysis, which detected significantly elevated Mn for Treatment B in mice and rats. Overall, we find no evidence to support the use of hair as a valid biomarker for internal exposure to Mn at a neurotoxic level.

Correlates of whole blood metal concentrations among reproductive-aged Black women

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Metals may adversely affect reproductive health, motivating the need for data on correlates of metal concentrations among reproductive-aged women. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from a cohort of 1,693 Black women aged 23-35 years in Detroit, Michigan. We collected whole blood samples and questionnaire data from 1,664 (98%) participants at baseline (2010-2012). We measured concentrations of 17 elements using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometer–triple quadrupole and total mercury using Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA)-80. We used multivariable linear regression models (adjusted for all hypothesized correlates) to identify demographic, nutritional, lifestyle, occupational, and reproductive correlates of metal concentrations. RESULTS:Median concentrations of select metals included: arsenic (0.33 μg/L), cadmium (0.20 μg/L), lead (0.47 μg/dL), and mercury (0.56 μg/L). The largest correlations were observed between cadmium–lead (0.49), cobalt–manganese (0.45), mercury–arsenic (0.44), and chromium–vanadium (0.42). Alcohol intake (≥14 vs. 0 drinks/week) was positively associated with mercury (102.4% increase [95% confidence interval (CI) 30.3, 214.6]), arsenic (36.0% [12.4, 64.6]), lead (27.0% [15.6, 39.6]), copper (7.4% [2.4, 12.7]), and zinc (6.7% [1.9, 11.7]). Fish intake (≥8 vs. 4 ounces/week) was positively associated with mercury (215.4% [141.7, 311.4]), arsenic (100.3% [78.6, 124.7]), and cesium (5.8% [1.3, 10.5]). Water intake (≥5 vs. 2 glasses/day) was positively associated with lead (6.8% [1.3, 12.6]). Current smoking (≥10 cigarettes/day vs. never) was positively associated with cadmium (466.8% [385.9, 561.1]) and lead (59.0% [43.7, 76.1]), and inversely associated with mercury (-58.0% [-73.8, -32.6]). Having ever worked in an auto repair shop/gas station was positively associated with nickel (71.4% [22.2, 140.3]), chromium (49.5% [17.6, 90.2]), arsenic (28.5% [-2.9, 70.1]), lead (11.4% [-3.1, 28.0]), and antimony (9.8% [-0.3, 20.8]). CONCLUSIONS:We observed associations between dietary, lifestyle, and occupational factors and metal concentrations. Future analyses will examine correlates of metal mixtures and associations between metal concentrations and reproductive health outcomes. KEYWORDS: Chemical exposures, female, heavy metals

Hair mercury levels, dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and ovarian reserve among women attending a fertility center

BACKGROUND AND AIM: We investigated the association of hair mercury (Hg) levels with antral follicle count (AFC), as a marker of ovarian reserve, and evaluate whether this relationship differed among women with high vs. low intake of long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3PUFA). METHODS: We included 295 women attending an academic fertility center (2007-2016) who had data on hair Hg levels (assessed using a Direct Mercury Analyser), n3PUFA intake (estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire) and AFC (assessed by transvaginal ultrasonography and abstracted from electronic medical records). Poisson regression models adjusted for potential confounders were used to evaluate the association of hair Hg levels (divided into tertiles, and as above vs below EPA reference (1ppm)) with AFC. Associations were also evaluated after stratification by n3PUFA intake (≤0.124 vs. 0.125 %calories/week). RESULTS:Women’s median hair Hg level was 0.55 ppm (range=0.01-8.51 ppm), with more than 30% 1 ppm. Hair Hg was positively related to AFC after adjusting for age, BMI, smoking status, infertility diagnosis, and alcohol intake. However, associations became attenuated after further adjustment for intake of calories and n3PUFA. The positive associations of hair Hg and AFC were observed only among women with high n3PUFA intake. Specifically, women who consumed 0.125 %calories/week of n3PUFA had a mean AFC of 11.9, 13.2 and 14.5, respectively, across increasing tertiles of hair Hg (p=0.002). Similar results were found when hair Hg was divided as above vs below EPA reference (mean AFC=12.7 vs. 14.6, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS:In women from a fertility clinic, positive associations of hair Hg with AFC may be reflective of beneficial effects of n3PUFA on ovarian reserve rather than a beneficial effect of Hg per se. Our findings highlight the importance of considering diet when exploring Hg effects on women’s reproductive health. KEYWORDS: Heavy metals, food/nutrition, female reproductive outcomes.

Hair mercury levels, intake of omega-3 fatty acids and ovarian reserve among women attending a fertility center

To investigate the association of hair mercury (Hg) levels with antral follicle count (AFC), as a marker of ovarian reserve, and evaluate whether this relationship differed among women with high vs. low total intake of long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3PUFA) from foods and supplements. We included 353 women attending an academic fertility center (2007-2019) who had data on hair Hg levels, total n3PUFA intake, and AFC. Hair Hg levels were assessed using a Direct Mercury Analyser, total n3PUFA intake was estimated using an extensively validated food frequency questionnaire, and AFC was assessed by transvaginal ultrasonography. Poisson regression models adjusted for potential confounders were used to evaluate the association of hair Hg levels (divided into tertiles, and as above vs below EPA reference (1ppm)) with AFC. Associations were also evaluated after stratification by median n3PUFA intake (≤0.124% vs. >0.125% calories/week). Women's median hair Hg level was 0.60ppm (range=0.001-8.60ppm), with more than 30%>1ppm (EPA reference level). Hair Hg was positively related to AFC after adjusting for age, BMI, smoking status, infertility diagnosis, and alcohol intake. However, associations became attenuated after adjustment for intake of total n3PUFA. The positive associations of hair Hg and AFC were observed only among women above the median total n3PUFA intake. Specifically, women who consumed >0.125% calories/week of total n3PUFA had mean AFCs of 11.9, 13.2 and 14.1, respectively, across increasing tertiles of hair Hg (p,trend=0.004). Similar results were found when hair Hg was divided above vs below EPA reference (mean AFC=12.7 vs. 14.1, p=0.008). In these women, positive associations of hair Hg with AFC may be reflective of beneficial effects of n3PUFA on ovarian reserve rather than a beneficial effect of Hg per se. Our findings highlight the importance of considering diet when exploring Hg effects on women's reproductive health in urban settings.

Association between heavy metals, high-sensitivity C-reaction protein and 10-year risk of cardiovascular diseases among adult Korean population

The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Korea tends to be increasing. It has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing evidence shows heavy metals are associated with increased CVD risk. We aimed to determine the association between the serum heavy metal levels and 10-year risk of CVDs and to predict risks of CVDs based on marginal effects. Heavy metals were measured by a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and direct mercury analyzer. The results show a significant relationship between the increase in cadmium, lead, mercury, hs-CRP levels and the 10-year risk of CVD after adjustment for serum cotinine, age group, sex, body mass index, a family history of CVDs, diabetes or hyperlipidemia, high-risk drinking, physical activity, and diabetes. A doubling of serum cadmium, lead, mercury, and hs-CRP was associated with the increase in the 10-year risk of CVD by 0.14%, 0.10%, 0.11% and 0.22%, respectively. Therefore, a special concern should be given to the harmful impacts of heavy metals on the 10-year risk of CVD. It is important to develop a prevention strategy targeting the high-risk population to slow down this progression to risk factors related to heavy metals and reduce prevalence. Remarkedly, hs-CRP is the most validated and widely used inflammatory marker, and could be a potential clinical value in predicting and monitoring CVDs.

Distribution and leachability of hazardous trace elements in Lurgi gasification ash from a Coal - to - SNG plant

The Lurgi gasification technology has attracted significant commercial interest in China owing to its suitability for production of synthetic natural gas (SNG). However, hazardous trace elements (HTEs) in Lurgi gasification ash have the potential risk of contaminating surface and groundwater. In this paper, the HTEs in ash with different particle sizes from Lurgi gasifier and the HTEs concentrations of leachates were investigated by using an ICP-MS (Thermo Fisher, ELEMENT2/XR) and a direct mercury analyzer (DMA 80). Moreover, the mass loading (f(x)) and ecological risk index (RI) was introduced to evaluate the risk level of HTEs in Lurgi gasification ash with different particle sizes. The content of Be, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ba, Pb, U and As in fine ash (<3 mm) accounts for 40–55% of the total content. HTEs are more likely to concentrate in the fine ash with a particle size of less than 3 mm and a large specific surface area in the Lurgi gasifier. The pH range of the leachate is from 8.2 to 10.1. As and Cd presented the highest leachability, and more than 85.9% of As and over 54.1% of Cd in the ash were transferred into the leachate. The concentration of As, Cd, Be and Cr in the leachate is negatively correlated with the ash particle size, while Pb is positively correlated. The mass loading index of Lurgi ash with particle size of 3 ~ 6mm is the smallest, less than 10%. And the ecological risk index (RI) of Lurgi gasification ash increased with the decrease of particle size, but all of them were at low-risk level. However, in some cases, the leached concentrations of arsenic exceed the allowable limit of the secondary groundwater standard in China.

Multivariate analysis of metals contents in spices commonly consumed in republic of Korea

ABSTRACT Concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) were determined in 310 samples of commonly consumed spices from the market in Korea. The content of metals was assayed by acid wet digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or ICP. The content of Hg was analysed using a direct mercury analyser (DMA). Leafy spices had a significantly higher content of Pb, Cd, As, Hg, Ca and Ni when compared to those of fruit spices. Principal component analysis/cluster analysis (PCA/CA) analyses showed a high positive correlation and close proximities in the content of Pb and As in all samples, Zn and Ca in leafy spices and Cd and Zn in fruit spices.