Effects Of Heavy Metal Accumulation Research Articles

Source-specific probabilistic health risk assessment of heavy metals in surface water of the Yangtze River Basin

The detrimental effects of heavy metal accumulation on both ecosystems and public health have raised widespread concern. Source-specific risk assessment is crucial for developing effective strategies to prevent and control heavy metal contamination in surface water. This study aims to investigate the contamination characteristics of heavy metals in the Yangtze River Basin, identifying the pollution sources, assessing the risk levels, and further evaluating the health risks to humans. The results indicated that the average concentrations of heavy metals were ranked as follows: zinc (Zn) > arsenic (As) > copper (Cu) > chromium (Cr) > cadmium (Cd) > nickel (Ni) > lead (Pb), with average concentrations of 38.02 μg/L, 4.34 μg/L, 2.53 μg/L, 2.10 μg/L, 1.17 μg/L, 0.84 μg/L, and 0.32 μg/L, respectively, all below the WHO 2017 standards for safe drinking water. The distribution trend indicates higher concentrations in the upper and lower reaches and lower concentrations in the mid-reaches of the river. By integrating the Absolute Principal Component Scores-Multiple Linear Regression (APCS-MLR) receptor model and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model, the main sources of heavy metals were identified as industrial activities (APCS-MLR: 41.3 %; PMF: 42.1 %), agricultural activities (APCS-MLR: 30.1 %; PMF: 27.4 %), and unknown mix sources (APCS-MLR: 29.1 %; PMF: 30.4 %). The calculation of the hazard index (HI) for both children and adults was <1, indicating no non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic risks. Based on the source-specific risk assessment, agricultural activities contribute the most to non-carcinogenic risks, while industrial activities pose the greatest contribution to carcinogenic risks. This study offers a reference for monitoring heavy metals and controlling health risks to residents, and provides crucial evidence for the utilization and protection of surface water in the Yangtze River Basin.

PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT AND ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF CADMIUM AND LEAD IN TWENTY-FIVE BRANDS OF CIPROFLOXACIN TABLETS MARKETED IN LAGOS, NIGERIA.

Ciprofloxacin is a second-generation broad-spectrum antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone class, highly effective against many bacteria. Several brands of this drug class are marketed for public consumption; hence, it has placed the public in a confused state about the best brands with suitable physical characteristics and safe oral consumption. Additionally, the adverse effects of heavy metal accumulation in drugs for oral use have made it essential to quantify the amount of such heavy metals present. Evaluating the physical quality, elemental analysis identity, and concentration of cadmium and lead in twenty-five brands of ciprofloxacin tablets marketed in Lagos, Nigeria, is the aim of this study. The physical assessment of the tablets was then methodologically evaluated for these parameters; Uniformity of weight, Hardness, Friability, and Disintegration tests. Determining the amount of Cadmium and Lead with the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and evaluating using the Permitted Daily Exposure (PDE). Among all the brands of Ciprofloxacin tablets analyzed, 96 % passed the Uniformity of weight test, 52 % passed the Hardness test, 96 % passed the Friability test, and 96 % passed the disintegration test while 2 % passed the test according to the Permitted Daily Exposure (PDE) to Cadmium. 72 % passed the test according to the Permitted Daily Exposure (PDE) to Lead. The brands that passed the physical tests have good quality and correct physical characteristics. Cadmium and lead are of no benefit to humanity in the body and because they are not easily eliminated from the body, their buildup can put people at risk for mental retardation in children, dementia, kidney damage, nerve damage, infertility, high blood pressure, and cancer at high exposure levels. Keywords: Ciprofloxacin, Permitted Daily Exposure, Physical characteristics, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, Cadmium, Lead

Assessing the relationship between Tooth Heavy Metal Deposition and Periodontal Disease in Smokers and Non-Smokers

Objective: Heavy metals threaten life by accumulating in the body via various sources as water,air and foods. Smoking is one of the important factors that causes this problem. Despite there is an abundant number of studies showing the detrimental effects of smoking on periodontal health, the mechanisms that cause these harmful effects is not clearly known yet. The main aim of our study is to discover whether heavy metal deposition on the tooth surface is related to the disease-causing potential of smoking. Materials and Method: Total of 80 individuals consist of 43 women and 37 men were included in this study. The participants were divided into 4 groups of 20 individuals each according to the results from clinical examination and anamnesis. Plaque index, gingival index, pocket depth, bleeding on probing and clinical attachment level were recorded clinically. The teeth indicated for extraction were collected. Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr and Fe depositions on teeth were measured by ICP-OES device. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Student T, Mann Whitney U, One way ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis, Ki-Kare, Pearson, and Spearman tests were performed for the statistical analysis. Results: Smoking increases the accumulation of heavy metals such as Cd, Ni, Cr, and Pb. The Pb level was higher in both the smoking group and the periodontitis group, compared with the control group. Fe levels were found high in the non-smoking healthy group. Cr and Fe levels were found higher in women while Cd level was higher in men. Positive correlations were found between Pb and plaque index, gingival index, pocket depth and bleeding on probing; and also between Ni and plaque index. ( p=0.000, p=0.009, p=0.025, p=0.011, p=0.019) Conclusion: In conclusion, our study explored the connection between heavy metal deposition on tooth surfaces and the disease-causing potential of smoking. Smoking has been identified as a significant factor in the increased accumulation of heavy metals, including Cd, Ni, Cr, and Pb. The higher Pb levels seen in both the smoking and periodontitis groups, compared to the control group, suggest a potential link between Pb accumulation and periodontal health. Additionally, differences based on gender were observed, with women showing higher Cr and Fe levels, while Cd levels were more elevated in men. The positive correlations between Pb and various periodontal indices, along with the correlation between Ni and plaque index, shed light on the potential influence of heavy metal deposition on periodontal health. While our findings enhance our understanding of the interplay between smoking, heavy metal deposition, and oral health, further research is needed to fully comprehend the underlying mechanisms. Such insights could lead to interventions aimed at minimizing the adverse effects of heavy metal accumulation on oral health.

Heavy metals and parasitological infection associated with oxidative stress and histopathological alteration in the Clarias gariepinus

The goal of this study was to assess the harmful effects of heavy metal accumulation on Clarias gariepinus (catfish) in two different polluted areas in the Al Sharkia governorate and assess the impact on oxidative stress and histological changes. The results revealed a highly significant difference in heavy metal levels in the water and inside fish tissues (liver and gonads) between the two sites. The total prevalence of parasitic infection was at the highest percentage in area B, in addition to severe histopathological damage to the liver and the gonads. Findings show that the total prevalence of parasitic infection is associated with uptake of metals, depleted antioxidant activity, and incidence of lipid peroxidation in tissue.

Review on the effects of heavy metal accumulation in flowers on the mutual benefit relationship between plant and insect pollinators

The global sharp decline of pollinators is one of the hot issues concerned by ecologists, mainly driven by global climate change, land use change, habitat fragmentation and harmful substances such as pesticides brought by industrial and agricultural production. In contrast, the potential impact of soil heavy metal pollution on pollinators is lack of in-depth evaluation. Heavy metals in soil would enter plant tissues, such as flowers, etc., and be transmitted to pollinators during pollination. By affecting pollinators' behavior, they can change plant fitness for male and female. This review aimed to comprehensively sort out the status of research and existing problems, which would deepen our understanding on the ecological consequences caused by heavy metal pollution as well as the plant-animal relationship in response to environmental change. Summarizing previous researches, we reviewed findings on the pattern of heavy metal accumulation in flowers, the impacts of flower heavy metal accumulation on plant male and female fitnesses in addition to pollination behavior and the key aspects of life history of bees, to help understand the interrelationship between flower heavy metal accumulation and pollinators, and further expand the scientific understanding on the internal connection between soil heavy metal pollution and the decline of pollinators.

Facile synthesis of superparamagnetic thiamine/Fe3O4 with enhanced adsorptivity toward divalent copper ions

The development of environmentally friendly adsorbents has been extensively carried out to overcome the detrimental effects of heavy metal accumulation, which has persistently become a global ecological problem. In pursuit of generating eco-friendly adsorbents, a green method for synthesizing thiamine functionalized-Fe3O4 (FT) was developed in this study. A one-step chemical oxidation and functionalization technique was used to prepare FT using the ammonia-containing solvent. A molar ratio of ammonia:Fe:thiamine of 15:1:1 was shown to produce FT15 with high yield, adsorptivity, and purity. XRD, XPS, FTIR, SEM, and SQUID characterization of FT15 revealed the formation of superparamagnetic thiamine functionalized Fe3O4 in their particles. This superparamagneticity facilitates the easy recovery of FT15 particles from the waste-containing solution by using an external magnetic force. The batch adsorption of Cu(II) onto FT15 showed the best fit with the Sips adsorption isotherm model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 426.076 mg g−1, which is 5.69-fold higher capacity than the control unmodified Fe3O4 (F15). After five adsorption-desorption cycles, the FT15 can maintain up to 1.95-fold higher capacity than the freshly synthesized F15. Observation on the physicochemical properties of the post-adsorption materials showed the contribution of an amine group, pyrimidine ring, and the thiazolium group of thiamine in boosting its adsorption capacity. This study provides important findings to advance the adsorptivity of magnetic adsorbents with promising recoverability from aqueous solution by employing naturally available and environmentally friendly compounds such as thiamine.

Typical sources of Cd to paddy fields in different contaminated areas and their impacts on Cd accumulation in topsoil and rice in Changzhutan, China

Heavy metal pollution of soils has been worsening increasingly in China, which brings significant health risk to human, it is critical to investigate the sources of heavy metals in agricultural soils and explore the effects of heavy metal accumulation in crops. In this paper, the sources of cadmium (Cd) and their effects on Cd accumulation in soil and rice grown on urban farmland in Changzhutan were investigated. Among the main Cd sources (irrigation water, commercial fertilizer, and atmospheric deposition), the input flux of atmospheric deposition accounted for 76.36%–98.25% of total input flux, significantly higher than the input fluxes of irrigation water and commercial fertilizer. Manure fertilizer was also an important source of Cd in livestock breeding areas. The accumulation behaviors of Cd in soils and plants presented significant spatial variation among the study areas. Higher Cd input flux from atmospheric deposition resulted in higher Cd bioavailability in soil and more Cd accumulation in rice, and the newly deposited Cd contributed 7.35–41.23% in rice tissues. The use of manure fertilizer increased the soil pH and amount of available Cd in soil, as well as the accumulation of Cd in rice roots. Based on sequential extraction, acid-extractable Cd accounted for approximately 52.54%–61.88% of total Cd in atmospherically deposited particles in the study area, resulting in a high proportion of acid-extractable Cd in soil. This study provides useful reference data on the sources of Cd and its bioavailability in soil and rice.

From laboratory experiment to large scale application: case studies of the phytoremediation of chemical agents of agents of the sludge fields at Kharkiv wastewater treatment plant, Ukraine

The contamination of the sewage sludge fields of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) by heavy metals, hydrocarbons or other pollutants is a major environmental problem. Sludge can retain up to 96% of all the metals entering the WWTPs in sewage, therefore, when it is disposed to land, heavy metals will be accumulated in the soil. Effects of heavy metal accumulation are long lasting and even permanent. Phytotoxicity is the main problem, although metals can be transferred directly to man via vegetables and other crops or indirectly via animals, primarily cattle, eating herbage (zootoxic). The common metals in sludge are Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr, and Cd which are generally the most toxic metal found in high concentration.Conventional treatment techniques of contaminated territory suffer from serious shortcomings which limit their applicability and efficiency. These include high cost and maintenance requirements, the need to transfer the contamination from one medium to another, and the extended duration of the operation. Alternatives to these treatments lie in in­situ phytoremediation. Plants are among the most tolerant organisms to pollution, which emphasizes their utility for the detoxification or degradation of pollutants. The concept of phytoremediation was inspired by the discovery of hyper-accumulators, most of which belong to the botanical families Brassicaceae, Poaceae, Papilionaceae, Caryophyllaceae, and Asteraceae, which provide most of the candidates for heavy metal phytoremediation. Two other families are important - the Salicaceae with the genera Salix and Populus, which are effective against a range of pollutants; and the Betaceae which contribute species effective against salt ions and small (few rings) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Some Asteraceae species have been shown to be good phytoremediants of radionuclide pollution [ I ].This paper summarizes the results obtained from laboratory, as well as from in-situ experiments (sludge fields at Kharkiv's WWTP, total area is approx. 126 ha) which focused on phytoremediation methodologies for the removal of heavy metals from sewage sludge.

Reproductive effects of heavy metal accumulation on breeding feral pigeons ( Columba livia)

To investigate the effects of heavy metal accumulations on breeding birds, we compared the egg size, eggshell thickness and some reproductive parameters in feral pigeon populations collected from Seoul and Ansan colonies. The results showed that concentrations of Pb in bone and Cd in kidney of adult pigeons in Seoul were three times higher than in Ansan colony. Significant positive correlation was also observed between Pb and Zn in bone and Cd and Zn in kidney of adult pigeons from Seoul, but not Ansan. This indicates that pigeons at Seoul may be affected more by the toxic Pb and Cd exposure in the environment rather than those at Ansan because of the antagonistic action of Zn against Pb and Cd toxicity. No significant difference was observed in egg characteristics (egg length, width and shell thickness), clutch size (number of eggs per clutch), incubation periods and hatchability of squabs between the two study sites. Although no significant difference was observed, body weight, and primary wing, bill and tarsus lengths of nestlings from Seoul which is more polluted were rather smaller than those from Ansan. Nestlings at Seoul fledged significantly later than at the less polluted site (Ansan). We also observed significantly lower fledging success at Seoul than Ansan colony. Elevated metal exposure may thus result in decreasing growth rate in pigeon nestlings resulting in fledging length and fledging success. Our results suggest a possible effect of heavy metal bioaccumulation on breeding of feral pigeons.

Ecological effects of roads and traffic: a literature review

This survey of the literature on the ecological effects of roads and traffic revealed many articles published over many years in peer reviewed journals. There has also been a growing number of reports on the ecological effects of roads produced by government authorities. Whereas few reports have been published on assessing the ecological impacts, there has been a rapidly growing number of reports on methods for mitigation. Gaps in research include the effects of heavy metal accumulation and the processes and effects resulting from habitat fragmentation. There is a need to assess the effectiveness of underpasses and tunnels and the nature and functioning of buffer zones. A literature database has been assembled and is being updated.

Effects of heavy metal accumulation in apple orchard soils on the mineralization of humified plant residues

A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to determine the effects of heavy metals accumulated in apple orchard soils on the mineralization of humified plant residues. Apple orchard soils with varying concentrations of Cu, Pb, and As were incubated for 70 d at 25°C with and without humified orchardgrass prepared in the laboratory. The largest amounts of total Cu, Pb, and As found in the soils used were 1,010, 926, and 153 mg kg-1 soil, respectively, and the amounts of Cu and Pb extractable with 0.1 M CaCl2 were each negatively correlated with the soil pH. Although the amount of mineralized C from the humified orchardgrass added to the soils did not show a close relationship to the total concentrations of heavy metals, it was negatively correlated with the amount of 0.1 M CaCl2 -extractable Cu and positively with the soil pH throughout the 70-d period of incubation. It was correlated with the amount of 0.1 M CaCb-extractable Pb only during the early period of incubation, while not with the amount of 0.1 M CaCl2 -extractable As. The results indicated that in apple orchard soils with heavy metal accumulation the C mineralization of humified plant residues was inhibited by the pH-dependent water-soluble and exchangeable heavy metals, especially Cu.

Effects of heavy metal accumulation in apple orchard soils on microbial biomass and microbial activities

The effects of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, and As) accumulated in apple orchard surface soils on the microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity, and soil respiration were investigated. The largest concentrations of total Cu, Pb, and As found in the soils used were 1,010, 926, and 166 mg kg−1 soil, respectively. The amounts of microbial biomass C and N, expressed on a soil organic C and soil total N basis, respectively, were each negatively correlated with the amounts of total, 0.1 M HCI-extractable, and 0.1 M CaCl2-extractable Cu as logarithmic functions, the correlation coefficient being lowest for the 0.1 M CaCl2extractable Cu. Nevertheless, they were not correlated with the soil pH which was controlling the solubility of Cu in 0.1 M CaCl2. The dehydrogenase activity expressed per unit of soil organic C was also negatively correlated with the amounts of total, 0.1 M HCI-extractable Cu, and 0.1 M CaCl2-extractable Cu as logarithmic functions. However, the correlation coefficient was highest for the 0.1 M CaCl2-extractable Cu. Although the soil respiration per unit of soil total organic C did not show any significant correlations with the total concentrations of heavy metals, it showed negative significant correlations with the amount of 0.1 M HCI-extractable Cu, and to a greater extent, with the amount of 0.1 M CaCl2-extractable Cu. Both the dehydrogenase activity and respiration per unit of soil total organic C increased significantly with increasing soil pH. These results suggested that in apple orchard soils with heavy metal accumulation the microbial biomass was adversely affected by the slightly soluble Cu, whereas the microbial activities by the readily soluble Cu whose amount depended on the soil pH. The respiration per unit of microbial biomass C showed a positive significant correlation with the logarithmic concentration of total Cu. Furthermore, the contribution of fungi to substrate-induced respiration increased with increasing total Cu content in the soils. Key Words:copper, dehydrogenase activity, heavy metals, microbial biomass, soil respiration.

Effects of heavy metal accumulation associated with pesticide application on the decomposition of cellulose and orchard grass in soils

Abstract The effects of heavy metal accumulation associated with the application of Bordeaux mixtures and lead arsenate on the decomposition of cellulose powder and orchard grass shoots in soils were investigated by laboratory incubation experiments. The largest amounts of total Cu, Pb, and As found in the soils used were 1,108, 1,271, and 205 mg kg-1 soil, respectively, and the amounts of Cu and Pb extracted with 0.1 M CaCl2 were each negatively correlated with the soil pH. The rates of decomposition and C mineralization of the cellulose powder added to the soils decreased exponentially with the amount of 0.1 M CaCl2-extractable Cu and increased exponentially with the soil pH over the 35-d period of incubation, though they did not show a close relation to the total amounts of heavy metals. When the pH was modified in acid soils by the addition of Ca(OH)2, the increase in the soil pH enhanced the decomposition and C mineralization of added cellulose powder regardless of the accumulation of heavy metals. T...

Hepatic and renal metabolism of copper and zinc in the diabetic rat.

The influences of acute and chronic insulin-dependent diabetes on copper and zinc status of liver, kidney, and intestine were investigated in rats at 0-4 wk after streptozotocin (STZ) treatment. The concentration and the tissue contents of copper in liver and kidney were significantly elevated by 1 wk after STZ injection and increased thereafter, attaining levels two- and fivefold higher, respectively, than controls by 4 wk. Increased concentrations of zinc were also present in liver and kidney at 7 and 2 days after treatment, respectively, but zinc accumulated to a lesser degree than copper. In contrast, the concentration of copper and zinc in duodenum from control and all STZ-diabetic groups were similar. Increased and decreased quantities of copper and zinc were bound to metallothionein (MT) in liver and kidney, respectively, within 2 days after STZ injection. Thereafter, the quantities of both metals associated with MT increased with time in both tissues. Additional changes in zinc distribution in hepatic cytosol occurred prior to significant increases in the concentration of this metal in the tissue. The potential significance of altered trace metal metabolism during short-term changes in endocrine status and adverse effects of heavy metal accumulation during chronic hormonal imbalance are discussed.