Heavy Metals In Environment Research Articles

Exploring the potential of sulphur forms in Northeastern Indian coals: Implications in environmental remediation and heavy metal sensing

The Sampar Coalfield in Northeastern India is a source of plentiful coal reserves, which are burnt for energy production and industrial applications, resulting in the release of pollutants such as sulphur , arsenic, and lead, which are hazardous to the environment and public health. In this work, samples from the Sampar coalfield have been analyzed to understand the origin, distribution, and various forms of sulphur and their ability to detect toxic heavy metals. The total sulphur concentration ranged from 4.31% to 6%, with organic sulphur being the predominant form at 69.21%, followed by pyritic sulphur at 16.49% and sulphate sulphur at 14.28%. With high sulphur content, this coal indicates a marine influence in the peat-forming swamps. The samples have also been examined for petrographic and elemental analysis, which have revealed the presence of vitrinite, liptinite, inertinite, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and mineral matter. In addition, the same coal sample has also been used for electrochemical sensing-based detection of toxic heavy metals like arsenic and lead, and the findings indicate an improved efficacy. These results are expected to have significant implications in the development of effective bio-based remediation strategies in the region to mitigate the harmful effects of coal-related pollution.

Synergistic toxic mechanisms of microplastics and triclosan via multixenobiotic resistance (MXR) inhibition–mediated autophagy in the freshwater water flea Daphnia magna

Since a mixed state of environmental contaminants, including microplastics (MPs), heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products (PPCPs), exists in aquatic ecosystems, it is necessary to evaluate not only the adverse effects of exposure to a single stressor but to combined stressors. In this study, we exposed the freshwater water flea Daphnia magna to 2 μm MPs and triclosan (TCS), one of PPCPs, for 48 h to investigate the synergistic toxic consequences of simultaneous exposure to both pollutants. We measured in vivo endpoints, antioxidant responses, multixenobiotic resistance (MXR) activity, and autophagy-related protein expression via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways. While MPs single exposure did not show toxic effects in water fleas, simultaneous exposure to TCS and MPs was associated with significantly greater deleterious effects in the form of increased mortality and alterations in antioxidant enzymatic activities compared with water fleas exposed to TCS alone. In addition, MXR inhibition was confirmed by measurement of the expression of P-glycoproteins and multidrug-resistance proteins in MPs-exposed groups, which led to the accumulation of TCS. Overall, these results suggest that simultaneous exposure to MPs and TCS resulted in higher TCS accumulation via MXR inhibition, leading to synergistic toxic effects such as autophagy in D. magna.

Adverse effects of copper, manganese and mercury, alone and in mixtures on the aorta and heart of Spraque-Dawley rats.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a common global cause of death and are therefore a major health concern. Inhaled or ingested environmental heavy metals contribute to the development of CVD. The aim of this study was to address the limited information available on the effect of relevant dosages of metals in mixtures. Three metals with reported effects on the cardiovascular system (CVS) were identified, and these metals were copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and mercury (Hg). In Sprague-Dawley rats, the adverse effects of copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and mercury (Hg), alone and as part of mixtures, on the blood parameters, the aorta and heart were investigated. Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into eight groups (n = 6): control, Cu, Mn, Hg, Cu + Mn, Cu + Hg, Mn + Hg and Cu, Mn + Hg. The seven experimental groups received the metal mixtures at 100 times the World Health Organisation (WHO) safety limit for drinking water (2mg/L for Cu, 0.4mg/L for Mn and 0.06mg/L for Hg) via oral gavage for 28days. After 28days, compared with the control, red blood cell levels were increased for Cu + Hg. All other measured blood parameters were unchanged. Morphological changes in the tunica media were connective tissue deposition and an abundance of collagen type I in the metal exposed aortic tissues. In the cardiac tissue of metal-exposed rats, changes in the cardiomyocyte and myofibrillar arrangement, with an increase in collagen type I and III was observed. Ultrastructurally, the aortic collagen and elastin band arrangement and the cardiac mitochondrial and myofibrillar arrangement and structures were altered in the experimental groups. These changes indicated that exposure to these metals in rats caused minor changes in the blood parameters, however, the changes in tissue and cellular structure indicated an increased risk for the development of CVD.

Gastropods as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution in the Banyuasin estuary shrimp pond area, South Sumatra, Indonesia

The supply of shrimp ponds water sources in this research utilizes water input from the waters of the Banyuasin River Estuary, which brings in heavy metal pollutant particles due to anthropogenic pressure. The potential for accumulation of heavy metals can occur in gastropods which are bioindicators of the pond environment. In this study, we present data on gastropods abundance and community structure concerning environmental physicochemical factors and heavy metal accumulation. Sampling was carried out in November 2021 at five observation stations spread over three shrimp ponds. The collection of gastropod samples used two methods based on achievement targets. The gastropod ecology index calculated the abundance, diversity (H′) values of heavy metals analyzed, namely Pb, Hg, Cu, and Cd. Wet digestion with an acid solution of HNO3 and HClO was performed before measuring the concentration on the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Shimadzu AA-7000). Furthermore, all data on environmental variables were analyzed by principal components analysis (PCA) to determine the leading variable group for each station. A cluster was formed based on the Bray-Curtis similarity analysis. The results of the gastropod ecology index as a bioindicator showed moderate and low diversity (H′) and evenness (J) values, while dominance (D) was high and moderate. From two species analyzed for heavy metals, Nerita violacea and Telescopium telescopium contained Pb, Hg, and Cu concentrations, but no Cd levels were detected, including in water and sediment. Accumulation of heavy metals in shrimp ponds is not only due to the mass movement of tidal water, some of which contribute, namely the location of the inlet and outlet waterways and the position of the land to the main canal source. In general, these results indicate that the environmental conditions of the pond have accumulated heavy metal pollutants, but its whereabouts cannot be ascertained all the time. These results are sufficient to describe the current situation but need further study its impact on aquaculture production.

Systematic assessment of hexavalent chromium-induced damage to male fertility and the preventive role of melatonin: a longitudinal study from the translational point of view.

Chromium (Cr) and its compounds are closely associated with individuals' lives and extensively used in industry. Excessive exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) induces oxidative damage of various organs including the testes, posing a serious threat to male reproductive fitness. As an endogenous antioxidant, melatonin holds potent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, becoming a potential candidate for treatment of a variety of diseases, including reproductive disorders. Here, by using a mouse model, we systematically assessed Cr(VI)-induced damage to male fertility as well as the preventive role of melatonin. We analyzed the histology and pathology of the testis and epididymis, the density, viability, and malformation of caudal epididymal sperm, the proliferative activity and apoptosis of various spermatogenic subtypes and Sertoli cells, as well as the fertility of mice at five timepoints within one cycle of spermatogenesis (Days 0, 14, 21, 28, and 35) post 14 days of Cr(VI) and/or melatonin intraperitoneal injection. We identified that the testicular damage caused by Cr(VI) persisted to Day 21 after administration and then started to be alleviated, with clear alleviation on Day 35. Pretreatment with melatonin evidently reduced Cr(VI)-induced testicular damage and accelerated spermatogenic restoration, generating an almost normal phenotype on Day 35. Melatonin pretreatment also retained the sperm quality at all time points investigated. Moreover, melatonin to some extent preserved the fertility of Cr(VI)-treated mice without apparent side effects. The findings shed light on the future clinical application of melatonin as a therapeutic agent for environmental heavy metal toxicant-induced male subfertility or infertility.

Reciprocal Effect of Environmental Stimuli to Regulate the Adipogenesis and Osteogenesis Fate Decision in Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BM-MSCs).

Mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts. Various external stimuli, including environmental contaminants, heavy metals, dietary, and physical factors, are shown to influence the fate decision of BM-MSCs toward adipogenesis or osteogenesis. The balance of osteogenesis and adipogenesis is critical for the maintenance of bone homeostasis, and the interruption of BM-MSCs lineage commitment is associated with human health issues, such as fracture, osteoporosis, osteopenia, and osteonecrosis. This review focuses on how external stimuli shift the fate of BM-MSCs towards adipogenesis or osteogenesis. Future studies are needed to understand the impact of these external stimuli on bone health and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of BM-MSCs differentiation. This knowledge will inform efforts to prevent bone-related diseases and develop therapeutic approaches to treat bone disorders associated with various pathological conditions.

Assessment of Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) Blood Concentration on the Risk of Endometrial Cancer.

Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are heavy metals with carcinogenic potential. Their increased concentration has been correlated with a risk of malignancies, including breast, lung, kidney, gastrointestinal, and gynecological cancers. Most of the studies have evaluated tissue heavy metal concentration. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate blood Cd and lead levels in different uterine pathologies and the risk of endometrial cancer. This study included 110 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of endometrial cancer, endometrial polyps, endometrial hyperplasia, uterine myoma, and normal endometrium. The patients included in the study were assessed in terms of their endometrial cancer risk factors and blood heavy metal levels. The analysis was conducted using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. There was a significant difference in the Cd and Cd/Pb ratio among the different groups of patients (p = 0.002), with higher a median Cd concentration among the endometrial cancer patients. The differences in Pb concentration were not significant (p = 0.717). There were also no differences in the Cd and Pb concentrations based on the patients' menopausal status nor BMI index. The univariate logistic regression showed a blood cadmium concentration above the median to be associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer (OR = 5.25; 95% CI 1.56, 17.72). No significant associations were observed between the Pb concentration or Cd/Pb ratio and endometrial cancer risk. The concentration of Cd varies in patients diagnosed with different uterine pathologies. Increased blood cadmium concentration seems to be a risk factor for endometrial studies. Further research on greater populations, accounting for environmental and lifestyle heavy metal exposure, is required to validate our findings.

Impaired PPARγ activation by cadmium exacerbates infection-induced lung injury.

Emerging data indicate an association between environmental heavy metal exposure and lung disease, including lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). Here, we show by single-cell RNA sequencing an increase in Pparg gene expression in lung macrophages from mice exposed to cadmium and/or infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, the heavy metal cadmium or infection mediated an inhibitory posttranslational modification of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) to exacerbate LRTIs. Cadmium and infection increased ERK activation to regulate PPARγ degradation in monocyte-derived macrophages. Mice harboring a conditional deletion of Pparg in monocyte-derived macrophages had more severe S. pneumoniae infection after cadmium exposure, showed greater lung injury, and had increased mortality. Inhibition of ERK activation with BVD-523 protected mice from lung injury after cadmium exposure or infection. Moreover, individuals residing in areas of high air cadmium levels had increased cadmium concentration in their bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, increased barrier dysfunction, and showed PPARγ inhibition that was mediated, at least in part, by ERK activation in isolated BAL cells. These observations suggest that impaired activation of PPARγ in monocyte-derived macrophages exacerbates lung injury and the severity of LRTIs.

Metals in Alzheimer's Disease.

The role of metals in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still debated. Although previous research has linked changes in essential metal homeostasis and exposure to environmental heavy metals to the pathogenesis of AD, more research is needed to determine the relationship between metals and AD. In this review, we included human studies that (1) compared the metal concentrations between AD patients and healthy controls, (2) correlated concentrations of AD cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers with metal concentrations, and (3) used Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess the potential metal contributions to AD risk. Although many studies have examined various metals in dementia patients, understanding the dynamics of metals in these patients remains difficult due to considerable inconsistencies among the results of individual studies. The most consistent findings were for Zn and Cu, with most studies observing a decrease in Zn levels and an increase in Cu levels in AD patients. However, several studies found no such relation. Because few studies have compared metal levels with biomarker levels in the CSF of AD patients, more research of this type is required. Given that MR is revolutionizing epidemiologic research, additional MR studies that include participants from diverse ethnic backgrounds to assess the causal relationship between metals and AD risk are critical.

Construction of a Bridging Network Structure by Citric Acid for Environmental Heavy Metal Extraction

Construction of a Bridging Network Structure by Citric Acid for Environmental Heavy Metal Extraction

Polystyrene exacerbates cadmium-induced mitochondrial damage to lung by blocking autophagy in mice.

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental heavy metal, and its accumulation is harmful to animal and human health. The cytotoxicity of Cd includes oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial histopathological changes. Furthermore, polystyrene (PS) is a kind of microplastic piece derived from biotic and abiotic weathering courses, and has toxicity in various aspects. However, the potential mechanism of action of Cd co-treated with PS is still poorly unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of PS on Cd-induced histopathological injury of mitochondria in the lung of mice. In this study, the results have showed that Cd could induce the activity of oxidative enzymes of the lung cells in mice, increasing the content of partial microelement and the phosphorylation of inflammatory factor NF-κB p65. Cd further destroys the integrity of mitochondria by increasing the expression of apoptotic protein and blocking the autophagy. In addition, PS solely group aggravated the lung damage in mice, especially mitochondrial toxicity, and played a synergistic effect with Cd in lung injury. However, how PS can augment mitochondrial damage and synergism with Cd in lung of mice requiring further exploration. Therefore, PS was able to exacerbate Cd-induced mitochondrial damage to the lung in mice by blocking autophagy, and was associated with the apoptosis.

Magnetic nanoparticle-assisted colonization of synthetic bacteria on plant roots for improved phytoremediation of heavy metals

Phytoremediation is a facile strategy to remove environmental heavy metals by using metal-accumulating plants from the rhizosphere environment. However, its efficiency is frequently compromised by the weak activity of rhizosphere microbiomes. This study developed a magnetic nanoparticle-assisted root colonization technique of synthetic functional bacteria to regulate rhizosphere microbiome composition for enhanced phytoremediation of heavy metals. The iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles with the size of 15–20 nm were synthesized and grafted by chitosan, a natural bacterium-binding polymer. The synthetic Escherichia coli SynEc2, which highly exposed an artificial heavy metal-capturing protein, was then introduced with the magnetic nanoparticles to bind the Eichhornia crassipes plants. Confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and microbiome analysis revealed that the grafted magnetic nanoparticles strongly promoted colonization of the synthetic bacteria on the plant roots, leading to remarkable change of rhizosphere microbiome composition, with the increase in the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae, Moraxellaceae, and Sphingomonadaceae. Histological staining and biochemical analysis further showed that the combination of SynEc2 and the magnetic nanoparticles protected the plants from heavy metal-induced tissue damage, and increased plant weights from 29 g to 40 g. Consequently, the plants with the assistance of synthetic bacteria and the magnetic nanoparticles in combination exhibited much higher heavy metal-removing capacity than the plants treated by the synthetic bacteria or the magnetic nanoparticles alone, leading to the decrease in the heavy metal levels from 3 mg/L to 0.128 mg/L for cadmium, and to 0.032 mg/L for lead. This study provided a novel strategy to remodel rhizosphere microbiome of metal-accumulating plants by integrating synthetic microbes and nanomaterials for improving the efficiency of phytoremediation.

80 The Need for a Clinical and Translational Science Framework to Bridge Environmental Contamination Data and Male Reproductive Health

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Although there is ample evidence that environmental contaminants impact reproductive health, the exact mechanisms of action, for the most part, remains unclear. We sought to determine whether known contaminants in Puerto Rico can contribute to the selection of a bioassay to add granularity to geospatial contamination data at the cellular level. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: A PubMed literature search was conducted: Puerto Rico AND Vieques AND Environmental Contaminants AND Heavy Metals OR Phthalates OR Metals OR PCB OR Air Pollution OR CVOC . Additional inclusion criteria were free full text, English language and year of publication between 2000 to 2022 (n = 244 studies). References that were not related to Puerto Rico and environmental contaminants in air, soil, water, or vegetation were excluded. A second PubMed literature search was conducted to determine whether a clinical link has been established between contaminant exposure and the male reproductive system. Search terms were: heavy metals AND hypospadias OR cryptorchidism NOT female NOT animal NOT review , heavy metals AND male infertility NOT female NOT animal NOT review . The same strategy was used for phthalates. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We found that 12 out of 15 studies that were conducted in the Archipelago of Puerto Rico between 2000-2022 reported heavy metals- and/or phthalates- contamination in soil and water. We also found that there is a paucity of clinical studies that consider plausible relationships between a given contaminant and congenital conditions or male reproductive function. Specifically, we found that heavy metal exposure has been linked to hypospadias (n=1 study), comorbidity of hypospadias plus cryptorchidism (n= 1 study) or male infertility (n=14 studies). Phthalates exposure has been linked to comorbidity of hypospadias and cryptorchidism (n=1 study) or male infertility (n=1 study). Male subfertility has been overlooked so far. We noted that Sertoli cell dysfunction has been linked to all of these conditions. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The geography of Puerto Rico provides an opportunity to close the gap in knowledge between environmental contamination and male reproductive health. Based on our findings, we propose that the use of a bioassay with an immortalized Sertoli cell line can uncover the cellular processes that may be affected in male reproduction upon contaminant exposure.

Agarose Film-Based Liquid-Solid Conversion for Heavy Metal Detection of Water Samples by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) shows promising applications in the analysis of environmental heavy metals. However, direct analysis in water by LIBS faces the problems of droplet splashing and laser energy decay. In this study, a novel liquid-solid conversion method based on agarose films is proposed to provide an easy-to-operate and sensitive detection of heavy metals. First, the water samples were converted into semi-solid hydrogels with the aid of agarose and then dried into agarose films to make the signal intensities stronger. The calibration curves of Cd, Pb and Cr were constructed. The proposed method was validated by standard heavy metal solutions and real water samples. The results showed that the values of R2 were 0.990, 0.989 and 0.975, and the values of the LOD were 0.011, 0.122 and 0.118 mg L-1 for Cd (I) 228.80, Pb (I) 405.78 and Cr (I) 427.48 nm, respectively. The RMSEs of validation were 0.068 (Cd), 0.107 (Pb) and 0.112 mg·L-1 (Cr), and the recovery values were in the range of 91.2-107.9%. The agarose film-based liquid-solid conversion method achieved the desired ease of operation and sensitivity of LIBS in heavy-metal detection, thereby, showing good application prospects in heavy metal monitoring of water.

Alternations of Fertility Parameters by Graded Dose of Inorganic Arsenic in Adult Male White Pekin Ducks.

A significant health issue, reproductive toxicity is mostly linked to exposure to various environmental heavy metals. A pervasive toxin that occurs naturally in the environment is arsenic (As). This research was done to determine the effects of various doses of inorganic As supplements on the reproductive organs of adult male white Pekin ducks. A total of 240 numbers of 14-days-old male white Pekin ducks were weighed and randomly assigned into 4 experimental groups with six replicates (10 ducklings in each replicate). The experimental groups were as follows: (T-1) basal diet along with normal drinking water (control group); (T-2 to T-4) basal diet along with As in the form of sodium-meta-arsenite at 7, 14, and 28ppm of drinking water respectively. The results showed reduction in body weight and testicular weight, disruption of spermatogenesis, reduction in follicular-stimulating hormone (FSH), leutinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone levels and histopathological alterations as compared to control. Additionally, there was not only a significant decrease in various antioxidant parameters in testis tissue, like catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), super oxide dismutase (SOD), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), but also a significant increase in oxidative parameters of testis like lipid peroxidation (LPO), myloperoxidase (MPO), nitric oxide (NO), and super oxide anion radical (O2-) in As-treated groups, in comparison with T-1. A significantly higher level of As content in testis was observed in all the 3 As-treated groups, with highest level recorded in T-4 birds. Besides that, there was upregulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), heat shock proteins (Hsps) and pro-inflammatory cytokines like interlukin (IL) series, i.e., IL-2, IL-6, IL-18, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α) levels, whereas anti-inflammatory parameters like IL-4 and IL-10 levels showed downregulation in testis of As-treated groups. Together, these findings provide deeper understandings of the roles played by oxidative stress, NF-κB and Hsps in the progression of testicular injury, which may help to explain how the As induced male sterility, in ducks, due to exposure.

Carbonate Coprecipitation for Cd and Zn Treatment and Evaluation of Heavy Metal Stability Under Acidic Conditions.

Mining wastes or combustion ash are materials of high carbon sequestration potential but are also known for their toxicity in terms of heavy metal content. To utilize such waste materials for engineered carbon mineralization purposes, there is a need to investigate the fate and mobility of toxic metals. This is a study of the coprecipitation of metals with calcium carbonate for environmental heavy metal mitigation. The study also examines the stability of precipitated phases under environmentally relevant acid conditions. For a wide range of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) concentrations (10 to 5000 mg/L), induced coprecipitation led to greater than 99% uptake from water. The calcium carbonate phases were found to contain amounts as high as 9.9 wt % (Cd) and 17 wt % (Zn), as determined by novel synchrotron techniques, including X-ray fluorescence element mapping and three-dimensional (3D) nanotransmission X-ray microscopy (TXM). TXM imaging revealed first-of-a-kind observations of chemical gradients and internal nanoporosity within particles. These observations provided new insights into the mechanisms leading to the retention of coprecipitated heavy metals during the dissolution of calcite in acidic (pH 4) solutions. These observations highlight the feasibility of utilizing carbonate coprecipitation as an engineered approach to the durable sequestration of toxic metals.

Protective effects of melatonin against the toxic effects of environmental pollutants and heavy metals on testicular tissue: A systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies.

Environmental pollution and infertility are two modern global challenges that agonize personal and public health. The causal relationship between these two deserves scientific efforts to intervene. It is believed that melatonin maintains antioxidant properties and may be utilized to protect the testicular tissue from oxidant effects caused by toxic materials. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify the animal trial studies that evaluated melatonin therapy's effects on rodents' testicular tissue against oxidative stress caused by heavy metal and non-heavy metal environmental pollutants. Data were pooled, and standardized mean difference and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using the random-effect model. Also, the risk of bias was assessed using the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) tool. (PROSPERO: CRD42022369872). Out of 10039 records, 38 studies were eligible for the review, of which 31 were included in the meta-analysis. Most of them showed beneficial effects of melatonin therapy on testicular tissue histopathology. [20 toxic materials were evaluated in this review, including arsenic, lead, hexavalent chromium, cadmium, potassium dichromate, sodium fluoride, cigarette smoke, formaldehyde, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), 2-Bromopropane, bisphenol A, thioacetamide, bisphenol S, ochratoxin A, nicotine, diazinon, Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), Chlorpyrifos (CPF), nonylphenol, and acetamiprid.] The pooled results showed that melatonin therapy increased sperm count, motility, viability and body and testicular weights, germinal epithelial height, Johnsen's biopsy score, epididymis weight, seminiferous tubular diameter, serum testosterone, and luteinizing hormone levels, testicular tissue Malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione levels. On the other hand, abnormal sperm morphology, apoptotic index, and testicular tissue nitric oxide were lower in the melatonin therapy arms. The included studies presented a high risk of bias in most SYRCLE domains. In conclusion, our study demonstrated amelioration of testicular histopathological characteristics, reproductive hormonal panel, and tissue markers of oxidative stress. Melatonin deserves scientific attention as a potential therapeutic agent for male infertility. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier CRD42022369872.

High Incidence of Thyroid Cancer in Southern Tuscany (Grosseto Province, Italy): Potential Role of Environmental Heavy Metal Pollution.

The incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) in Italy is one of the highest in Europe, and the reason for this is unclear. The intra-country heterogeneity of TC incidence suggests the possibility of an overdiagnosis phenomenon, although environmental factors cannot be excluded. The aim of our study is to evaluate the TC incidence trend in southern Tuscany, Italy, an area with particular geological characteristics, where the pollution and subsequent deterioration of various environmental matrices with potentially toxic elements (heavy metals) introduced from either geological or anthropogenic (human activities) sources are documented. The Tuscany cancer registry (ISPRO) provided us with the number of cases and EU standardized incidence rates (IR) of TC patients for all three provinces of southeast Tuscany (Siena, Grosseto, Arezzo) during the period of 2013-2016. In addition, we examined the histological records of 226 TC patients. We observed that the TC incidence rates for both sexes observed in Grosseto Province were significantly higher than those observed in the other two provinces. The increase was mostly due to the papillary (PTC) histotype (92% of cases), which presented aggressive variants in 37% of PTCs and tumor diameters more than 1 cm in 71.3% of cases. We demonstrated a high incidence of TC in Grosseto province, especially among male patients, that could be influenced by the presence of environmental heavy metal pollution.

Environmental Magnetic Characteristics and Heavy Metal Pollution Assessment of Sediments in the Le’an River, China

Environmental magnetism parameters have become a useful tool in addressing environmental issues. Due to the rapid, sensitive, economical and non-destructive characteristics of environmental magnetism, the present contribution focuses on magnetism parameters as proxy for heavy metal pollution, especially from their relationship with contents of heavy metal. We evaluated heavy metals pollution and examined environmental magnetism in the Dexing section of the Le’an River. The pollution load index (PLI) of Cr, Pb, As, Cu and Zn, as well as the concentration of other heavy metals, were analyzed, and the magnetic indexes of various sediments were analyzed. The results showed that the concentrations of all heavy metals far exceeded the local background values, and that the average contamination factor of Cu was as high as 22.88, making it the element of most serious contamination. The problem of heavy metal pollution near the mine is very serious. The content of magnetic minerals in sediments of Le’an River is relatively high and the composition of magnetic minerals is relatively stable. The stable-single domin (SSD) content is high at S1 and S10, indicating that ferromagnetic mineral content is relatively rich here, which dominates the magnetic characteristics of the sample. In general, it was found that environmental magnetism indicators did not exist in the Dexing section of the Le’an River that could clearly indicate the concentration of heavy metal pollution. Only a few heavy metals can be effectively indicated by magnetic parameters. IRM-20mT and S-ratio can be used as indicators of Cr, Pb, As, Cu and Zn, but they are not accurate. The correlation between Sr and magnetic indexes IRM200mT, IRM300mT, SIRM, IRM-300mT and HIRM is significant, which can be used as an indicator of Sr concentration. IRM20mT can also be used as an indicator of Hg concentration.

Evaluation of Heavy Metal (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, and Manganese) Levels in Blood, Plasma, and Urine of Adolescents With Aggressive Behavior.

Background Heavy metals can cause health problems by affecting the biological structure even at very low concentrations. Asymptomatic heavy metal poisoning causes non-specific symptoms such as behavioral disorders, difficulty in learning, and aggressive behaviors. There is also a great concern about the incidence of aggressive behavior among adolescents. A few research studies have concluded that a complex interaction or combination of factors leads to an increased risk of aggressive behavior in adolescents. This study aims to determine the correlation between the heavy metal levels in blood, plasma, and urine and the aggression level in adolescents. Materials and methods Two hundred twenty-eight adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19 were enrolled in the study. Blood, plasma, and urine heavy metal levels of the participants were measured by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) device (Model 7700x; Agilent, Santa Clara, CA, USA). Buss and Perry's aggression questionnaire was used to investigate the correlation between heavy metals and aggressive behaviors in adolescents. Results Lead blood (r=0.34, p<.01), lead plasma (r=0.22, p<0.01), lead urine (r=0.31, p<.01), mercury blood (r=0.35, p<0.01), mercury urine (r=0.21, p<0.01), manganese blood (r=0.34, p<0.01), manganese plasma (r=0.33, p<0.01) and manganese urine (r=0.39, p<0.01) were positively correlated with tendency to aggression whereas no significant relationship was found between cadmium in blood, plasma, urine and mercury in plasma with aggression. Conclusion The study showed valuable data to associate a significant relationship between adolescents' aggression levels and heavy metals. There is an undeniable relationship between the health of adolescents and environmental pollution caused by heavy metals. Therefore, taking the necessary measures to prevent environmental heavy metal pollution is crucial for adolescent health.