Heavy Metal Concentrations Research Articles

Regularity of zinc, copper, and lead distribution in different size fractions of Rostov-on-Don urban soil aggregates

: The article is devoted to the study of zinc, copper, and lead content in the soils of Rostov-on-Don. Soil samples were collected from full-profile sections located in different districts of the city and suburbs of Rostov-on-Don. The group of anthropogenically disturbed soils included Urbic Technosol urbanstratozems and replantozems, as well as urbanized chernozems Calcic Chernozems (Technic). Natural soils of recreational areas are represented by migration-segregation chernozems Calcic Chernozems (Pachic). The study was carried out using atomic absorption spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence analysis to determine metal content. Soil structure was determined by the Savvinov method (dry sieving) (<0.25; 1–2; 3–5; 5–7; >10 mm). Statistical analysis of the Wilcoxon criterion for related samples was performed to identify relationships. The main objective of the study was to assess the heavy metal content in different size fractions of aggregates and the ability of structural fractions to accumulate zinc, copper, and lead. Structural aggregates of different sizes differ in their ability to accumulate zinc, copper and lead. Zinc, including its mobile compounds, is predominantly accumulated in microaggregates. The content of gross copper and especially lead is confined to larger aggregates. At the same time, mobile copper compounds are concentrated in microaggregates and in fractions larger than 10 mm. Mobile lead compounds are distributed in fractions of different sizes quite uniformly in all studied soils.

Brownfield Topsoil Vertical Heterogeneity: Implications for Germination and Soil Microbial Functioning.

Soil vertical heterogeneity refers to the variation in soil properties and composition with depth. In uncontaminated soils, properties including the organic matter content and nutrient concentrations typically change gradually with depth due to natural processes such as weathering, leaching, and organic matter decomposition. In contaminated soils, heavy metals and organic contaminants can migrate vertically through leaching or root uptake and translocation by plants and macrobiota, if present, leading to vertical heterogeneity in contaminant concentrations at different depths. Contaminants can alter soil properties, and we investigated the implications of soil vertical heterogeneity for germination and microbial functioning. We collected soil from an urban brownfield and created two conditions: structured soil samples collected with the soil core intact and mixed (unstructured) samples. When planted, the germination rate was significantly lower in the structured conditions (3.1 ± 1.7%) compared to mixed soils (17 ± 4.6%), suggesting that the vertical heterogeneity of contaminated soil influenced plant germination. To map the vertical distribution of contaminants and nutrient cycling rates in the structured soil samples, we collected 10 cm-deep soil cores from the barren site and a neighboring vegetated reference site and measured heavy metal concentrations, soil enzyme activities, and organic matter content in five 2 cm vertical layers. In the barren soil cores, metals were found concentrated in the top 2 cm layer, while in the vegetated soil cores, metals were uniformly distributed. No significant differences were observed for the organic matter content or moisture along depth. Published studies on vertical distribution of enzyme activities and metal concentrations have treated the top 10-20 cm as a single layer and thus would have not revealed the thin (<2 cm thick) metal cap on the surface of the barren soil core. Despite the metal cap, enzyme activities in the top layer were similar to those in the lower layers of the barren soil core, suggesting that high metal concentrations do not limit soil enzyme activity under all circumstances. Investigating vertical heterogeneity in postindustrial soils can inform efforts to convert industrial barrens to vegetated environments.

Assessment of soil environmental capacity for heavy metals in Shantou City, Guangdong Province, China: source analysis and enrichment evaluation.

Most studies assessing soil environmental capacity (EC) often overlook the impact of heavy metal sources. Analyzing the sources of heavy metals (HMs) provides a better understanding of regional environmental capacity characteristics and their dynamic changes. The current study focuses on the surface soil of Shantou, using 511 soil samples to assess the soil environmental capacity. Results indicate that the contents of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in Shantou's surface soil are notable, with lead moderately enriched and other metals lightly enriched. The principal component analysis (PCA) identifies five primary sources of heavy metals: mixed natural and agricultural sources, mixed agricultural and industrial sources, industrial sources, mining sources, and quarrying sources. The primary source contributing significantly to soil HM concentrations in Shantou City is a complex interplay between natural geological processes and extensive agricultural practices. In terms of static environmental capacity, Zn, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cu, As, Hg, and Cd are ranked in descending order. The overall environmental capacity for heavy metals in the soil is at a medium level, influenced by geological backgrounds. However, regions such as Yanhong Town, Guiyu Town, and Chendian Town face lower environmental capacities due to comprehensive human activities, posing certain risks. This study provides a scientific reference for forecasting, controlling soil heavy metal pollution, and improving soil quality and environmental capacity in Shantou City.

Accumulation of Cd and Pb in soils irrigated with sewage and non-sewage water in Prayagraj, India

Unmanaged agricultural fields and the extended usage of sewage irrigation water can raise the concentration of heavy metals (Cd and Pb) in the soil, turning it into barren soil. The study was conducted during 2022-23 at four sewage and non-sewage irrigated sites in Prayagraj namely Naini, Baxibandh, Rasulabad and Draupadi Ghat. The representative soil samples were taken at depths of 0-15, 15-30, 30-45 and 45-60 cm. Di-acid mixture method was used for the estimation of heavy metals (Cd and Pb) in the soil sample by AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer) (AAnalyst600, Perkin Elmer Inc., MA, USA). Contamination factor (CF) and enrichment factor % (EF) of different sites showed various results which fulfill the basic criteria of present and future prospective of research. The highest concentration of Cd and Pb was found in the surface layer (0-15 cm) of sewage and non-sewage irrigated sites at Naini i.e., Cd (4.46±0.42 and 1.05±0.08 mg/kg) and Pb (6.53±0.62 and 1.18±0.12 mg/kg) respectively. The lowest concentration of Cd and Pb was found in the sub-surface layer (45-60 cm) of sewage and non-sewage irrigated sites at Draupadi Ghat i.e., Cd (1.02±0.09 and 0.16±0.01 mg/kg) and Pb (1.68±0.12 and 0.18±0.01 mg/kg) respectively. The concentration of heavy metals cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) declined with soil profile depth in both sewage and non-sewage irrigated soils. The long-term persistence of heavy metal contamination in soil can lead to severe issues; therefore, regular monitoring of sewage-irrigated soils is necessary to minimize heavy metal pollution.

Stable isotopic evidence of cadmium enrichment in soils of black shale distribution areas

Black shale-derived soils exhibit significant heavy metal enrichment, notably cadmium (Cd) enrichment. This study pioneered the reporting of δ114/110Cd isotopic values within a black shale-soil system, offering novel insights into the geochemical behaviors and enrichment mechanisms of Cd during soil formation processes influenced by weathering. Systematic rock‒soil sampling was conducted on the lower Cambrian Hetang Formation in western Zhejiang, China, which is characterized by Cd-rich black shale. Employing analytical methods, including principal component analysis and multiple linear regression, we investigated the factors influencing heavy metal content in soil, such as element dissolution during weathering, soil pH, and the presence of iron-manganese oxides, sulfides, organic matter, and clay minerals. Our findings revealed a compositional range of δ114/110Cd in black shale (1.93‰–3.31‰) contrasting with that in adjacent soils (0.31‰–1.82‰), illustrating significant Cd isotopic fractionation during weathering, where heavier Cd isotopes are preferentially leached, and lighter isotopes are enriched in the soil in association with iron-manganese oxides. This research not only deepens the understanding of Cd enrichment mechanisms within the rock‒soil system against a black shale geological background but also elucidates the formation processes of soil Cd pollution in areas with a high geochemical background.

Sentinel-2 Multispectral Satellite Remote Sensing Retrieval of Soil Cu Content Changes at Different pH Levels

With the development of multispectral imaging technology, retrieving soil heavy metal content using multispectral remote sensing images has become possible. However, factors such as soil pH and spectral resolution affect the accuracy of model inversion, leading to low precision. In this study, 242 soil samples were collected from a typical area of the Pearl River Delta, and the Cu content in the soil was detected in the laboratory. Simultaneously, Sentinel-2 remote sensing image data were collected, and two-dimensional and three-dimensional spectral indices were established. Constructing independent decision trees based on pH values, using the Successive Projections Algorithm (SPA) combined with the Boruta algorithm to select the characteristic bands for soil Cu content, and this was combined with Optuna automatic hyperparameter optimization for ensemble learning models to establish a model for estimating Cu content in soil. The research results indicated that in the SPA combined with the Boruta feature selection algorithm, the characteristic spectral indices were mainly concentrated in the spectral transformation forms of TBI2 and TBI4. Full-sample modeling lacked predictive ability, but after classifying the samples based on soil pH value, the R2 of the RF and XGBoost models constructed with the samples with pH values between 5.85 and 7.75 was 0.54 and 0.76, respectively, with corresponding RMSE values of 22.48 and 16.12 and RPD values of 1.51 and 2.11. This study shows that the inversion of soil Cu content under different pH conditions exhibits significant differences, and determining the optimal pH range can effectively improve inversion accuracy. This research provides a reference for further achieving the efficient and accurate remote sensing of heavy metal pollution in agricultural soil.

Assessment of produced water from oil and gas field Gujar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan

This study was conducted to analyze the physiochemical and heavy metal concentrations in produced water of Missa Kaswal Oil field Gujar khan, Punjab, Pakistan. Produced water samples were collected from various locations points and analyzed for various parameters by using standard operation procedures. According to Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, pH, temperature was noted with in permissible limit, total dissolved solids, chlorides, fluorides and oil and grease concentrations were found very high. The concentration of chloride and oil and grease were found several times higher as compared to Pak-EPA. Heavy metals results of the research samples are compared with Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency. From the results it was found that nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and arsenic (As0 were within the permissible limits while chromium (Cr) concentration was observed in produced water above the permissible limits. So overall study concluded that wastewater which is released from oil and gas sector is highly polluted. So, it is strongly recommended that Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency should regular check and monitor that wastewater before releasing into the environment.

Health Risk of Heavy Metals in Drinking Water Sources of Water-Carrying Lakes Affected by Retreating Polder: A Case Study of Luoma Lake

Heavy metal pollution is a critical issue affecting the safety of drinking water sources. However, the impact of human activities on heavy metal risk levels in water-carrying lakes remains unclear. This study aims to explore the risk mechanisms of heavy metals in Luoma Lake, an important water-carrying lake for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. We explored the spatial and temporal differences in the distribution of heavy metals in Lake Luoma using methods such as the heavy metal pollution index (HPI) and assessed the risk variations using a health assessment model. The results indicated that heavy metal concentrations in water-carrying lakes generally decreased during the dry season, with Mn and Zn levels decreasing by 89.3% and 56.2%, respectively. The comprehensive score of HPI decreased by 13.16% following the retreating polder compared to the control area (Non-retreating polder area). Furthermore, the HPI at the drinking water intake was lower, which is closely associated with the elevated dissolved oxygen (DO) and oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) resulting from water diversion. The annual average health risk across the entire lake was not significant, with higher levels observed in the control area. The annual non-carcinogenic risk levels of Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb range from 10−13 to 10−9, which are considered negligible risk levels. Notably, the carcinogenic risk posed by arsenic (As) through the drinking pathway reached 10−5 a−1, exceeding the maximum levels recommended by certain organizations. These findings provide a critical foundation for managing heavy metals in water-carrying drinking water sources.

Determination of Heavy Metal Concentrations at Ewu-Elepe, Ikorodu Dumpsite, Lagos, Nigeria

Heavy metal contamination of soil at dumpsites poses risks and hazards to humans and the ecosystems through inhalation of dust particles or dermal contact with the contaminated soil. Dumpsites are usually located at the outskirts of residential areas, but due to population increase in the urban centers as result of rural-urban movement which has become living habitats without considering the health implications. Thus, Ewu-Elepe dumpsite, located on the outskirts of Ikorodu, Lagos may pose a serious threat to residents of this area due to the improper disposal and ineffective management of waste at the dumpsite also, due to the metalic health issue recorded in this area. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the Heavy Metal Concentrations (HMC) and identify the type of Key Environmental Indicators (KEIs) responsible for the heavy metal contamination at the dumpsite. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Nemerow Integrated Pollution Index (NIPI), and Pollution Index (PI) procedures were adopted. The Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) was employed to determine the best KEI responsible for the presence of a particular heavy metal on the dumpsite. The Heavy Metals (HMs) found on the dumpsite were Zinc, Copper, Lead, Cadmium, Calcium, Manganese, and Iron. The identified KEIs on the dumpsite were: potential Hydrogen (pH), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Total Nitrogen (TN), Phosphorous (P), and Carbon Exchange Capacity (CEC). The AIC at 5% showed that the most significant KEI responsible for Zn was EC with the least value (16.21), pH for Pb (26.70), P for Ca (20.71), TOC for Cu (24.61) and Mn (81.09), TN for Cd (44.97), and CEC for Fe (41.04). The PCA and NIPI estimates for the heavy metals across the 20 sample points were (1760.57, 3.00); (1825.85, 2.30); (1330.80, 2.60); (1644.68, 2.40); (1602.57, 9.70); (1469.93, 2.40); (1379.85, 3.20); (1872.82, 2.40); (1859.30, 8.40); (1397.56, 2.30); (1995.32, 4.70); (1518.62, 3.10); (1565.33, 1.80); (1332.29, 5.10); (1748.59, 2.50); (1664.70, 3.90); (1792.24, 4.10); (1801.79, 2.30); (1801.18, 2.30); (1743.27, 2.00), respectively, implying that the dumpsite was highly concentrated in HMs. Copper, lead, cadmium, calcium, manganese, and iron highly polluted Ewu-Elepe dumpsite with potential hydrogen, electrical conductivity, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, phosphorous, and carbon exchange capacity as the key environmental indicators for the heavy metals.

Impacts of alkaline washing pretreatment on municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI FA) and resulting geopolymers

The safe disposal and utilization of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI FA) has emerged as a crucial challenge, primarily due to elevated levels of heavy metals and chlorides. In this study, the influence of key factors in different pretreatment methods on the physicochemical properties of MSWI FA was analyzed, and the effects and mechanism of different pretreatment methods on the resulting geopolymers were studied. Under the conditions of a liquid-solid ratio (L/S) of 7 mL/g, a rotational speed of 500 r/min, and a stirring time of 20 min, the alkali washing with 1 mol/L NaOH solution exhibited better effect than water washing. The total content of chlorides and the content of soluble chloride in AFA (MSWI FA with alkali washing) were 1.53 % and 0.85 %, respectively. Alkali washing had a greater influence on the migration of heavy metals from MSWI FA to filtrate than water washing. Meanwhile, alkaline washing exhibited better effect in calcium retention and sulfur removal. The pretreatment process enhanced the gel formation in geopolymers, subsequently exerting a significant influence on the compressive strength and leaching concentration of heavy metals. Thermogravimetric analysis showed the bound water content in AG (8.46 %) was the greatest in all simples, indicating that exerted the most pronounced impact on the gel formation during geopolymerization. And, the lower ratio of Si-O-Na to Si-O-T in AG (0.20) indicated a longer geopolymeric chains, which explained the higher compressive strength of geopolymers during the initial curing period. This article provides a new pretreatment method to promote the resource utilization of MSWI FA.

Evaluation of Heavy Metal Concentration in Different Organs of Labeo rohita in Water and Sediment of Marala Ravi Link Canal (MRL) and Upper Chenab Canal (UCC) of Chenab River, Pakistan, and Their Health Implications

Evaluation of Heavy Metal Concentration in Different Organs of Labeo rohita in Water and Sediment of Marala Ravi Link Canal (MRL) and Upper Chenab Canal (UCC) of Chenab River, Pakistan, and Their Health Implications

Unveiling the Nutritional Profile and Safety of Coffee Pulp as a First Step in Its Valorization Strategy.

The coffee pulp, a significant by-product of coffee processing, is often discarded but has potential for recycling and high-value uses. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition of two coffee pulp ingredients, a flour (CPF) and an aqueous extract (CPE), and conducted acute and sub-chronic toxicity assays to determine their safety. The proximate composition revealed the high fiber content of both ingredients; the CPF mainly contained insoluble fiber, while CPE consisted exclusively of soluble pectic polysaccharides. The CPF had higher concentrations of amino acids and a better balance of essential/non-essential amino acids, whereas the CPE exhibited higher concentrations of free amino acids, ensuring higher bioavailability. Both ingredients showed elevated mineral content, while heavy-metal concentrations remained within acceptable limits. This study established the bioactive potential of the CPF and the CPE, demonstrating the high content of caffeine and gallic, protocatechuic, and 4-caffeoylquinic acids. The toxicity studies revealed that the CPF and the CPE exhibited safety when orally administered to mice. Administered doses were non-toxic, as they did not induce lethality or adverse effects in the mice or produce significant histopathological or biochemical adverse changes. This study represents a first step in valorizing the CPF and the CPE as safe novel food ingredients with health benefits for functional and nutritional foods.

Biochar Derived from Sewage Sludge: The Impact of Pyrolysis Temperature on Chemical Properties and Agronomic Potential

The rising volume of sewage sludge from urbanization poses substantial environmental and public health concerns, underscoring the urgency for the implementation of effective waste management strategies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of pyrolysis temperature on the chemical composition and agronomic potential of biochar derived from sewage sludge. The pyrolysis process was conducted at temperatures ranging from 400 °C to 800 °C, and the resulting biochar was analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, metal content, and carbon fractions. Additionally, phytotoxicity tests were conducted to assess the impact of the biochar on plant germination. The findings indicated that elevated pyrolysis temperatures resulted in an elevated alkalinity, electrical conductivity, and concentration of alkali metals in the biochar. Conversely, these processes resulted in a reduction in total organic carbon content and an increase in heavy metal content, which may limit the potential for biochar to be used in agricultural applications. The phytotoxicity tests indicated that the biochar produced at lower temperatures (400 °C) exhibited positive effects on plant growth when administered at doses of 5 and 10 t·ha−1. Conversely, the biochar produced at higher temperatures (800 °C) demonstrated significant toxicity. The findings indicate that the pyrolysis temperature is a critical factor in determining the suitability of biochar for agricultural applications. The production of biochar at lower temperatures may offer agronomic benefits, whereas the use of higher temperatures increases stability but is associated with the risk of higher heavy metal concentrations.

Evaluation of Heavy Metal Concentration in Sediments of Rupingazi River, Kenya

Heavy metal concentration (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni) was evaluated in sediment samples of Rupingazi river during the wet and dry seasons. In this study, the sediment samples were collected from twenty sampling points along the river. The heavy metal levels were evaluated using Atomic Absorption Spectrphotometer.The obtained data was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. The range of the concentration of copper was found to be 4.68- 12.69 mg/kg for the wet season and 0.98-24.10mg/kg for the dry season. The mean values of the concentration of iron was found to be 1422-6145.33 mg/kg for the wet season and 1254-5866.67 mg/kg for the dry season. The range of the concentration of Nickel was found to be 0.72- 30.73 mg/kg for the wet season and 2.63-12.48 mg/kg for the dry season. Concentration of manganese was found to be 48.03-411.20 mg/kg for the wet season and 6.15-248.35 mg/kg for the dry season Zinc concentration was found to be 26.29-167.10 mg/kg for the wet season and 4.82-28.39 mg/kg for the dry season. The Zinc, Manganese, Nickel Iron and Copper levels were not beyond the USEPA recommended limits.

Health risk assessment of heavy metals in groundwater sources: carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic evaluation

ABSTRACT Persistent exposure to arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead, and selenium in drinking water above permissible levels poses significant health risks, including increased incidences of skin, lung, bladder, and kidney cancers. This study evaluated 34 water samples from Rupnagar district, Punjab, for heavy metal content. Health risks were assessed using hazard quotient (HQ) and chronic daily intake metrics. Aluminium concentrations were highest in Block Nurpur Bedi (36.43 mg/L). Arsenic levels in Ropar and Anandpur Sahib were 0.09 and 0.068 mg/L, respectively. Cadmium was highest in Nurpur Bedi (0.041 mg/L). Morinda had the highest selenium concentration (0.0038 mg/L). Lead was detected across all blocks, peaking in Chamkaur Sahib (2.176 mg/L). The HQ exceeded unity in nearly all areas, indicating significant health risks from aluminium, arsenic, and lead. The hazard index was highest in Nurpur Bedi (2.66) for adults. Incremental Life Cancer Risk (ILCR) values indicated a high cancer risk from arsenic, chromium, and lead across all blocks. One-way analysis of variance revealed significant differences among Fe, As, and Al concentrations (p &amp;lt; 0.05). The findings underscore the need for targeted treatment technologies and policies to mitigate heavy metal contamination and its health impacts in Punjab.

Effects of Organic Manure on Wheat Yield and Accumulation of Heavy Metals in a Soil—Wheat System

The application of organic manure is an effective way to develop sustainable agriculture. However, the application of organic manure may be associated with a potential risk of heavy metal pollution for soil and crops. In this study, the effects of organic cow manure (T1) (as base fertilizer), organic pig manure (T2) (as base fertilizer) and chemical fertilizer (T3) on winter wheat grain yields, grain quality, heavy metal concentrations and heavy metal bioconcentration factors (BCFs) in a soil–wheat system were studied from November 2021 to June 2023. The results showed that the winter wheat grain yields in the T1 and T2 treatments were lower than those in the T3 treatment by 2.57–38.0% and 10.5–25%, respectively. There were no significant differences in quality indexes of winter wheat grain among different fertilizer treatments. The concentrations of heavy metals in topsoil and winter wheat were 0.12–76.11 μg/g and 0.01–43.25 μg/g, respectively. The BCFs of heavy mental in the soil–wheat grain system was 0–2.92. In general, there were no significant differences in heavy metals’ concentrations in topsoil and wheat grain among different fertilizer treatments. In summary, compared with chemical fertilizer, the short-term application of organic manures had no significant effect on heavy metals concentrations in topsoil and wheat.

Exploring the temporal toxicity signature: A baseline evaluation of the heavy metal concentration in estuarine core sediments in the coastal region of cauvery delta, bay of bengal.

Globally, the concentration of heavy metals and sediment toxicity analysis are significant liabilities to aquatic environments. This scrutiny outlines the sediment textures, heavy metals and toxicity status associated with environmental pollution indices in the core sediment of the Cauvery and Vettar estuaries, East coast of India. The impact of rapid industrialization, urbanization, harbour activities and agricultural activities influences on the twain estuary is a significant concern to designate the environment. The contamination status of the sediments affects the potential biodiversity, ecological risks and human health. A total of two core sediments were recovered from the Cauvery and Vettar estuaries in March 2023 to decipher the environmental pollution status. Meticulous observation of the textural studies underscores the prevalence of sand content in Cauvery, and Vettar sediments consist of predominate clay content and minor silt contents. Furthermore, the organic matter is augmented in the Vettar River due to the higher input of waste disposal, seaweeds and algae due to the surrounding landmass. Twain core sediments argue that heavy metal concentration is decreasing in order as Fe > Zn > Ni > Pb > Cu > Cr by using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry. Remarkable results of environmental pollution indices such as Igeo, Ef, Cf, Cd and mCd state very highly polluted, extreme enrichments, high contamination and very high degree of contamination. Furthermore, the potential ecological risk indices such as PLI, SQGs, and PERI argue polluted, medium to high toxicity and moderate adverse ecological risk to the estuarine regions. Statistical analysis of the heavy metal affirms the enrichment of Fe metals may derive from lithogenic and/or anthropogenic influences, and the other studied metals such as Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb and Cr may be influenced by the anthropogenic activities in the aspect of point and non-point pollution sources. This could result from both estuaries undergoing higher pollution, in which the Vettar estuary is a considerable environmental risk zone compared to the Cauvery river due to the impact of industrial effluents and rapid urbanization activities. This finding underscores the urgent need for enhanced estuarine sediment quality study and comprehensive assessment of sediment toxicity, regulating the beneficial acumen for the government to follow the suitable remediation on the embellish policy of river and marine environments.

Health Risk Assessment of Residents' Exposure to Air Pollutants around the Sinpyeong-Jangrim Industrial Complex in Busan.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the health effects of heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air around the Sinpyeong-Jangrim Industrial Complex, Busan, and the necessity of reduction measures. We measured the concentrations of heavy metals and VOCs in PM2.5 in five areas with dense population around the Sinpyeong-Jangrim Industrial Complex. A health risk assessment was conducted, and the spatial risk distribution for the entire Saha-gu area was predicted using inverse distance weighting (IDW). Our results indicated that the carcinogens benzene, As, and Cr6+, and the non-carcinogen m,p-xylene, have the potential to adversely affect health. In particular, As was found to have the potential to express health effects at all measurement points. Additionally, based on the IDW results, the minimum values of benzene, arsenic, and m,p-xylene exceeded the threshold level, potentially affecting the health of residents across the entire Saha-gu area. In contrast, Cr6+ could potentially impact health only in some parts of Saha-gu as only its maximum value exceeded the threshold level. We demonstrated the importance of reducing air pollutant emissions from general industrial complexes. Our results will be useful in establishing more systematic mitigation measures to protect the health of residents near the Sinpyeong-Jangrim Industrial Complex and developing air pollutant management systems.

Appraisal of Characterization and Adsorption Isotherm in the Bioremediation of Cu and Zn Ions from Aqueous Solutions Exploiting Unmodified Corn and Coconut Husk

Environment is contaminated by heavymetals has emerged as a substantial globaly. Conventional remediation methods have proven inadequate and costly in addressing this issue. Hence, there is a pressing need to discover bio-remediation as a cost effective, effectual, and environmentally, a substitute for heavymetal removal. This work investigates the adsorption behaviour of Corn Husk (CH) and Coconut Husk (CCH), an inexpensive adsorbent, towards Cu and Zn ions for potential application in wastewater treatment. The physico-chemical variables of unmodified CH and CCH were appraised, and batch experimental methods were employed to study variables like pH, contact time, size of particle, and preliminary content of metals. The impact of solution pH on metals uptake by the adsorbent was investigated on the pH range of 3 to 8, revealing optimal removal efficiencies at pH 6 for Cu and pH 5 for Zn. Equilibrium adsorption times were determined to be 80 minutes for Cu and 60 minutes for Zn ions onto CH and CCH. adsorption volumes is conforming to mono-layer coverage, attained from the Langmuir plots were 4.792 mg/g and 4.594 mg/g respectively for Cu and Zn metals onto the CH and 4.771 mg/g and 4.400 mg/g for their adsorption onto CCH. Experimental values were confirmed to the Langmuir model and Freundlich model, with the Langmuir model providing the best fit. The CH based adsorbent was generally found to have an increased capacity of adsorption of the metal contents than Coconut husk (CCH). These findings underscore the strength of Corn husk as an active adsorbent to extract cationic heavymetal contents from industrial effluents.

Study of the effect of feeding Tenebrio molitor larvae during their rearing on their growth, nutritional profile, value and safety of the produced flour

Science and food industry must strive to ensure and improve edible insect's benefits, and especially their safety and nutritional value. This study investigated how various food substrates used in the rearing of Tenebrio molitor larvae influence their growth, the safety of the larvae, and the nutritional quality of the resulting flour. The main findings indicate that all samples showed significant differences in their nutritional profile, larval characteristics, and heavy metal content. Regarding the content of protein, fat and fiber it ranges from 44.1 to 51.8 %, 28.6–34.8 % and 10.5–14.9 %, respectively. These results suggest that insect diet is a very crucial parameter that can affect all that factors and must be taken into account, especially when they are intended as raw materials to be used for food production.