Heavy Metals In Animals Research Articles

Moderate selenium mitigates hand grip strength impairment associated with elevated blood cadmium and lead levels in middle-aged and elderly individuals: insights from NHANES 2011-2014.

Background: Selenium (Se) has been reported to have an antagonistic effect on heavy metals in animals. Nevertheless, there is a lack of epidemiological research examining whether Se can mitigate the adverse effects of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) on hand grip strength (HGS) in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Methods: This study used data from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). HGS measurements were conducted by trained examiners with a dynamometer. Concentrations of Se, Cd, and Pb in blood were determined via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We employed linear regression, restricted cubic splines, and quantile g-computation (qgcomp) to assess individual and combined associations between heavy metals and HGS. The study also explored the potential influence of Se on these associations. Results: In both individual metal and multi-metal models adjusted for confounders, general linear regression showed Se's positive association with HGS, while Cd and Pb inversely related to it. At varying Se-Cd and Se-Pb concentrations, high Se relative to low Se can attenuate Cd and Pb's HGS impact. An inverted U-shaped correlation exists between Se and both maximum and combined HGS, with Se's benefit plateauing beyond approximately 200μg/L. Stratified analysis by Se quartiles reveals Cd and Pb's adverse HGS effects diminishing as Se levels increase. Qgcomp regression analysis detected Se alleviating HGS damage from combined Cd and Pb exposure. Subsequent subgroup analyses identified the sensitivity of women, the elderly, and those at risk of diabetes to HGS impairment caused by heavy metals, with moderate Se supplementation beneficial in mitigating this effect. In the population at risk for diabetes, the protective role of Se against heavy metal toxicity-induced HGS reduction is inhibited, suggesting that diabetic individuals should particularly avoid heavy metal-induced handgrip impairment. Conclusion: Blood Cd and Pb levels are negatively correlated with HGS. Se can mitigate this negative impact, but its effectiveness plateaus beyond 200μg/L. Women, the elderly, and those at risk of diabetes are more vulnerable to HGS damage from heavy metals. While Se supplementation can help, its protective effect is limited in high diabetes risk groups.

Moderate selenium alleviates the pulmonary function impairment induced by cadmium and lead in adults: A population-based study

Selenium (Se) has been reported to have an antagonistic effect on heavy metals in animals. However, there is no epidemiological study investigating whether Se could protect against the pulmonary toxicity of Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb). Data was collected from the 2011–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycle. Pulmonary function was assessed by Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume 1st Second (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC. Blood concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Se were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Linear regression, restricted cubic splines, and quantile-based g-computation (qgcomp) were performed to evaluate the individual and joint associations of Cd and Pb with pulmonary function and whether Se modified these associations. In the adjusted multi-metal model, every 1-unit increase in Cd, FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC decreased by 76.437 mL (95 % CI: −110.928 to −41.947), 42.719 mL (95 % CI: −84.553 to −0.885), and 0.012 (95 % CI: −0.016 to −0.007), respectively. Meanwhile, FEV1 decreased by 9.37 mL (95 % CI: −18.61 to −0.13) for every 1 unit increase in Pb. Furthermore, we found an inverted U-shape association between Se and lung function, and participants in the second quartile Se group had the highest increases in FEV1 and FVC compared with participants in the lowest quartile. Qgcomp model also revealed that the toxic metal mixture (Cd and Pb) exhibited a significant inverse association with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC. Furthermore, we found that the inverse association of Pb and Cd, either alone or in combination, with pulmonary function first diminished with increasing Se levels but was re-enforced when blood Se concentrations were in the highest quartile. Our results indicated that moderate Se attenuated the harmful effects of Cd and Pb on lung function.

Human supplementation with Pediococcus acidilactici GR-1 decreases heavy metals levels through modifying the gut microbiota and metabolome

Exposure to heavy metals (HMs) is a threat to human health. Although probiotics can detoxify HMs in animals, their effectiveness and mechanism of action in humans have not been studied well. Therefore, we conducted this randomized, double-blind, controlled trial on 152 occupational workers from the metal industry, an at-risk human population, to explore the effectiveness of probiotic yogurt in reducing HM levels. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one consumed probiotic yogurt containing the HM-resistant strain Pediococcus acidilactici GR-1 and the other consumed conventional yogurt for 12 weeks. Analysis of metal contents in the blood revealed that the consumption of probiotic yogurt resulted in a higher and faster decrease in copper (34.45%) and nickel (38.34%) levels in the blood than the consumption of conventional yogurt (16.41% and 27.57%, respectively). Metagenomic and metabolomic studies identified a close correlation between gut microbiota (GM) and host metabolism. Significantly enriched members of Blautia and Bifidobacterium correlated positively with the antioxidant capacities of GM and host. Further murine experiments confirmed the essential role of GM and protective effect of GR-1 on the antioxidative role of the intestine against copper. Thus, the use of probiotic yogurt may be an effective and affordable approach for combating toxic metal exposure through the protection of indigenous GM in humans.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: ChiCTR2100053222

Plant and microbe mediated bioremediation: A long-term remedy for heavy metal pollution

As we progress farther into the industrial age of the twenty-first century, we see that many types of pollutants emitted into the air, water, and land are becoming increasingly burdensome to our environment. These pollutants have a major impact on humans, plants, and animals. Heavy metals are the most hazardous elements in our ecosystem since they are extremely harmful to the environment and continue to build up in our food chain. We must learn about the harmful consequences of heavy metals and work to reduce them using the most environmentally friendly methods feasible. This review discusses how bioremediation helps to reduce heavy metal concentrations in our ecosystem using biological agents, such as algae, fungi, bacteria, and plants. The paper also investigates various phytoremediation and microbial remediation mechanisms involved in metal detoxification or transformation into less toxic forms, which lower the adverse effects of heavy metals in animals, plants, and humans.

Прижизненная оценка накопления тяжелых металлов в организме сельскохозяйственных животных (обзор)

In order to prevent the development of pathological processes in the body of farm animals, the intravital determination of the content of heavy metals in organs and tissues is relevant. The state of the solution to this problem is considered. A description is given of various approaches that allow testing the content of heavy metals in animals, assessing and adjusting the environmental safety of livestock products.

DNA Damage by Heavy Metals in Animals and Human Beings: An Overview

Cancer causing materials are found in air, water and in some other consumer products in the form of heavy metals. Biomedical research has shown that exposure to heavy metals is an important source of DNA damage in human beings and in animals. Heavy metals like iron, copper, chromium, lead, zinc, mercury, nickel etc. and reactive oxygen species enhance peroxidation of lipids and DNA damage. Elements like arsenic, nickel and cadmium are the ambassadors of mutagenic changes in cell. In mammalian cells it was found that DNA single strand breaks chromosomal aberrations occurred and sister chromatids exchange due to various nickel salts. It is now a wellestablished fact that cadmium causes cancer in tissues of animals. Exposure to cadmium develops cancer in prostate gland, kidney, liver and stomach. Through base pair mutation cancer causing metals damage DNA. However, some heavy metals directly damage the DNA thus generating negative results. The synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins is affected by cadmium. However, cadmium does not have a strong mutagenic nature when compared to other heavy metals. The present review aims to prospect the exposure (of human beings and animals) to heavy metals, cause of different diseases in both and mutagenic effect of heavy metals on double strand repair.

In vivo restoration of hepatic and nephro protective potential of hesperidin and ellagic acid against mercuric chloride intoxicated rats

The present experimental study is to investigate the efficacy of some phytochemicals on heavy metal intoxicated animals. Commonly phytochemicals have played a vital role for protective effect of oxidative stress, which is induced by heavymetals in animals. At sub-lethal dose of mercuric chloride (1.23mg/kg body weight) treated rat liver tissue shows hepatic cell damage and alteration of its metabolic activities by the way of liver marker enzymes. The hepato-protective effect of Hesperidin and ellagic acid was tested against mercuric chloride induced hepato-toxicity in rats. In the present study, drastically altered in the level of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Lactic dehyrogenase (LDH), bilirubin, albumin, cholesterol, urea and creatinine levels were observed in the blood serum of mercury intoxicated rats. The activity of liver marker enzymes such as ALT AST, ALP and LDH were significantly increased and albumin was simultaneously decreased in mercuric chloride intoxicated rats. Administration of Hesperidin and Ellagic acid (5mg/kg body weight) on mercuric chloride intoxicated rats not only reduced the liver markers enzymes and bilirubin and cholesterol levels and also maintain their level to near normal condition. Hesperidin and ellagic acid alone treated animals did not alter the ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, bilirubin, albumin, cholesterol urea and creatinine levels in serum. Our results indicate that treatment for hesperidin and ellagic acid exhibited the strong hepatoprotective activity against mercuric chloride induced hepatotoxicity.

Scale of classification based on biochemical markers in mussels: application to pollution monitoring in European coasts

A battery of biochemical parameters is used to evaluate the response of mussels to a contaminated coastal environment. In the European BIOMAR programme, a multimarker approach was developed, establishing a scale for the classification of the water quality in European coastal sites. AChE activity is highly sensitive to organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides but also to heavy metals. Catalase activity and lipid oxidation (evaluated as MDA) are markers of oxidative stress, GST activity is related to the conjugation of organic compounds and BPH activity is a marker of planar compounds (e.g. PAHs). These parameters were measured either in gills (AChE, GST) or digestive gland (BPH, GST, CAT, MDA). Contamination levels were estimated by measurement of PAHs and heavy metals in animals. For each biomarker, a discriminatory factor was calculated (maximum variation range/confidence interval) and a response index was allocated. For each site, a global response index was calculated as the sum of the response index of each of the five biomarkers. As a result of our calculation method, the quality of the coastal environment at each site can be classified with a five level scale. Mussels were collected during five cruises in 1995-1996 on the Baltic and Mediterranean coasts. The results show that water quality ranged from class 1 (clean areas in some sites of the French Riviera, Spanish Costa Brava and the Baltic coast) to class 5 (high pollution in main harbours, e.g. Kiel and Toulon). Some areas fall into class 4, e.g. Carteau, Cortiou, Barcelona, Warnemunde, Swinemunde, Ebro delta. The global Biomarker Index was positively correlated with the level of PAHs in mussels in Baltic transects. A number of other contaminants or stressors may be present in the marine environment and the Biomarker Index appeared to be relevant to classify coastal environmental pollution.

Heavy metal bioaccumulation in lamb and sheep bred in smelting and mining areas of S.W. sardinia (Italy)

It is widely known that anthropogenic activities strongly contributed to heavy metals contamination of the environment. For this reason, distribution of heavy metals in soils and plants around urban and industrial point sources have been the object of extensive studies. Lesser attention has been given to accumulation of heavy metals in animals bred in these polluted environments, and relatively few works are concerned with the accumulation of heavy metals through the food chain. The aim of this work is to examine the distribution of heavy metals in two contaminated environments, a smelter-refinery and a mine area situated in S.W. Sardinia. The first sampling area is located near one of the most important Pb and Zn smelting-refineries of Europe, and the second near abandoned and working mines. In this study, target organs of sheep and lamb were considered for their heavy metals accumulation. Samples of vegetation were collected throughout the vegetative period and analyzed for their Pb, Zn and Cd content. Winter forage and soil were also sampled.

Heavy metals in animals of Lake Balaton

Hg, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe and Mn concentrations were measured in Chironomidae larvae, Crustacea plankton, as well as in various organs of mussels and fishes collected from the open water area of Lake Balaton. The values were comparatively low. However, there were significant differences in the metal concentrations of species and tissue. Most Cd was found in the gill of Unio pictorum L., most Pb, Zn and Mn in the gill of Anodonta cygnea L., most Cu in Crustacea plankton and in the liver of Abramis brama L., and most Hg and Fe in Chironomidae larvae. Low concentrations occurred in fishes, the lowest in the flesh of Stizostedion lucioperca L. Accumulation of metals in organs as compared with their concentration in the lake water was in the range of 3.4 × 10 2−2.6 × 10 3 for Hg; 7.0 × 10 2−6.8 × 10 3 for Cd; 3.3 × 10 2−9.7 × 10 3 for Cu; 6.9 × 10 2−8.1 × 10 3 for Zn; 1.5 × 10 3−2.4 × 10 4 for Pb; 3.5 × 10 2−3.1 × 10 4 for Fe; and 5.0 × 10 1−3.5 × 10 5 for Mn.

Heavy metals in animals from the north east coast

Analyses of cadmium, zinc, copper and nickel in the tissues of fish and crustaceans from inshore waters off the Northumberland coast reveal some surprisingly high values.