Heavy Metals In Tissues Research Articles

Heavy metals in tissues of loggerhead turtles ( Caretta caretta) from the northwestern Adriatic Sea

Thirty-five specimens of Caretta caretta were collected dead along the Adriatic Sea coast from the Po Delta to the Reno mouth (Italy). Turtles were classified into four size categories ranging from 24.5 to 74 cm, by measuring the minimum straight-line carapace length (MSCL). Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn levels were assessed in liver, lung, muscle and adipose tissue. Cd, Cu and Fe mainly accumulated in the liver (8.9, 23.7 and 1180 mg/kg dry mass [d.w.], respectively), and Mn in the lung (29.5 mg/kg d.w.). Levels of Ni were higher in adipose (22 mg/kg d.w.) than other tissues, while Zn concentrations were higher in muscle (about 140 mg/kg d.w.). Negative correlations with size were established for Zn in liver and Cu in adipose tissue, while positive correlations were observed for Mn and Ni in adipose tissue. Metal concentrations did not differ between males and females, nor between individuals found stranded and those victims of by-catch. On average, Cd, Cu, Mn and Ni concentrations in our specimens were higher than in loggerhead turtles and other species living in other areas. We hypothesize that trace metals could be used as “acquired markers” to help investigate migration routes of C. caretta.

Organochlorine pesticides, PCBs and heavy metals in tissues of the mullet Liza aurata in lake Ganzirri and Straits of Messina (Sicily, Italy)

The aim of this research was to investigate the presence of organochlorine pesticides, PCBs and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in fish living in lake Ganzirri and the Straits of Messina, using the mullet Liza aurata as a “biological indicator”. Different tissues of Liza aurata, which include the muscle, gill and vertebral column, were taken for analyses.Quantitative determination of the organochlorine compounds was performed by GC–ECD and confirmed with GC–MS. The concentrations of “essential” and “toxic” heavy metals were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry.For the mullets of lake Ganzirri, the study showed DDE in three samples of gills and one of muscle, at concentrations below the MRL; no appreciable residues of PCBs (Aroclor 1232 series) were found. The concentrations of Zn and Cu were much higher than those of the “toxic” metals. No traces of organochlorine pesticides and PCBs were found in the individuals from the Straits of Messina.Therefore, these results indicate that these two environments are not at toxicological risk.

Species-Specific Distribution of Heavy Metals in Tissues and Organs of Loggerhead Turtle ( Caretta caretta) and Green Turtle ( Chelonia mydas) from Japanese Coastal Waters

Concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cd, Co and Hg) were determined in tissues and organs of loggerhead ( Caretta caretta) and green turtles ( Chelonia mydas) collected from Japanese coastal waters, in order to elucidate body distribution and to develop a non-lethal monitoring technique using the carapace. A majority of the metal burdens was present in the muscle, liver, bone and carapace of sea turtles. High Cu concentrations exceeding 10 μg/g wet wt were observed in the liver of these two turtle species. Mean Zn concentrations in fat tissues of loggerhead and green turtles were 94.6 and 51.3 μg/g wet wt respectively, which were about 10-fold higher than those reported in other marine animals. Concentrations of Mn, Zn and Hg in the carapace were correlated with whole body burdens, indicating that the carapace is a useful non-lethal indicator for monitoring heavy metal levels in the body of the sea turtle.

Studies of metals and metallothionein in tissue

This paper is a review of three topics related to bio-trace metals. First, the transfer of metals into tissues of patients with chronic diseases treated with hemodialysis is examined. Such diseases include chronic hepatitis, diabetes, and chronic renal failure. In these diseases, metal contents from fingernails were flexible but non-specific. Toxicity may appear as the amount of heavy metals in tissues of patients with chronic renal failure treated with hemodialysis. For example, cadmium and lead were not excreted from the blood of patients during the hemodialysis treatment, and, therefore, their amounts gradually increased in the blood of patients. The level of zinc increased and was excreted in the urine of diabetic patients and experimental animals. Calcium accumulated in the kidney of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats that were fed low zinc diets; and, as a result, severe renal failure occurred. From these results, complication syndromes of either metal deficiency or excesses may occur in tissues of patients with chronic diseases. Second, the role of metallothionein (MT), an inducible protein, and the properties of MT isoforms have been studied on experimental animals. In the exocrine cells of the pancreas, MT was induced by various stresses such as zinc, STZ, alloxan and 4-aminopyrazolo-(3,4-d) pyrimidine, but the effects of those stresses were not clear in the endocrine cells. Therefore, MT may have a role in the exocrine cells of the pancreas. In addition, we were able to separate completely MT-1 and MT-2 isoforms in cytosol fractions of tissues using a capillary zone electrophoresis system at neutral pH without any detergents. Each role of the MT isoforms in the tissues soon started to become clear. Third, cisplatin, a platinum-containing anti-tumor drug, did not penetrate into the brain tissue under physiological conditions, as there is a blood-brain barrier to cerebral tissues; however, it did penetrate with either short-term hypoxia or in the case of lipopolysaccharide-treated experimental animals. Nitric oxide, prostaglandin, and free radicals are related to the penetration. Older rats had a higher sensitivity to cisplatin than younger rats.

Specific Features of the Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Tissues of Fishes from the Kremenchug Reservoir

Heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Fe, Ni, Cr, Sr, Cd, Co, Pb, and Mn) were mostly accumulated in superficial fish tissues: gills, fins, and scales. Their concentrations were higher organs with a higher functional activity: liver, kidney, spleen, and gonads. A relatively high accumulation was also found in the intestine. The depositing capacity of tissues proved species specific. As compared with predators, benthophagous species accumulated more toxic elements.

Seasonal changes in levels of heavy metals in tissues of Mullus barbatus and Sparus aurata collected from Iskenderun Gulf (Turkey)

Levels of cadmium, copper, zinc, lead and iron were determined seasonally in the liver, spleen, kidney, gill and muscle tissues of Mullus barbatus and Sparus aurata from the Iskenderun Gulf, East Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Wet digested tissues were analysed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Metal levels were higher in liver, spleen and kidney compared with the gill and muscle tissues in both species; the levels of all metals in a given tissue were always higher in Mullus barbatus than in Sparus aurata.

Heavy metals in tissues of hares in Finland, 1980-82 and 1992-93.

The anthropogenic load of trace metals from industrial emissions to the atmosphere has significantly increased the aerial deposition of lead, cadmium and zinc and to a lesser extent of copper and nickel during the twentieth century. This is particularly true in southern Finland, where atmospheric deposition. concentrations in water and accumulation in sediments of these metals all exceed those in central and northern Finland. The deposition of trace metals in Finland occurs simultaneously with that of acidic compounds. Several industrial processes including combustion of fossil fuels, mining, metal processing and as well as refuse incineration contribute to these emissions, which are mainly concentrated in intensively populated industrial areas. Airborne pollutants are transported over long distances and can be detected in remote areas in amounts that greatly exceed the natural background level. Long-range transport is the primary source of lead, zinc and cadmium in Finland, but local sources are more important in the deposition of copper and nickel. A major investigation of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc was performed at the National Veterinary Institute in 1980-1982. The study included 212 mountain hares (Lepua timidus) and 188 European hares (Lepus europaeus) in 15 game management areas. The results of this investigation havemore » not been published earlier. This study compared possible areal differences and followed the changes in heavy metal concentrations in hares during 10 years in an industrial and non industrial area of Finland.« less

Concentration and distribution of heavy metals in tissues of wild and farmed shrimp Penaeus vannamei from the northwest coast of Mexico

The concentration and distribution of Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Cd, and Zn among the tissues of wild and farmed pre-adult shrimp Penaeus vannamei collected from the northwest coast of México was determined. Distinct inter-tissue and inter-site differences in metal concentrations were observed. In general, highest concentrations of Zn, Ni, and Cd were found in hepatopancreas while higher levels of Cu and Fe occurred in gills. The highest Mn concentrations were noted in the antennal organs and exoskeleton. Differences between shrimps were evident in the exoskeleton (for both sexes) and hepatic material (females). The farmed shrimp (larger in size) accumulated more Fe than the wild shrimp. Similarly, in the hard tissues (exoskeleton and antennal organs) the farmed shrimp accumulated more Cu than the wild shrimp for both sexes, while the wild shrimp accumulated more Mn than the farmed shrimp in the hard tissues of both sexes.

Distribution of heavy metals in tissues of the shrimp Penaeus californiensis from the northwest coast of Mexico.

The brown shrimp, Penaeus californiensis Holmes, is an Eastern Pacific species which is geographically distributed from San Francisco, California, USA, including the Gulf of California, to Callao, Peru. In Mexico and particularly in the Pacific Coast, this crustacean supports 75% of the commercial catch of shrimp. Knowledge of the distribution of metals in isolated tissues of marine organisms is useful in order to identify specific organs that may be particularly selective and sensitive to accumulation of heavy metals. This paper presents data on the levels of Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Cd, and Zn in five different tissues of the P. californiensis populations from the northwest coast of Mexico. Additionally, the accumulation of metals by males and females is examined. 16 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.

Heavy Metals in Tissues of the Norway LobsterNephrops Norvegicus: Effects of Sex, Size and Season

Abstract Concentrations of mercury, cadmium, copper, zinc and iron were determined in the carapace, hepatopancreas, gills, tail muscle, ovary and eggs of 288 Norway lobsters, Nephrops norvegicus, caught in the Clyde Sea area, south of the Isle of Cumbrae, Scotland. Metal levels in males and females were examined separately in relation to size and the season in which the animals were caught. Cadmium, copper and zinc concentrations were highest in the hepatopancreas whereas mercury and iron concentrations were highest in the gill. Levels of metals showed variations between months, with highest levels tending to occur during molt. Metal levels were influenced by lobster size with pronounced size-related increases in mercury levels in the tail muscle and cadmium levels in the hepatopancreas. Levels of several metals in the various tissues differed between the sexes.

Concentration and distribution of heavy metals in tissues of two cephalopods, Eledone cirrhosa and Sepia officinalis, from the French coast of the English Channel

The concentrations of 11 heavy metals (Ag, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) were measured in the tissues (digestive gland, branchial hearts, gills, digestive tract, kidney, genital tract, muscle, skin, shell) of the two cephalopods Eledone cirrhosa (d'Orb.) and Sepia officinalis (L.) collected from the French coast of the English Channel in October 1987. The tissues of both species displayed a similar pattern of heavy-metal accumulation: the digestive gland, branchial hearts and kidney were the major sites of concentration for all 11 metals; the digestive gland accumulated silver, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead and zinc, the branchial hearts high concentrations of copper, nickel and vanadium, and the kidney high concentrations of manganese, nickel and lead. The digestive gland, which constituted 6 to 10% of the whole-animal tissue, contained >80% of the total body burden of Ag, Cd and Co and from 40 to 80% of the total body burden of the other metals. The ratios between heavy metal concentrations in the digestive gland and those in the muscle separated the elements into three groups, those with a ratio ≤10 (Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, Zn), those with a ratio >10 to <50 (Co, Cu, Fe), and those with a ratio ≥50 (Ag, Cd). The digestive gland of cephalopods (carnivorous molluscs whose age can be easily calculated with great accuracy) would seem to constitute a good potential indicator of heavy metal concentrations in the marine environment.

Heavy metals in tissues of waterfowl from the Chesapeake Bay, USA

Concentrations of cadmium, lead, copper and zinc were measured in 774 livers, 266 kidneys and 271 ulnar bones from 15 species of ducks obtained from the Chesapeake Bay region. A major purpose of this study was to elucidate relationships between food habits and tissue accumulations of heavy metals in Chesapeake Bay waterfowl. Liver and kidney concentrations of cadmium were highest among two carnivorous seaduck species, Clangula hyemalis and Melanitta deglandi. In contrast, lead concentrations in tissues were generally highest in largely herbivorous species, such as Anas platyrhynchos, Anas rubripes and Anas strepera. Spent shot may be an important source for tissue burdens of lead in these ducks. No marked trends were observed between food habits and tissue concentrations of the nutrient elements, copper and zinc.

Heavy Metals in Tissues of Small Mammals Inhabiting Waste‐Water‐Irrigated Habitats

AbstractConcentrations of heavy metals in liver and kidney of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) and white‐footed mice (Permyscus leucopus) from waste‐water‐irrigated and control areas were analyzed. Heavy metals were not accumulating in meadow voles inhabiting a reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) field irrigated with sewage effluent. In contrast, Pb and Cd concentrations were significantly higher in tissues of white‐footed mice inhabiting an irrigated forested site as compared with a control forested site. However, concentrations of Pb and Cd were not high enough to be considered toxic. Cadmium/zinc ratios for kidneys of small mammals were higher than those for soils and vegetation on irrigated areas, demonstrating the potentially hazardous uptake of Cd. Heavy metals were not accumulating to hazardous levels in herbivorous small mammals inhabiting areas irrigated with sewage effluent at application rates ranging from 5.0 to 7.5 cm/week for 14 years.

Environmental biochemistry of current environmental levels of heavy metals: Preparation of radiotracers with very high specific radioactivity for metallobiochemical experiments on laboratory animals

Environmental toxicology research on dose-response relationships of heavy metals requires experiments on laboratory animals exposed to “low doses” of trace elements which should reflect “present or actual environmental levels” characteristic of polluted environments. Unfortunately no criteria exist to establish the “low doses” to which laboratory animals must be exposed, in practice the choice of the level used is made in an almost arbitrary manner. In order to define the “present environmental levels” of heavy metals which should be administered to laboratory animals an approach is suggested, based upon knowledge of the concentrations of trace elements in the diet, air and food as well as the fractions absorbed. Today daily intakes of trace elements by man are of the order of few micrograms or nanograms thus requiring the use of extremely sensitive analytical techniques to determine the very low amounts of heavy metals in tissues and cellular components. In these fields of research the use of radiotracers with very specific radioactivity appears particularly advantageous but requires considerable care during their preparation and use. The first part of this paper deals with a definition of the ranges of concentrations of trace elements which should be used for metabolic studies on laboratory animals when they are exposed via different routes such as ingestion, inhalation or injection; the second part describes the production of radiotracers with very high specific radioactivity by proton activation in the cyclotron and by neutron irradiation in the nuclear reactor. Their use to label present levels of heavy metals under conditions adapted for biochemical purposes, as well as the preparation of different metal-labelled chemical species is also reported. Particular attention is directed to quality control of the radiotracer solutions which are administered to the animals including those of radioactivity concentrations, radioisotopic purity, radiochemical purity, carrier content and chemical impurities.

High concentrations of some heavy metals in tissues of the Mediterranean octopus.

The results of determinations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, V and Zn in all the tissues of the Octopus vulgaris are reported. Particular attention is paid to the branchial hearts and the hepatopancreas.

Heavy Metals in Tissues of the Mute Swan (Cygnus Olor)

During the period 1973–1977, a number of mute swans (Cygnus olor) were submitted to the National Veterinary Institute in Stockholm and examined post mortem. Organ tissues from 58 swans were chemically analysed for concentrations of lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, iron and manganese. In 10 swans (17 %), elevated residues of lead were found indicating intoxication. Cadmium concentrations were significantly higher in adult than in juvenile swans; also in swans from the Swedish east coast compared with specimens from the west coast. Remarkably high copper concentrations were often found, with one exception yet without any signs of intoxication. High zinc and cadmium concentrations were often found in the same swans. The findings of iron and manganese were not remarkable.

Translocation and accumulation of seven heavy metals in tissues of corn plants grown on sludge-treated strip-mined soil.

Metal translocation studies for Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Hg were conducted for corn (Zea mays L.) plants grown on strip-mined soil amended with anaerobically digested sewage sludge (25 dry tons/acre). Differential metal accumulation rates in the seven tissues analyzed showed that generally the highest metal concentrations occur in the leaves and roots and the lowest in the grain and cob. With the exception of Mn and Hg, metal concentrations increased in tissues as a result of sludge application. The greatest increases were for Cd where mean tissue concentrations (ppM) for unamended and sludge-grown conditions respectively were roots: 0.062; lower stems: 0.027, 0.204; and leaves: 0.276, 1.52. Metal extractabilities for plant uptake were established for the soil samples adhering directly to the root system of the corn plants studied; these extractabilities were then compared to metal concentrations in the leaf and root tissues.

Heavy metals in tissues of stranded short-finned pilot whales

Selected tissues from four short-finned pilot whales that stranded at Cumberland Island National Seashore were analyzed for total cadmium, mercury and selenium by neutron activation. Cadmium reached a maximum mean wet weight concentration of 31.4 ppm in the kidney tissues. Maximum mean wet weight concentrations of mercury, 230.9 ppm, and selenium, 44.2 ppm, were found in the liver tissues. The lowest concentration of each metal was found in the blubber. Postmortem examination showed that the whales had no food in their stomachs. The whales must have been utilizing metabolic reserves, contaminated with residual concentrations of heavy metals, prior to beaching. This utilization of reserves probably resulted in the high concentrations of cadmium, mercury and selenium found in the liver and kidney tissues. Since the heavy metal concentrations were three to four times greater in the stranded whales, as compared to apparently healthy whales of the same species, it is suggested that heavy metal toxicosis may have been a factor contributing to this particular stranding.

Distribution of heavy metals in tissues of the common seal

The lead, cadmium and mercury content of soft tissues and bone were determined for the common seal ( Phoca vitulina) collected from off the coast of East Anglia and the West of Scotland. Lead levels were low in all tissues, cadmium accumulated with age in the kidney of West Scotland seals and mercury accumulated to high levels in the liver of seals from both areas. Comparison of our results with those of other workers, suggests that the rate of mercury accumulation in the liver of seals increases in the order: Canadian Arctic and Atlantic coast < West Scotland < East Anglia < Netherlands coast. Accumulation of mercury in the kidney and spleen of older seals, lends tentative support to the hypothesis that a protective demethylation and retention process in the liver may begin to leak mercury to other tissues at the high concentrations which have been recorded in the liver of older seals, and at the high dose rates which have been used in toxicological experiments.

Labilit� structurale des granules de s�cr�tion contenant du zinc des cellules ? du pancr�as apr�s gazage avec de l'hydrog�ne sulfur�

Treatment of vertebrate pancreatic islet tissue with hydrogen sulphide, thus initiating the sulphide-silver procedure for ultrastructural visualization of heavy metals in tissues, evoked marked swelling in zinc-containing secretion granules of β-cells in several species rapidly leading to disruption of many granules. Other organelles of the β-cells were unaffected, as also were the secretion granules of adjacent zinc-containing α2-cells. Likewise, β-and α2-granules with no heavy metals or only traces of them, like those of the guinea pig and the coypu, were all well preserved after gassing with hydrogen sulphide. It is suggested that this observation may give some information on insulin-zinc-sulphydryl relationships in vivo.