High Levels Of Cadmium Research Articles

Monitoring and assessment of treated river, rain, gully pot and grey waters for irrigation of Capsicum annuum.

This study examines the benefits and risks associated with various types of wastewater recycled for vegetable garden irrigation and proposes the best water source in terms of its water quality impact on crop yields. The aim was to evaluate the usability of river, rain, gully pot, real grey and artificial grey waters to water crops. The objectives were to evaluate variables and boundary conditions influencing the growth of chillies (De Cayenne; Capsicum annuum (Linnaeus) Longum Group 'De Cayenne') both in the laboratory and in the greenhouse. A few irrigated chilli plants suffered from excess of some nutrients, which led to a relatively poor harvest. High levels of trace minerals and heavy metals were detected in river water, gully pot effluent and greywater. However, no significant differences in plant yields were observed, if compared with standards and other yields worldwide. The highest yields were associated with river water both in the laboratory and in the greenhouse. Plant productivity was unaffected by water quality due to the high manganese, potassium, cadmium and copper levels of the greywater. These results indicate the potential of river water and gully pot effluent as viable alternatives to potable water for irrigation in agriculture.

Kinetic Analysis of Zinc/Cadmium Reciprocal Competitions Suggests a Possible Zn-Insensitive Pathway for Root-to-Shoot Cadmium Translocation in Rice.

BackgroundAmong cereals, rice has a genetic propensity to accumulate high levels of cadmium (Cd) in grains. Xylem-mediated root-to-shoot translocation rather than root uptake has been suggested as the main physiological factor accounting for the genotypic variation observed in Cd accumulation in shoots and grains. Several evidence indicate OsHMA2 – a putative zinc (Zn) transporter – as the main candidate protein that could be involved in mediating Cd- and Zn-xylem loading in rice. However, the specific interactions between Zn and Cd in rice often appear anomalous if compared to those observed in other staple crops, suggesting that root-to-shoot Cd translocation process could be more complex than previously thought. In this study we performed a complete set of competition experiments with Zn and Cd in order to analyze their possible interactions and reciprocal effects at the root-to-shoot translocation level.ResultsThe competition analysis revealed the lack of a full reciprocity when considering the effect of Cd on Zn accumulation, and vice versa, since the accumulation of Zn in the shoots was progressively inhibited by Cd increases, whereas that of Cd was only partially impaired by Zn. Such behaviors were probably dependent on Cd-xylem loading mechanisms, as suggested by: i) the analysis of Zn and Cd content in the xylem sap performed in relation to the concentration of the two metals in the mobile fractions of the roots; ii) the analysis of the systemic movement of 107Cd in short term experiments performed using a positron-emitting tracer imaging system (PETIS).ConclusionsOur results suggest that at least two pathways may mediate root-to-shoot Cd translocation in rice. The former could involve OsHMA2 as Zn2+/Cd2+ xylem loader, whereas the latter appears to involve a Zn-insensitive system that still needs to be identified.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12284-016-0088-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Urine metabolomics of women from small villages exposed to high environmental cadmium levels.

The present study aimed to identify urine metabolites in women exposed to high cadmium (Cd) levels. Twenty-one women exposed to environmental Cd and 12 age-matched controls were categorized as high exposure (urine Cd ≥ 15 μg/g creatinine; n = 9) or low exposure (15 μg/g creatinine > urine Cd > 5 μg/g creatinine; n = 12). Low-molecular weight metabolites in urine were analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry after derivatization. An orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis model was constructed, and metabolites from the dimensional model were selected according to the variable importance in projection (>1). Metabolites differing significantly in abundance between different exposure groups were identified by searching mass spectral databases, and related pathways were analyzed using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. Approximately 110 significantly different metabolites were detected with variable importance in projection > 1, and 48 of them were found to differ markedly in abundance among the 3 groups. Twenty-seven matched with known metabolites, including 22 significantly increased and 5 markedly decreased in the high-exposure group (p < 0.01). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes results indicated that carbohydrate, amino acid, bone, and intestinal flora metabolism and the tricarboxylic acid cycle were affected by Cd exposure. The present study identified metabolites that differed in abundance in response to Cd exposure. Further studies may connect these biomarkers to early damage caused by Cd.

Levels of heavy metals in the raw and processed Ethiopian tobacco leaves.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is a commercial plant. Tobacco leaves naturally accumulate and concentrate relatively high levels of heavy metals and particular cadmium in leaves. Tobacco is one of the basic agricultural products, in Ethiopia, with social and economic importance. However, there is no report in the literature on the determination of levels of heavy metals in Ethiopian tobacco leaves. Hence this research is intended to determine the levels of heavy metals in the raw and processed Ethiopian Virginia tobacco leaves. Samples of raw Virginia tobacco leaves were collected from two different regions of Ethiopia (Billate and Shewa Robit). The three processed tobacco samples were collected from National Tobacco Enterprise, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The samples were wet-digested using 3 mL HNO3 (69–72 %) and 3 mL HClO4 (70 %) at 350 °C for 3.5 h and concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the samples were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometer. The mean metals concentrations (in µg/g dry weight) in the raw Virginia tobacco leaves from Billate and Shewa Robit, respectively, were: Cu (4.38, 7.30), Zn (53.7, 33.2), Cd (1.20, 1.30), Cr (ND, 1.45), Ni (ND, 1.90). The mean metals concentrations (in µg/g dry weight) in the processed tobacco from Billate and Shewa Robit, respectively, were: Cu (9.80, 12.8), Ni (2.35, 2.20) Cd (1.45, 1.90), Cr (1.65, 1.75), Zn (101, 83.8). The mean metals concentrations (in µg/g dry weight) in the processed tobacco Nyala (Ethiopian cigarette leaves) were: Cu (8.95), Cd (1.55), Cr (1.62), Ni (4.70), Zn (79.3). The concentrations of Cr and Ni in tobacco leaves from Billate and Pb in all the tobacco samples were below the detection limits. This study showed that the metal contents of tobacco leaves varied with the geographical origin in which the tobacco plant grows. The metal contents of processed tobacco were higher than the corresponding raw leaves. Pb was not detected in both the raw and processed Ethiopian tobacco leaves.

Deletion of Phytochelatin Synthase Modulates the Metal Accumulation Pattern of Cadmium Exposed C. elegans.

Environmental metal pollution is a growing health risk to flora and fauna. It is therefore important to fully elucidate metal detoxification pathways. Phytochelatin synthase (PCS), an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of phytochelatins (PCs), plays an important role in cadmium detoxification. The PCS and PCs are however not restricted to plants, but are also present in some lower metazoans. The model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, for example, contains a fully functional phytochelatin synthase and phytochelatin pathway. By means of a transgenic nematode strain expressing a pcs-1 promoter-tagged GFP (pcs-1::GFP) and a pcs-1 specific qPCR assay, further evidence is presented that the expression of the C. elegans phytochelatin synthase gene (pcs-1) is transcriptionally non-responsive to a chronic (48 h) insult of high levels of zinc (500 μM) or acute (3 h) exposures to high levels of cadmium (300 μM). However, the accumulation of cadmium, but not zinc, is dependent on the pcs-1 status of the nematode. Synchrotron based X-ray fluorescence imaging uncovered that the cadmium body burden increased significantly in the pcs-1(tm1748) knockout allele. Taken together, this suggests that whilst the transcription of pcs-1 may not be mediated by an exposure zinc or cadmium, it is nevertheless an integral part of the cadmium detoxification pathway in C. elegans.

Comparative Study of Co-Resistance Pattern of Bacteria Isolated from Waste Water of Hospital Discharge and Soil of Industrial Area

The rise of heavy metal pollution and antibiotic resistant bacteria in soil and water is a key challenge to worldwide public health. The aim of current study is assessment of microbial load and co-resistance (cadmium and antibiotics) of bacteria isolated from the water of hospital waste discharge and soil of industrial of Lucknow and Allahabad (U.P. India). Soil samples were collected from different location of Uttar Pradesh. The samples were analyzed for presence of microbial load by heterotrophic plate count (HPC) ranged from 160cfu/ml-400x10⁵cfu/ml. Isolated bacteria assessed for multiple antibiotics and heavy metal resistance. The study was carried out on the basis of maximum threshold limit for the cadmium by the isolates. MIC test of isolates was performed for detection of tolerance against cadmium metal. From 34 potent isolates only ten isolates (AIA2, AIA4, BBAU2, BBAU4, SIA2, BSS1, BSS2, BSS4, HWS2, and HWS1) were able to grow at high cadmium level. While, out of ten only two isolates BSS2 and BSS4 found to grow at maximum threshold limit at 1100ppm. In antibiotic resistance test all the isolates had resistant property against cpm and most of the heavy metal resistant isolates had high multiple antibiotic resistant (MAR) index value. High MAR values were seen in BSS2 and AIA4 isolates.

Short-Term Biochemical Impacts in &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Cyphoderus javanus&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; Borner (Collembola) as Potential Biomarkers of Fly Ash and Heavy Metal Pollution in Tropical Lateritic Soil

The detritivorous soil microarthropods are ideal models for environmental health assessment, but only scant information is available on their biomarker potentials against xenobiotics in the tropical edaphic conditions. This microcosm study has estimated short-term biochemical changes with respect to tissue nutrient levels and digestive enzyme activities in a near cosmopolitan Collembola Cyphoderus javanus Borner exposed to coal fly ash amended lateritic cropland soil (5% and 20% w/w i.e. 50 or 200 t ·ha-1), and cadmium sulphate (200 mg/kg soil)/lead acetate (200 mg/kg soil) treated sterile river sand. The levels of total tissue carbohydrates, proteins, free amino acids, and lipids decrease within 7 days in the specimens of fly ash (P α-amylase, cellulase and protease activities are also down regulated by fly ash and heavy metals (P < 0.05). It is also observed the enzyme: protein ratios increase in fly ash treated sets and decrease in lead and cadmium treated specimens. Specimens in treated sets accumulate high levels of lead and cadmium within 15 days, which decrease subsequently probably due to elimination through frequent moulting. These short-term biochemical effects in Collembola have applied importance in C. javanus, as biomarkers for quick ecotoxicological assessments in the tropical agricultural soils.

High Levels of Heavy Metals Increase the Prevalence of Sarcopenia in the Elderly Population.

BackgroundDespite increasing concern regarding health problems as a result of environmental pollutants, no association of toxic heavy metals with sarcopenia has been demonstrated in the general population. We investigated the association of heavy metals, including lead, mercury and cadmium, with sarcopenia in the Korean population.MethodsParticipants included 344 males and 360 females older than 65 years based on data from the fourth and fifth Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys. Measurements of blood lead, mercury and cadmium levels were performed. To evaluate the cumulative effect of the three heavy metals, subjects were categorized into quartiles. Sarcopenia was defined according to the criteria for the Asia Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) (SMI<5.4 kg/m2 in females and <7.0 kg/m2 in males).ResultsOf 704 elderly persons (344 in males and 360 in females), prevalences of sarcopenia were 26.7% (92/344) in male and 7.5% (27/360) in female. Mean serum levels of lead in sarcopenia group were significantly higher than non-sarcopenia males (P=0.03). After adjustment for confounding factors, odds ratio for sarcopenia were increased with concentration category of lead (P=0.005 and P<0.001), mercury (P=0.001 and P<0.001) and cadmium (P=0.010 and P<0.001) in males and females, respectively.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that high levels of blood lead, mercury and cadmium increase the prevalence of sarcopenia in both genders of elderly populations.

Evaluation of Nutritional Status and Heavy Metals Toxicity for Asthmatic Children

The present study aimed to investigate blood heavy metals toxicity for asthmatic children and their nutritional status. One hundred children suffering asthma attending the Al-Galaa Teaching Hospital during winter were enrolled in the study. Data was collected by personal interview with their mothers to fill a special questionnaire sheet (socioeconomic and clinical characteristics, anthropometric measurements and 24h dietary recall). Results showed most parents had (10–12 years) of education levels. The majority of fathers were smoking at the same room with their children. All children had high blood levels of lead (B-Pb) and cadmium (B-Cd). Most children were intake less than 50% of DRI from fiber, vitamins (A, D, B1 and B2) and minerals (K and Mg). There were a negative significant correlation between B-Pb and both Hb and animal protein (r = 0.312 and r = 278, P ˂0.05, respectively). There were a significant correlation between B-Cd and bilirubin (r = -0.381, P ˂0.05). Also, there were adverse significant correlation between plasma K and both urea and creatinine (P ˂0.01). It is concluded preventing heavy metals poisoning in early childhood is an essential component of strategy to improve the health success.

Maternal exposure to arsenic and cadmium and the risk of congenital heart defects in offspring.

Hair arsenic and cadmium from 339 women with congenital heart defect (CHD)-affected pregnancies (case women) and 333 women with normal live births (control women) in China were estimated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The median levels of hair arsenic and cadmium in the case women were 98.30 (74.30-136.30)ng/g and 14.60 (8.30-32.50)ng/g, respectively, which were significantly higher than the levels in the control group (P<0.05). Arsenic concentrations ≥62.03ng/g were associated with increased risk for almost every CHD subtype, with a dose-response relationship. However, only the group with the highest cadmium levels (≥25.85ng/g) displayed an increased risk of CHDs (AOR 1.96; 95% CI 1.24-3.09), with a 2.81-fold increase found for the occurrence of conotruncal defects in their offspring. Furthermore, an interaction between arsenic and cadmium was observed. Our findings suggest that maternal exposure to arsenic and cadmium may be a significant risk factor for CHDs in offspring. Cadmium may have an enhancing effect on the association between arsenic and the risk of CHDs in offspring.

Association between levels of urinary heavy metals and increased risk of urothelial carcinoma.

To evaluate possible sources of exposure to heavy metals in the general population, and to determine the association between urinary heavy metals and urothelial carcinoma risk. We recruited 205 patients with urothelial carcinoma and 406 control participants for a case-control study between June 2011 and December 2013. The control participants were frequency-matched with cases according to sex and age. We measured the urinary levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel and lead by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We collected environmental exposure-related information through questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression and 95% confidence intervals were applied to estimate the urothelial carcinoma risk and potential effects of urothelial carcinoma-related risk factors on the levels of urinary heavy metals. Patients with urothelial carcinoma showed higher urinary levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel and lead than the controls. After considering other potential risk factors, a significantly increased risk for urothelial carcinoma was observed in patients with increased urinary levels of cadmium, chromium, nickel and lead. Smokers showed a high urinary cadmium level. In addition to cadmium, a high urinary lead level was associated with cumulative cigarette smoking and herbal medicine use. Environmental factors might contribute to higher urinary levels of heavy metals and ultimately result in urothelial carcinoma carcinogenesis. These findings can promote proper environmental surveillance of exposure to heavy metals in the general population.

Detection of toxic elements using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in smokers' and nonsmokers' teeth and investigation of periodontal parameters.

A laser-induced breakdown spectrometer (LIBS) was built and optimized to detect levels of toxic elements such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic present in the roots of extracted teeth of smokers and nonsmokers. Sixty extracted teeth from patients having a history of chronic periodontitis were divided into two groups of 30 teeth each for smoker and nonsmoker patients and, as controls, a third group of 30 patients who did not have a history of chronic periodontitis. The respective elemental concentration (Pb, Cd, and As) 23-29, 0.26-0. 31, and 0.64-11ppm are for nonsmokers, 35-55, 0.33-0.51, and 0.91-1.5ppm are for smokers, and lastly 0.17-0.31, 0.01-0.05, and 0.05-0.09ppm are for control group. In order to test the validity of the results achieved using our LIBS system, a standard inductively coupled plasma (ICP) technique was also applied for the analysis of the same teeth samples, and ICP results were found to be in excellent agreement with our LIBS results. In addition to this, the gingival index, plaque index, clinical attachment loss (CAL) and probing pocket depth were also recorded. Our LIBS spectroscopic analysis showed high levels of lead, cadmium, and arsenic concentration on root surfaces of teeth, which may be due to CAL.

DETERMINATION OF ELEMENTAL IMPURITIES IN SOME COMMERCIAL PAEDIATRIC AND ADULT FORMULATIONS OF ARTEMETHER – LUMEFANTRINE IN THE NIGERIAN MARKET BY ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY

The composition of elemental impurities in paediatric powder for suspension (PPS) and double strength tablet (DST) commercial anti-malarial formulations of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) were determined. Six randomly selected PPS and DST products from a list of marketed products were purchased from a registered Pharmacy outlet and analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The heavy metal levels were compared with the official limits for permitted daily exposure. The paediatric and adult products of AL presented the same types and number of elements with a total of 10 metals and levels ranging from 0.001-0.016 and 0.001-0.017ppm for the PPS and DST formulation, respectively. One of the DST and PPS products had significantly higher levels of cadmium, copper, chromium, nickel and cobalt compared with their respective formulation types (p<0.05). There was significant difference in the levels of chromium, nickel and cobalt but no difference in the levels of cadmium, lead, zinc and arsenic when DST and PPS products were compared (p<0.05). The drug products presented elemental oral exposure significantly lower than the permitted daily exposure. The levels of elemental impurities are satisfactory with respect to safety requirements. These impurities may adversely affect drug stability, shelf-life and bioequivalence of the products. Key words : Elemental impurities, Permitted Daily Exposure, Artemether-lumefantrine, Paediatric Powder for Suspension, Double Strength Tablets

Urinary heavy metals, phthalates, phenols, thiocyanate, parabens, pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons but not arsenic or polyfluorinated compounds are associated with adult oral health: USA NHANES, 2011-2012.

Links between environmental chemicals and human health have emerged over the last few decades, but the effects on oral health have been less studied. Therefore, it was aimed to study the relationships of different sets of urinary chemical concentrations and adult oral health conditions in a national and population-based setting. Data was retrieved from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2011-2012 including demographics, self-reported oral health conditions and urinary environmental chemical concentrations (one third representative sample of the study population). Chi-square test, t test, and survey-weighted logistic and multi-nominal regression modeling were performed. Of 4566 American adults aged 30-80, 541 adults (11.9 %) reported poor teeth health while 1020 adults (22.4 %) reported fair teeth. Eight hundred fifty-five people (19.1 %) claimed to have gum disease, presented with higher levels of urinary cadmium, cobalt and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Six hundred three adults (13.3 %) had bone loss around the mouth, presented with higher levels of cadmium, nitrate, thiocyanate, propyl paraben and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Eight hundred forty-five adults (18.5 %) had tooth loose not due to injury, presented with higher level of cadmium, thiocyanate and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Eight hundred forty-five adults (18.5 %) with higher levels of lead, uranium, polyaromatic hydrocarbons but lower level of triclosan noticed their teeth did not look right. Three hundred fifty-one adults (7.7 %) often had aching in the mouth and 650 (14.3 %) had it occasionally, presented with higher levels of phthalates, pesticides and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Benzophenone-3 and triclosan elicited protective effects. Regulation of environmental chemicals in prevention of adult oral health might need to be considered in future health and environmental policies.

English

The concentration of heavy metals such as Pd, Cd, Cu and Zn were studied using AAS on vegetable samples as Spinach (leaf ) and Tomato . Trace element as Pd and Cd showed high concentration . The concentration of heavy metal like Pd for Spinach is found to be 5.5 mg/kg-1 and for tomato is 5.5 mg\kg-1more than the maximum permissible limit according to the International organization like FAO and WHO indicating that the Vegetables grown near Amba nalla region in Amravati city have 5.5mg/kg-1 high heavy metal value for Pd .The concentration of Cd for the vegetable sample as Spinach was 0.3 mg/kg-1 and Tomato were found to be 0.2mg/kg-1 more than the permissible limit. The concentration of the remaining heavy metals as Cu for Spinach is 0.03 mg/kg-1, tomato is 0.045 mg/kg-1 respectively and Zn for Spinach is 2.0 mg/kg-1and for tomato is 3.8 mg/kg- 1respectively were within the permissible limit as compared with the FAO( mg/kg-1 1985 and WHO) .Pd and Cd are the most severe contaminants.The high level of Cadmium (Cd) in vegetables especially Spinach and Tomato, are suspected for human carcinogens and many more health risks . Samples selected for the study are highly contaminated with Pd and Cd and posses a major health concern from the research.

Role of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Cadmium Uptake by Ramie (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich) Grown on Cadmium Contaminated Soil

ABSTRACTContinues phosphate fertilization as well as organic matter amendment can increase cadmium concentrationin soil and induce more cadmium uptake by plants. Pytoremediation using non edible plant such as ramie(Boehmeria nivea L. Goud) is cheap and effective method to extract Cd from Cd-contaminated soil. Since inplant tissue Cd is bound in phytochelatin peptide which contains nitrogen and sulphur, the objective of thisgreen house experiment was to assess the influence of nitrogen fertilizer in form of urea on cadmiumuptake, nitrogen and sulphur concentration in shoots as well as shoot dry weight of 60-day old ramiegrown in cadmium-contaminated soil. The experiment was set up in a Split Plot Design with two treatmentsand three replications. The main plot was cadmium levels (0, 10 and 15 mg kg-1) and subplot was urea level(0, 5.0 and 7.5 g pot-1). The result showed that the increase of cadmium concentration in soil enhanced itsconcentration in ramie shoot regardless of urea levels. However either cadmium or urea did not changesulphur concentration in ramie shoot. Urea of 7,5 g/pot increased shoot dry weight but adding CdCl2.H2O of15 mg/kg did not change shoot dry weight. This experiment demonstrated that ramie was able to grow inrelatively high level of soil cadmium, and higher cadmium uptake by ramie shoot was not followed by anincrease in nitrogen as well as sulphur uptake.Keywords: Cadmium, Urea, Nitrogen, Sulphur, Ramie.

Cadmium, copper, and lead accumulation and bioconcentration in the vegetative and reproductive organs of Raphanus sativus: implications for plant performance and pollination.

Several studies have found high levels of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) in honey bee hives located near urbanized or industrial areas. Insect herbivores and pollinators may come in contact with environmental contaminants in the leaves and flowers they forage upon in these areas. Our study quantified which of these metals are accumulated in the tissues of a common weedy plant that can serve as a route of exposure for insects. We grew Raphanus sativus (crop radish) in semi-hydroponic sand culture in the greenhouse. Plants were irrigated with nutrient solutions containing Cd, Cu, or Pb at four concentrations (control, low, medium, high). Plant performance, floral traits, and metal accumulation were measured in various vegetative and reproductive plant organs. Floral traits and flower number were unaffected by all metal treatments. Copper accumulated at the highest concentrations in flowers compared to the other two metals. Copper and Cd had the highest translocation indices, as well as higher bioconcentration factors compared to Pb, which was mostly immobile in the plant. Copper posed the highest risk due to its high mobility within the plant. In particular, accumulation of metals in leaves and flowers suggests that herbivores and pollinators visiting and foraging on these tissues may be exposed to these potentially toxic compounds.

Impact of soil cadmium on land snails: a two-stage exposure approach under semi-field conditions using bioaccumulative and conchological end-points of exposure.

Land snails are highly tolerant to cadmium exposure and are able to accumulate soil cadmium independently of food ingestion. However, little information exists on the kinetics of cadmium retention in terrestrial gastropods exposed to an increase in the soil cadmium content, over time. There is also little knowledge about how exposure to cadmium-polluted soils influences shell growth and architecture. In this context, we examined cadmium accumulation in the hepatopancreas and shell of juvenile Cantareus aspersus exposed to elevating high levels of cadmium in soil. Also, the toxicity of cadmium to snails was assessed using a range of conchological endpoints, including shell height, width, volume, allometry and integrity. Test snails, aged three months, were reared under semi-field conditions, fed an uncontaminated diet and exposed first, for a period of 30 days, to a series of soil cadmium concentrations, and then, for a second period of 30 days, to soils with higher cadmium content. Cadmium showed a dose-dependent accumulation in both the hepatopancreas and shell. The kinetics of cadmium retention in the hepatopancreas of snails previously exposed to cadmium-spiked soils was significantly influenced by a new exposure event. The shell was not a relevant bioaccumulator for soil cadmium. Under the present experimental conditions, only high cadmium exposure significantly affected either the shell growth or snail survival. There was no consistent effect on shell allometry, but the shell integrity, especially in rapidly growing parts, appeared to be affected by high cadmium exposure. Our results attest to the value of hepatopancreas for describing cadmium retention in land snails and to the difficulty of using conchological parameters in field surveys for estimating the environmental hazard of soil cadmium.

Chemical forms of cadmium in a calcareous soil treated with different levels of phosphorus-containing acidifying agents

Calcareous soils with high background cadmium (Cd) levels are widely distributed in south-west China and soil acidity is a major environmental problem. However, little effort has been made to study the changes in chemical speciation as affected by soil acidification other than by acidic rain. In the present study, we investigated the impact of mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) and phosphoric acid on soil pH and chemical transformation of Cd in calcareous soils. Calcareous soils collected from south-west China were treated with three concentrations (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mol kg–1 soil) of MAP and phosphoric acid, and without the addition of acidifying agent, before being incubated at 25 ± 2°C near field capacity moisture content for 60 days. The chemical forms of Cd in the soils were determined by the Tessier sequential extraction scheme. The concentration of Cd in the form bound to iron and manganese oxides (CdFeOx+MnOy) decreased significantly with increasing levels of the two acidifying agents, but the concentration of exchangeable Cd (CdEx) exhibited a significant increase, indicating that the two acidifying agents can effectively promote the transformation of CdFeOx+MnOy to CdEx. MAP may promote the same amount of CdFeOx+MnOy to CdEx as phosphoric acid at the same rate of addition, but the soil pH clearly differed, implying that an increase in water-soluble P with addition of acidifying agent may be one major factor affecting the chemical transformation of Cd. MAP and phosphoric acid should be used carefully as sources of water-soluble phosphorus for calcareous soils with high background concentrations of Cd.

Analysis of the content of cadmium and zinc in parts of the human hip joint.

Cadmium is an element with proven direct and indirect toxic effects on bones. Zinc affects the content of cadmium in the human body. These elements show antagonistic interactions. The aim of the research was to determine the levels of cadmium and zinc in the hip joint tissues and interactions between these elements. The study group consisted of 91 subjects, 66 women and 25 men. The tissues were obtained intraoperatively during hip endoprosthetic surgery. The levels of cadmium and zinc were assayed by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) method. The analysis of the content of cadmium and zinc in different parts of the hip joint, i.e., articular cartilage, cortical bone, and cancellous bone of the femoral head as well as the articular capsule and a fragment of the cancellous bone taken from the intertrochanteric region of the femoral bone showed significant differences. The cancellous bone was found to have the highest potential to accumulate the elements studied, whereas part of the articular capsule the lowest. Higher levels of cadmium and zinc were observed in samples obtained from men. Patients with bone fractures had higher cadmium content than those with osteoarthritis. The study on the content of cadmium and zinc in the tissues of the hip joint is one of the primary research biomonitoring.