High Concentrations Of Lead Research Articles

Nerium oleander L. as a Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals in Diyala Governorate – Iraq

The study samples were collected during the months of April and May 2022, samples were collected from different regions in Diyala Governorate – Iraq. The study aimed to assess the role of oleander plant in the phytoremediation of heavy metals (lead , cadmium , arsenic and selenium) within Diyala Governorate by estimating their concentration in the leaves of the plant and the soil on which it grows as well as calculating the bioaccumulation factor (BAF). Al-Muqdadiyah Industrial area was one of the most polluted areas with lead, the highest concentration of lead appeared in the leaves of the oleander plant grown in this area, as well as the soil on which it grows (2.452 and 0.904 ) ppm respectively. The highest concentration of cadmium was recorded for oleander leaves in the old city of Baqubah (2.208ppm), while the highest concentration appeared in the soil on which it grows in the Al-Muqdadiyah Industrial area (0.363ppm). The Al-Muqdadiya industrial area also recorded the highest concentration of arsenic in the leaves of the oleander plant ( 0.559 ppm) ,but the highest concentration in the soil on which it grows was in the central city of Al-Muqdadiyah (0.218ppm) , followed by the industrial city off Al-Muqdadiyah.( 0.132ppm) . The highest concentration of selenium appeared in the industrial city of Al-Muqdadiya in both the leaves of the oleander plant and the soil on which it grows (0.441 and 0.104) ppm. The value of the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) shows the efficiency of the oleander plant in the phytoremediation of cadmium, followed by lead, arsenic and selenium in varying proportions. Keywords : Phytoremediation , Neium oleander , Heavy metals DOI: 10.7176/JEES/12-9-04 Publication date: September 30 th 2022

Assessment of Lead and Cadmium Concentrations in Raw Cow Milk from Farms near Namanve Industrial Park in Kira Division, Wakiso District, Uganda

Lead and Cadmium concentrations were analysed in raw cow milk samples collected from smallholder zero grazing households near Namanve Industrial Park in Kira Division in Wakiso district near Kampala city, Uganda. The concentration of heavy metals in milk was tested with atomic absorption spectrophotometry using the Perkin Elmer AAA Model 2380 after acid digestion. The overall mean concentration of lead and cadmium was 0.01 and 0.0083 mg/kg respectively. Of the three wards, Bweyogerere had the highest lead concentration (0.014mg/kg) and cadmium (0.011mg/kg). Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test of the mean concentrations of lead between and within wards showed significant differences (F = 10.85, P < 0.05) and the findings were similar for cadmium (F=4.77, P < 0.05). Multiple comparison tests (Bonferroni) showed Bweyogerere raw milk had significantly higher lead concentration than milk from Kireka (P=0.008) and milk from Kirinya (P < 0.0001) and also significantly higher cadmium concentration than milk from Kirinya (P = 0.0009). Mean concentration of each metal residue was below the recommended minimum hazardous intake in diet as per Codex/Uganda National Bureau of Standards at 0.02 mg/kg for both lead and cadmium. Therefore, milk from cows reared around Namanve presents no public health-related lead and cadmium hazards.

GEOPHAGIC CLAY PREDOMINANCE AND ITS POSSIBLE HEALTH IMPLICATIONS IN THE SOUTH-EAST REGION OF NIGERIA

Geophagy has been a common practice especially in the Southern part of Nigeria and some parts of the world at large. They are earthy/clay materials eaten as food supplements and also adopted for medical purposes. Hence, they are bound to contain trace metal contents that may be harmful to human health which is a great cause for concern among health workers in this modern age. Therefore, geophagic clays from Amawom- Ikwanoin Abia province, South-eastern Nigeria were examined and evaluated for their heavy metal concentration to deduce their quality and possible health implication that is associated with their consumption. Edible clay from south eastern Nigeria was analysed with X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Inductively Couple Plasma Mass-Spectrometry (ICP-MS) revealing quartz (SiO2), kaolinite (Al2Si2O5(OH)4, goethite (FeOH) and pyrite (FeS2) as the predominant minerals while SEM revealed clay flaky structure specifying an alumino-silicate with sulfur and carbon as impurities. The clay’s pH ranges between 3.36 and 4.57, E.C from 52-399 μs/cm revealed its high acidity and signified high ionic contents in the edible clays. The soil Organic Carbon 0.1-5.83% may possibly indicate absorption and retention of contaminants. High concentrations ppm for Cu(19.91), Pb(13.15), Zn(18.4), Ni(5.8), As(9.15) and Hg(126.0) in the clay exceeded the WHO and USEPA recommended dietary intake by humans signifying its likely toxicity. Other associated carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic diseases that could be connected to the high concentrations of mercury, chromium, arsenic, lead and nickel in the edible clay structure which may likely camouflage the taunt and healing properties of kaolinite include renal, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hepatic, immune, reproductive and dermal systems. For this reason, continuous ingestion of edible clay may lead to bio-accumulation of mercury, chromium, arsenic, lead and nickel in the inhabitants of Amawom, hence, posing serious health challenges that may lead to death.

Lead levels of new solvent-based household paints in Zimbabwe and Botswana: A preliminary study.

BackgroundLead paint remains a major potential source of lead poisoning globally, but there has been no documentation on lead content in solvent paints available on the markets in Zimbabwe and Botswana.AimTo determine the lead content of solvent-based paints available on the market in Zimbabwe and Botswana and identify a need for a larger study to inform policy.MethodsThis pilot study was conducted in Harare, Zimbabwe, and Gaborone, Botswana. Popular brands of solvent-based household paints were bought from hardware shops in Harare (10 samples) and Gaborone (19 samples). Samples were analysed for lead content using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry.ResultsSeventy percent of samples from Zimbabwe were found to contain lead above 90 parts per million (ppm), the recommended regulatory limit, with ranges from less than 60 ppm to 12 000 ppm. Twenty percent of Zimbabwean samples had lead levels above 10 000 ppm. No samples from Botswana had lead concentration above the detection limit, with all levels below 100 ppm.Lesson LearntData strongly suggest very high lead content in popular brands of solvent paints in Zimbabwe, indicating a need for a larger, well-designed study for policy direction.

The Analysis of Red Lead Endsheets in Rare Books from the Fung Ping Shan Library at the University of Hong Kong

Stored under optimal conditions, paper can last for hundreds of years; however, paper is also susceptible to numerous agents of deterioration as it is primarily made of cellulose fibre derived from plant cell walls. Paper is especially vulnerable under conditions with high temperature and humidity, which together can encourage mould growth and foster insect pests. Pest infestation is a common type of deterioration responsible for significant damage to paper and books. Endsheets prepared with red lead and sewn into traditional Chinese bookbindings are a historical method used to minimise insect damage to books in southern China. Samples of red-coloured papers from the Fung Ping Shan Library at the University of Hong Kong were assessed. Two types of so called wan nian hong papers (萬年紅紙), (1) damaged and (2) undamaged by insects, were analysed with a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence detector. The chemical analyses reveal high concentrations of red lead (lead tetroxide, Pb3O4) in the undamaged papers, and only very few traces of lead in the damaged papers. The orange papers with insect feeding tunnels seem to have been only coloured in orange, and not treated with red lead as a biocide. These results are discussed and compared with modern treatment methods in the integrated pest management of books, archive, and library materials in (a) Europe and (b) Asia.

Exposure to multiple metals and diabetes mellitus risk in dong ethnicity in China: from the China multi-ethnic cohort study.

Metals play an important role in the development of diabetes mellitus (DM). The association of metals with diabetes among the Dong ethnicity in China remains poorly understood. The current study aimed to evaluate the association of single metal exposure and multi-metal co-exposure with DM risk. Urinary concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, strontium, vanadium, and zinc were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) among 4479 Dong ethnic participants aged 30-79years from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) study. Based on tertiles, the metal exposure can be divided into three groups: low, middle, and high exposure. Multivariate logistic regression models and principal component analysis were performed to determine exposure to single-metal and multi-metal co-exposure in relation to DM. A decrease in risk of DM was associated with iron (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.61-1.00 and 0.68, 0.53-0.88 for the middle and high vs. low) and strontium (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.69-1.12 and 0.67, 0.51-0.86 for the middle and high vs. low), respectively. A principal component 3 (PC3) characterized by iron and strontium showed an inverse association with DM. A principal component 4 (PC4) characterized by manganese and lead positively associated with DM. Exposure to high concentrations of urinary iron and strontium may reduce the risk of diabetes mellitus. This study revealed an increase in the risk of diabetes mellitus by co-exposure to high concentrations of urinary manganese and lead.

Tolerance and Heavy Metal Accumulation Characteristics of Sasa argenteostriata (Regel) E.G. Camus under Zinc Single Stress and Combined Lead–Zinc Stress

Sasa argenteostriata (Regel) E.G. Camus is a gramineous plant with the potential for phytoremediation. In this study, we aimed to determine its tolerance to zinc stress and combined lead–zinc stress and the effect of zinc on its absorption and accumulation characteristics of lead. The results showed that S. argenteostriata had good tolerance to zinc stress, and S. argenteostriata was not significantly damaged when the zinc stress concentration was 600 mg/L. Under both zinc stress and combined lead–zinc stress, the root was the main organ that accumulated heavy metals in S. argenteostriata. The presence of zinc promoted the absorption of lead by the root of S. argenteostriata, and the lead content in the root under PZ1, PZ2, PZ3 and PZ4 treatments was 2.15, 4.31, 4.47 and 6.01 times that of PZ0 on the 20 days. In the combined lead–zinc stress treatments, the toxicity of heavy metals to S. argenteostriata was mainly caused by lead. Under high concentrations of combined lead–zinc stress (PZ4), the proportion of zinc in the leaf of S. argenteostriata on the 20 days increased, which was used as a tolerance strategy to alleviate the toxicity of lead.

High Concentrations of Uranium, Barium, and Lead in Cancer Patients and Healthy Controls in the Malwa Region of Punjab, India

Abstract Background: Anthropogenic risk factors contribute worldwide to an unfavorable environmental situation, which in the population can lead to cancer and other environmental-related diseases. Heavy metals accumulate in tissues and affect human health. Objectives: This review evaluates data for the possible role of uranium (U), barium (Ba), and lead (Pb) in the cancer development in people living in the Malwa Region of Punjab, India. Methods: A literature search was performed using the databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Publications in English were included. Preference was given to studies of high methodological quality (systematic reviews and surveys of studies of various designs). The results of cross-sectional studies were taken into account. Discussion: A study has shown that cancer patients in the Malwa region of Punjab, India have unexpectedly high concentrations of U, Ba, and Pb in hair. We hypothesize that higher hair concentrations of U and other bone-seeking elements in hair of cancer patients may be due to the release of these elements from the skeleton, partly because of the patients age (following the menopause in women) and partly due to disease factors such as bed rest, bone metastases, and enhanced glucocorticoid secretion. Conclusions: Further research is needed to distinguish the effect of age on bone-seeking elements from real disease associations, regardless of the relationship with the pathology is a causal one or not.

Ricinus communis: An Efficient Biological Tool for Heavy Metal Removal from Contaminated Soil

Heavy metal contamination often occurs when there is an abnormal discharge of metal in the environment. This is caused mainly by human activities such as agriculture, mining and industrialization. When this heavy metal gets into the environment, it adversely affects plants, humans and aquatic biodiversity. Conventional treatment methods have been applied extensively, hence these methods are inefficient and expensive to carry out. This study was conducted to assess whether castor plants could be able to absorb heavy metal actively from the soil. Metal ions determined are lead and copper at different concentrations of 1.5, 2 and 2.5 g/dm3. The soil located at Gombe State University Botanical Garden was used for the cultivation of the plant. Acid digestion and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy were used for metal determination. The results of the study showed that Copper and Lead were absorbed the highest in the leaves than in stem and root by the absorption efficiency of 100, 91 and 87% respectively. The plant leaves and roots accumulate high Lead content of 2.661, 2.43, in the root, 1.26, 1.52, and 0.031, 0.3 in the stem for both lead and copper respectively. Results of translocation factor revealed the highest absorption of metal from Root to stem of 1.83, 1.98, and the least was 0.36, 0.34, for copper and lead respectively.

Physicochemical Analysis of Potable Water in Baham Community, Western Region of Cameroon

Safe and easily accessible water is important for community health. This paper presents the physicochemical analysis of water in Baham community, western region of Cameroon by collecting water samples from boreholes, well and stream. Physiochemical analysis using gravimetric and titrimetric methods were carried out on the collected samples and they were analysed based on their temperature, pH, colour, odour, total dissolved solid (TDS) and total suspended solid (TSS), sulphate, lead and chloride concentration as well as acidity and alkalinity. The results showed low pH values between 5.39 and 6.11 for all samples, an average temperature of 20°C, agreeable colour and odour for all samples but for the stream, which had colour, odour, very low TDS between 10-20 mg/l, TSS between 10 and 50 mg/l, acceptable for all but the stream and well samples which had a concentration of 30mg/l and 50mg/l respectively, very low chloride concentration level of 8-23 mg/l compared to WHO’s recommended 250 mg/l, very high sulphate contents of 246.9-493.8 mg/l and lead concentrations of 0.27-0.30 mg/l which is about 5 times the recommended 0.05 mg/l WHO permissible limit. The results showed high acidity (60-110 mg/l) and alkalinity (50-150 mg/l) values which fall within acceptable limits. From the results above, it was concluded that the quality of water in Baham is not fit for consumption according to WHO standards. It is acidic, lacks essential minerals, not properly disinfected and has disturbingly high lead concentrations.

Study of the composition of glasses produced at the Zhabinsky factory in the first third of the 18<sup>th</sup> century

The results of studying the composition of glasses from the site of the Zhabinsky factory, one of the first Russian glass factories founded in the north-west of Russia, are presented. More than 200 samples of historical glass fragments of dishes, as well as the remains of glass on the walls of melting pots were studied using X-ray fluorescence analysis. The data obtained made it possible to classify glasses depending on the recipe and the raw materials used in their production. The reliability of the determination of the compositions was confirmed on randomly selected samples by the ICP AES method. The presence of cobalt impurities was qualitatively determined from the characteristic bands in the absorption spectra of the visible region. The main group of finds is represented by potash-calcium glass obtained using plant ash (ash glass) or purified potash (potash glass). A separate group includes potash-lime glasses obtained through addition of lime to the batch. The nature of the coloration of the studied glasses with iron (+2), iron (+3), cobalt (+2), and also due to the charge transfer iron (+3) — sulfur (–2) is discussed. Potassium-lead glasses with a high lead content found at the site of the plant serve as an example of the first Russian colorless lead crystal. The results represent the first systematic study of the composition of glass produced in Russia in the time of Peter the Great. A comparative analysis of the compositions of glasses from the Zhabinsky and Lavinsky factories has been carried out.

Accumulation and response to stress in climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) on exposure to high concentrations of lead and cadmium in water

In this study, lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were used as chemical stressors. Healthy A. testudineus were exposed to Pb (20, 30, and 40 mg/L) and Cd (3, 5, and 10 mg/L) for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days to assess the response of A. testudineus elicited by these metals. The tendency of Pb and Cd accumulation in the tissues of A. testudineus was as follows: gill >> liver > muscle for Pb and liver >> gill > muscle for Cd. Endocrine stress response was characterized by varying the levels of cortisol and glucose plasma. Exposure to both Pb and Cd caused significantly increase levels of plasma cortisol (p < 0.05), while blood glucose levels slightly increased at the beginning and then decreased sharply. Based on the erratic changes in levels of plasma cortisol and blood glucose, it can be concluded that exposure to high concentrations of Pb and Cd does not cause death; however, it adversely affects the interrenal and pancreatic activities of A. testudineus. Biochemical changes can be used as biomarkers for stress assessment and management in fish.

Influence of “Metisevit Plus” feed additive on morphological and biochemical parameters of bull blood under conditions of lead-cadmium loading

In the conditions of modern man-caused pollution of the environment, environmental problems, as well as improving the quality of livestock products and their food safety, are important and relevant issues today. The study aimed to investigate the effect of the “Metisevit Plus” feed additive on bull blood's morphological and biochemical parameters under lead-cadmium loading conditions. The research was conducted based on the agricultural private enterprise “Ukraine” of Dubrovytsia district of Rivne region on 12 bulls of six months of age, Ukrainian black-and-white dairy breed, which was formed into two groups of 6 animals each. The bulls of the control group were on a standard diet. The bulls of the experimental group were fed the feed additive “Metisevit Plus” at a dose of 0.5 g/kg of feed. This farm has a high content of lead and cadmium in feed. According to the results of experimental studies, it was found that the feed additive “Metisevit Plus” is effective under lead-cadmium load in bulls. Administration of this feed additive to experimental animals helps restore their suppressed hematopoietic function; the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in their blood increased by 25.3 and 19.4 %, and the number of leukocytes decreased by 12.4 %, respectively. Metisevit Plus feed additive also enhanced the functional state and protein-synthesizing function of the liver of bulls under artificial conditions. When feeding the feed additive “Metisevit Plus”, a decrease in the activity of both alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in the serum of bulls of the experimental group was found. On day 40 of the experiment, it was found that the activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase in the serum of bulls of the experimental group fluctuated within physiological values. When a “Metisevit-Plus” feed additive is added to the diet, there is a tendency to increase the total protein level in bulls of the experimental group. In the study of the albumin level in the blood of bulls of the experimental group, its probable increase was found starting from the 10th day of the experiment. On the 30th and 40th day of the experiment, the albumin level in the blood of bulls in the experimental group was the highest, whereas compared to the control group, it increased by 15.4 and 17.0 %, respectively. Our studies confirm the feasibility of using the feed additive “Metisevit Plus” to prevent lead-cadmium toxicosis.

High‐Entropy Cs(Pb1/3Mn1/3Ni1/3)Br3 Perovskite Nanocrystals Prepared by High Energy Ball Milling and their Luminescence Properties

AbstractAll‐inorganic perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have been widely used in many fields due to their excellent photoelectric properties. However, the instability of their structure and the high lead content need to be solved. Herein, the concept of “High‐entropy” is introduced into NCs to prepare High‐entropy perovskite Cs(Pb1/3Mn1/3Ni1/3)Br3 NCs by high‐energy ball milling method. The effects of milling time and doping ratio of B‐site elements on the structure and performance of perovskite NCs are studied. It is found that Mn2+ and Ni2+ successfully enter the lattice of Pb2+ to form “High‐entropy” perovskite NCs. In addition, compared with Cs(Pb0.72Mn0.14Ni0.14)Br3 NCs, Cs(Pb1/3Mn1/3Ni1/3)Br3 NCs have greater luminous intensity and stability, which because of the enhancement of band gap and valence bonds. Furthermore, photoluminescence intensity at 515 nm increase obviously when Cs(Pb1/3Mn1/3Ni1/3)Br3 NCs are heated at 120 °C. This is due to the lattice distortion effect brought about by ion doping. This study is expected to provide an effective way for synthesis and stability of all‐inorganic perovskite NCs doped with more kinds of different ions. Moreover, it also lays the foundation for the introduction of “High‐entropy” into perovskite functional ceramics.

Biochar, Ochre, and Manure Maturation in an Acidic Technosol Helps Stabilize As and Pb in Soil and Allows Its Vegetation by Salix triandra

Past mining extraction activities still have a negative impact in the present time, the resulting metal(loid) contaminated soils affecting both the environment and human health. Assisted phytostabilization technology, combining soil conditioner application to immobilize metal(loid)s and plant growth to reduce erosion and leaching risks, is a useful strategy in the restoration of metal(loid) contaminated lands. However, contaminants will respond differently to a particular amendment, having their own specific characteristics. Therefore, in multi-contaminated soils, soil conditioner combination has been suggested as a good strategy for metal(loid) immobilization. In the present study, in a mesocosm experiment, organic (biochar and manure) and inorganic (ochre) amendments were evaluated in single and combined applications for their effect on metal(loid) stabilization and Salix triandra growth improvement, in an arsenic and lead highly contaminated soil. Specifically, the effects of these amendments on soil properties, metal(loid) behavior, and plant growth were evaluated after they aged in the soil for 6 months. Results showed that all amendments, except biochar alone, could reduce soil acidity, with the best outcomes obtained with the three amendments combined. The combination of the three soil conditioners has also led to reducing soil lead availability. However, only ochre, alone or combined with the other soil fertilizers, was capable of immobilizing arsenic. Moreover, amendment application enhanced plant growth, without affecting arsenic accumulation. On the contrary, plants grown on all the amended soils, except plants grown on soil added with manure alone, showed higher lead concentration in leaves, which poses a risk of return of lead into the soil when leaves will shed in autumn. Considering that the best plant growth improvement, together with the lowest increase in lead aerial accumulation, was observed in manure-treated soil, the addition of manure seems to have potential in the restoration of arsenic and lead contaminated soil.

High impact tungsten-doped borosilicate glass composite for gamma and neutron transparent radiation shielding

The preparation of transparent glass composites with enhanced shielding parameters is aimed at by all researchers in the radiation shielding field. In the current study, a novel tungsten-doped borosilicate glass composite with 1–5 mol % was prepared by means of melt quenching method at 1100 °C. Using both X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), the amorphous nature and the influence of W+3 ions were examined, respectively. Gamma shielding parameters, such as the coefficients of mass attenuation, the Exposure Build-up Factors (EBF) up to 40 mfp penetration depth, the effective atomic number (Zeff), and the equivalent atomic number (Zeq) at the energy range 0.015–15 MeV were investigated. Additionally, the fast neutron removal cross-sections had been determined. The obtained results indicated that with low tungsten concentrations: 1–5 mol %, the prepared glass composite has gamma attenuation capability equivalent to those previously obtained with higher concentrations of lead or bismuth and barium doping and lower EBF. These results nominated the prepared glass composite for use in gamma and neutron shielding applications, especially those requiring transparent shielding, like radiation therapy monitoring rooms.

Role of Ape1 in Impaired DNA Repair Capacity in Battery Recycling Plant Workers Exposed to Lead.

Exposure to lead in environmental and occupational settings continues to be a serious public health problem. At environmentally relevant doses, two mechanisms may underlie lead exposition-induced genotoxicity, disruption of the redox balance and an interference with DNA repair systems. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ability of lead exposition to induce impaired function of Ape1 and its impact on DNA repair capacity of workers chronically exposed to lead in a battery recycling plant. Our study included 53 participants, 37 lead exposed workers and 16 non-lead exposed workers. Lead intoxication was characterized by high blood lead concentration, high lipid peroxidation and low activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALAD). Relevantly, we found a loss of DNA repair capacity related with down-regulation of a set of specific DNA repair genes, showing specifically, for the first time, the role of Ape1 down regulation at transcriptional and protein levels in workers exposed to lead. Additionally, using a functional assay we found an impaired function of Ape1 that correlates with high blood lead concentration and lipid peroxidation. Taken together, these data suggest that occupational exposure to lead could decrease DNA repair capacity, inhibiting the function of Ape1, as well other repair genes through the regulation of the ZF-transcription factor, promoting the genomic instability.

Responses of the copepod Eurytemora affinis to trace metal exposure: A candidate for sentinel to marine sediment resuspension effects

Our study reports the ability of Eurytemora affinis to indicate certain responses in 96 h when exposed to resuspended sediment from a polluted site (PS, Seine estuary, France), less polluted site (LPS, Canche estuary, France) and dissolved trace metals. Mortality from dissolved trace metal was highest (57.5 %) followed by PS (38.59 %) > LPS (24.04 %). The exposure to PS sediment resulted in significantly lower no. of early larval stage (nauplii < 2), sex-ratio (39.24 % of males) and higher ovigerous female (>10). Eurytemora affinis bioaccumulated high concentrations of copper (27.3 mg/kg), nickel (12.8 mg/kg), lead (21.8 mg/kg) and arsenic (13.7 mg/kg) from PS exposure with significantly lower bioaccumulation of metals from LPS. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) was highest from dissolved toxicity (>2000) followed by PS that showed significantly higher BCF for Nickel and Copper, compared to LPS. The responses of E. affinis to different matrices exemplify its role as a sentinel.

Effect of food processing method on heavy metals

The problem of high content of heavy metals in food has spread broadly over the world. The presented study suggests the minimization of heavy metal content in processed food due to different applied techniques such as the frying, boiling, steaming and sous-vide. Three main food products were chosen for investigation – Daucus carota subsp. Sativus (carrot), Solanum tuberosum (potato) and Allium cepa (onion). The concentration of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Mn, Cd, Cu) was determined in samples investigated by atomic-absorption spectrometer. The health risk index (HRI) was calculated based on obtained data. In all investigated samples, high concentration of lead was identified among the heavy metals. The highest concentration of zinc, lead and manganese was determined in boiled Daucus carota subsp. Sativus, cadmium – in sous - vide Daucus carota subsp. Sativus, copper – in steamed Daucus carota subsp. Sativus. HRI values of cadmium for Solanum tuberosum samples were ranged from 6.8 to 7.1 and for lead are ranged between 3.4 and 4.9.

Land use, season, and parasitism predict metal concentrations in Australian flying fox fur

Urban-living wildlife can be exposed to metal contaminants dispersed into the environment through industrial, residential, and agricultural applications. Metal exposure carries lethal and sublethal consequences for animals; in particular, heavy metals (e.g. arsenic, lead, mercury) can damage organs and act as carcinogens. Many bat species reside and forage in human-modified habitats and could be exposed to contaminants in air, water, and food. We quantified metal concentrations in fur samples from three flying fox species (Pteropus fruit bats) captured at eight sites in eastern Australia. For subsets of bats, we assessed ectoparasite burden, haemoparasite infection, and viral infection, and performed white blood cell differential counts. We examined relationships among metal concentrations, environmental predictors (season, land use surrounding capture site), and individual predictors (species, sex, age, body condition, parasitism, neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio). As expected, bats captured at sites with greater human impact had higher metal loads. At one site with seasonal sampling, bats had higher metal concentrations in winter than in summer, possibly owing to changes in food availability and foraging. Relationships between ectoparasites and metal concentrations were mixed, suggesting multiple causal mechanisms. There was no association between overall metal load and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio, but mercury concentrations were positively correlated with this ratio, which is associated with stress in other vertebrate taxa. Comparison of our findings to those of previous flying fox studies revealed potentially harmful levels of several metals; in particular, endangered spectacled flying foxes (P. conspicillatus) exhibited high concentrations of cadmium and lead. Because some bats harbor pathogens transmissible to humans and animals, future research should explore interactions between metal exposure, immunity, and infection to assess consequences for bat and human health.