High Concentrations Of Cadmium Research Articles

Tissue distribution of cadmium and its effect on reproduction in Spodoptera exigua

Vegetable fields are often contaminated by heavy metals, and Spodoptera exigua is a major vegetable pest which is stressed by heavy metals mainly by feeding. In this study, cadmium accumulation in the tissues of S. exigua exposed to cadmium and its effects on the growth and development of the parents and the offspring were investigated. Under the stress of different concentrations of cadmium (0.2, 3.2, and 51.2 mg kg–1), the cadmium content in each tissue of S. exigua increased in a dose-dependent manner. At the larval stage, the highest cadmium accumulation was found in midgut in all three cadmium treatments, but at the adult stage, the highest cadmium content was found in fat body. In addition, the cadmium content in ovaries was much higher than in testes. When F1S. exigua was stressed by cadmium and the F2 generation was not fed a cadmium-containing diet, the larval survival, pupation rate, emergence rate and fecundity of the F2 generation were significantly reduced in the 51.2 mg kg–1 treatment compared to the corresponding F1 generation. Even in the F2 generation of the 3.2 mg kg–1 treatment, the fecundity was significantly lower than in the parental generation. The fecundity of the only-female stressed treatment was significantly lower than that of the only-male stressed treatment at the 3.2 and 51.2 mg kg–1 cadmium exposure levels. When only mothers were stressed at the larval stage, the fecundity of the F2 generation was significantly lower than that of the F1 generation in the 51.2 mg kg–1 treatment, and it was also significantly lower than in the 3.2 and 0.2 mg kg–1 treatments. The results of our study can provide useful information for forecasting the population increase trends under different heavy metal stress conditions and for the reliable environmental risk assessment of heavy metal pollution.

Some Heavy metals measurements (Cadmium, Copper, and Zinc) in the tissues of common carp Cyprinus carpioL . 1758 farmed in floating cages in the Euphrates River.

The current study examined the concentrations of three heavy metals (cadmium, copper, and zinc) in the tissues of common carp fish. (gills-musclesintestines) collected from one of the private farms that raised fish in floating cages in the Euphrates River from 18/10/2021 to 18/3/2022. Every month, water samples were analyzed, as were fish tissue samples. Using an atomic absorption spectroscopy device, standard procedures were followed to assess the concentration of heavy metals in water and tissues. The results showed that the highest concentration of zinc, cadmium, and copper was detected in the water during the winter season, reaching (125.5-31.95-1.37) MKgm/L. The highest concentrations of cadmium in tissues were found in the autumn season for gills and muscles (1.58-0.81) mkgm/L dry weight, and the highest concentration in tissues (0.80) mkgm/L dry weight in the winter. The highest concentrations of copper were found in the gills and muscles, followed by the intestines. Where concentrations are at their highest in the autumn season (11-9.89, 12.31) mkgm/gm dry weight. As for zinc was found in high concentrations in the gills, intestines, and muscles, with the highest concentrations recorded in the autumn season (81.6-85-93 – 112) mkgm/gm dry weight. The results revealed that heavy metal accumulation occurred in the following pattern: Concentrations in water: cadmium <copper<zinc, while in tissues, the arrangement was as follows: Cadmium – gills – muscles – intestines – copper. Gills – muscles – intestines Zinc – gills – intestines – muscles. Keywords: Heavy metals, Cadmium, Copper, Zinc, common carp, Cyprinus carpio L.

The deteriorating effects of cadmium accumulation on the yield and quality of maize crops

Food security is critical for survival but increasing heavy metal particularly cadmium concentration in the environment due to human activity poses a threat to both plants and animals. The experiment was designed to investigate the potential impact of varying concentrations of cadmium on the growth, metabolites, and accumulation of cadmium in the edible portion of maize. The objective was to gain scientific insights into the relationship between cadmium exposure and maize physiology, biochemistry, and accumulation of the heavy metal. Significant reduction was recorded in the agronomic attributes including root shoot length, fresh and dry weight and chlorophyll contents of the maize (p < 0.05). Higher level of cadmium imposes destruction of the antioxidant defense system of the host indicated by the lower catalases activity (92% reduction). Along with this, growth and stress related metabolites like IAA, salicylic acid, proteins, lipid and sugar contents decreased approximately by 50% at the lowest concentration while reaching 70 to 77% at the highest concentration of cadmium. Interestingly, plants exposed to cadmium for 60-days duration approximately 20 to 25 mg/kg of cadmium was accumulated in plants parts of which most of the cadmium (50% or higher) were translocated to the shoot of the host plants. This data also showed that the maximum concentration of cadmium is accumulated in the stem, followed by the leaf, and then the seed. The concentration of cadmium in seeds varies from 2 to 4 mg/kg, which is a highly prohibited amount of cadmium in food for human consumption.

Intronic microRNA-directed regulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species enhances plant stress tolerance in Arabidopsis.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in regulating plant development and stress responses. However, the functions and mechanism of intronic miRNAs in plants are poorly understood. This study reports a stress-responsive RNA splicing mechanism for intronic miR400 production, whereby miR400 modulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and improves plant tolerance by downregulating its target expression. To monitor the intron splicing events, we used an intronic miR400 splicing-dependent luciferase transgenic line. Luciferase activity was observed to decrease after high cadmium concentration treatment due to the retention of the miR400-containing intron, which inhibited the production of mature miR400. Furthermore, we demonstrated that under Cd treatments, Pentatricopeptide Repeat Protein 1 (PPR1), the target of miR400, acts as a positive regulator by inducing ROS accumulation. Ppr1 mutation affected the Complex III activity in the electron transport chain and RNA editing of the mitochondrial gene ccmB. This study illustrates intron splicing as a key step in intronic miR400 production and highlights the function of intronic miRNAs as a 'signal transducer' in enhancing plant stress tolerance.

Assessment of the Hydrophysical and Hydrochemical Characteristics of Lake Burabay (Akmola Region, North Kazakhstan)

This paper shows the results of a study on the morphometric, hydrophysical, and hydrochemical indicators of Lake Burabay, North Kazakhstan. The Burabay Protected Area, also known as Burabay National Park or Kokshetau National Park, is a protected natural area located in the north of Kazakhstan. It encompasses a diverse landscape characterized by lakes, forests, and unique rock formations. This analysis includes an eco-toxicological assessment of the hydrochemical composition of waters and benthal deposits by studying the content of metals. The degree of mineralization, ionic composition of water, hydrogen index, pollution index, and water quality class were also determined. Reductions in the area and depth of the lake were identified. The pollution index is 1.5–1.7, which belongs to class 3—moderately polluted. Relatively high concentrations of cadmium, nickel, copper, and arsenic were found in the lake sediments. Therefore, Lake Burabay and its surrounding ecosystem face certain environmental risks and potential water pollution. Although the increase in the number of tourists did not have a significant impact on the water pollution index in Lake Burabay, some of the common threats that impact the area are induced by touristic development, agricultural practices and industrial pollution. Significant efforts should be made to reduce these risks using the environmental indicators as a reference for control environmental quality.

Evaluation of Heavy Metals Concentration in Poultry Feed and Poultry Products

The study was conducted to determine absorption of essential and non- essential trace minerals from poultry feed to poultry products. Poultry feed, liver, muscles and egg samples were collected from six poultry farms of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium and Iron were analysed in the samples using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrophotometer. Iron, Lead and Chromium exceeded the permissible limits set by World Health Organization and National Research Council in Poultry feed. Lead was high in liver, breast muscles, thigh muscles, egg albumen and egg yolk. Chromium was found in feed, egg yolk, egg albumen and two (02) of the liver and breast muscle samples. Mercury was not detected in any of the samples. Liver contains significantly higher concentration of detected heavy metals as compared to thigh and breast muscles and egg yolk contained significantly high concentrations of Iron, Cadmium and Lead as compared to egg albumen. Standards requirements for feed manufacturers and poultry farmers should be maintained to monitor and mitigate routes of entry of contaminants in the food chain.

Differences in nutrient and undesirable substance concentrations in Maurolicus muelleri across the Bay of Biscay, Norwegian fjords, and the North Sea

IntroductionWe are having pressing issues of global food insecurity and malnutrition. Mesopelagic communities in the North Atlantic have been estimated to have high biomasses of organisms. Some of these low-trophic organisms are known to be nutrient-dense and may thus contribute to food security and nutrition. Here, we aim to understand the variation in nutrient and undesirable substance concentrations in a common mesopelagic species, Maurolicus muelleri in the North Atlantic Ocean.MethodsWe sampled the M. muelleri from the Bay of Biscay (BB), Norwegian fjords (NF), and the North Sea (NS). The concentrations of micro- and macronutrients, undesirable metals, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were measured in composite whole fish samples.ResultsWe found no difference across the sampling areas in the selected micronutrients except that the NF and NS samples had higher vitamin A1 concentrations than the BB samples. The NF samples had higher concentrations of fat, fatty acids, and POPs but lower concentrations of cadmium than the BB and NS samples; the differences in fat and fatty acids were only marginal in the NF-BB pair. The BB samples had lower arsenic concentrations than the NS samples, and lower concentrations of erucic acid and mercury than the NF and NS samples. Comparing the measured values against existing EU regulation values for nutrients and undesirable substances for human consumption, we found that the samples from NS and BB may cause food safety concerns due to their high cadmium concentrations, while the M. muelleri from all the sampling areas are qualified as good sources of iron, selenium, vitamin A1, and ω-3 fatty acids.DiscussionThis study confirms that M. muelleri from the North Atlantic Ocean may play an important role in food security and nutrition. However, potential variations in nutrient and undesirable substance concentrations related to seasonality, fish body size, and maturity level shall be taken into consideration prior to exploiting such a marine resource. Further understanding of trophic ecology, life cycles, and productivity of M. muelleri is essential to investigate the drivers behind the observed variation in nutrient and undesirable substance concentrations.

Evaluation of Heavy Metals Concentration in Poultry Feed and Poultry Products

The study was conducted to determine the absorption of essential and non-essential trace minerals from poultry feed to poultry products. Poultry feed, liver, muscles, and egg samples were collected from six poultry farms in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, and Iron were analyzed in the samples using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrophotometer. Iron, Lead, and Chromium exceeded the permissible limits set by World Health Organization and National Research Council in Poultry feed. Lead was high in the liver, breast muscles, thigh muscles, egg albumen, and egg yolk. Chromium was found in feed, egg yolk, egg albumen, and two (02) of the liver and breast muscle samples. Mercury was not detected in any of the samples. The liver contains significantly higher concentrations of detected heavy metals as compared to thigh and breast muscles and egg yolk contained significantly high concentrations of Iron, Cadmium, and Lead as compared to egg albumen. Standards requirements for feed manufacturers and poultry farmers should be maintained to monitor and mitigate routes of entry of contaminants in the food chain.

Geochemical and Microbiological Composition of Soils and Tailings Surrounding the Komsomolsk Tailings, Kemerovo Region, Russia

Microorganisms have the potential to address environmental pollution, but the interaction mechanism between microorganisms and mine tailings is not well understood. This work was aimed at determining the bacterial isolates in soils and mine tailings and evaluating the distribution of metals, antimony (Sb), and arsenic (As) in the soils around the Komsomolsk tailings. Areas with high concentrations of As, Sb, cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) were found. Assessment based on the value of the contamination factor (CF) indicated large-scale As, Sb, Pb, Cd, iron (Fe), bismuth (Bi), and beryllium (Be) pollution, especially in soils sampled from the northeast direction of the mine tailings. Soils had a higher number of CFUs per g of dry weight than did the tailings, ranging from 84 × 106 to 3.1 × 109 and from 20 × 106 to 1.7 × 109, respectively. Arsenic exhibited a positive statistical correlation with the number of CFUs of Agrococcus and Staphylococcus. In addition, a positive correlation was found between the concentration of Co and the number of CFUs of Moraxella and Microbacterium. The Sb exhibited a positive correlation with Streptomyces. These results can be used to develop methods for waste reclamation, including the use of isolated bacterial strains for arsenic removal by precipitation.

Prenatal Cadmium Exposure and Maternal Sex Steroid Hormone Concentrations across Pregnancy.

Cadmium exposure has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. One possible mechanism is endocrine disruption. Studies of non-pregnant adults suggest that cadmium impacts androgen production; here, we examined these associations during pregnancy. Participants in the Understanding Pregnancy Signals and Infant Development (UPSIDE) cohort provided biospecimens and questionnaire data in each trimester (n = 272). We quantified urinary cadmium, serum total testosterone (TT), estrone, estradiol, and estriol and serum free testosterone (fT). In adjusted longitudinal models, we examined sex steroid concentrations across pregnancy in relation to specific gravity-adjusted, ln-transformed cadmium concentrations. Additionally, we examined trimester-specific associations and stratified models by fetal sex. Results are presented as percent change (%∆) in hormone concentrations. In longitudinal models, higher cadmium concentrations were associated with lower fT across pregnancy (%∆ = -5.19, 95%CI: -8.33, -1.93), with no differences in other hormones observed. In trimester-specific models, higher cadmium concentrations were associated with lower TT in trimester 2 (%∆ = -15.26, 95%CI: -25.15, -4.06) and lower fT in trimester 3 (%∆ = -14.35, 95%CI: -19.75, -8.59). Associations with TT were stronger in pregnancies carrying female fetuses. Maternal cadmium exposure may be associated with reduced testosterone in pregnancy. Additional work is necessary to understand how alterations in gestational testosterone activity may impact pregnancy and child health.

INTENSITY OF HEAVY METAL AND ARSENIC ACCUMULATION IN MEDICINAL PLANTS OF SYNANTHROPIC FLORA IN VORONEZH REGION

The aim of this study is to examine the peculiarities of the accumulation of the most dangerous heavy metals and arsenic in medicinal plant raw material of the synanthropic flora in the Voronezh region.&#x0D; Materials and Methods. The study was carried out by atomic absorption spectrometry. The author studied the accumulation of heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, cobalt, chromium) and arsenic in 10 types of medicinal plant raw materials harvested in 51 locations (Voronezh region), which differ in terms of anthropogenic impact.&#x0D; Results. The highest level of lead consentration was noted in Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg, and Arctium lappa L. roots, Рolygonum aviculare L. and Plantago major L. leaves. Mercury concentration in all studied samples was rather low. A bit higher mercury concentration was noted in Plantago major L and Urtica dioica L. leaves, and Artemisia absinthium L. High cadmium concentration was found in Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg and Arctium lappa L. roots, Plantago major L. leaves, Artemisia absinthium L. and Leonurus quinquelobatus Gilib. Arsenic accumulated intensively in Plantago major L. leaves, Arctium lappa L. roots, Artemisia absinthium L. and Achillea millefolium L. Nickel accumulated intensively in Plantago major L. and Urtica dioica L. leaves, Рolygonum aviculare L. and Leonurus quinquelobatus Gilib. Zinc accumulated mainly in the roots and herbs themselves. Having analyzed the accumulation coefficients of heavy metals and arsenic for all studied medicinal plant raw materials, we organized the heavy metals and arsenic in the decreasing order: zinc &gt; copper &gt; cadmium &gt; cobalt &gt; nickel &gt; arsenic &gt; chromium &gt; lead &gt; mercury.

STUDY OF PECULIARITIES OF ACCUMULATION OF HEAVY METALS AND ARSENIC IN MEDICINAL PLANT RAW MATERIALS OF SYNANTHROPIC FLORA OF VORONEZH REGION

Fundamental regional ecological and pharmacognostic studies of the quality of LRS were carried out on the example of the Voronezh region, the peculiarities of the accumulation of the most dangerous heavy metals and arsenic in LRS growing both in traditional places of harvesting and in anthropogenic disturbed ecotopes were studied. The highest concentrations of lead are observed in the roots of medicinal dandelion and common burdock, bird's mountain grass, plantain leaves. The mercury content in all the studied samples is generally low, does not exceed 10% of the MAC. Higher concentrations of cadmium were found in herbs of bitter wormwood and five-lobed motherwort, roots of common burdock and medicinal dandelion, leaves of large plantain. The arsenic content in a number of samples of bitter wormwood grass and common yarrow, big plantain leaves, common burdock roots exceeded the MAC. Nickel is intensively accumulated by the leaves of the plantain of the great and nettle of the dioecious, by the herbs of the motherwort of the five-lobed and the mountain of the bird. The most active concentrators of chromium and cobalt are the roots; chromium also actively accumulates in the leaves of the plants under study. High accumulation of copper was distinguished by herbs. Zinc accumulates to the greatest extent in the studied roots and herbs of plants. Clars of the studied elements in plants of the synanthropic flora of the Voronezh region have been identified, which, along with the MAC, is an important ecological and geochemical indicator for LRS, reflecting the combined impact of technogenic and natural processes occurring in a certain time slice.

Transcriptomic Changes Induced by Low and High Concentrations of Heavy Metal Exposure in Ulva pertusa.

The impact of sewage and wastewater pollution on marine ecosystems is of increasing concern due to the rapid accumulation of heavy metals in seaweeds inhabiting near-shore environments. Seaweeds can be severely damaged by heavy metals throughout their life cycles. Although the physiological and ecological effects of heavy metal exposure have been studied, there is limited research on their molecular responses. Ulva pertusa is a prevalent seaweed species in South Korea and is ecologically significant in coastal ecosystems. We utilized high-throughput RNA sequencing to analyze changes in the transcriptome profiles of U. pertusa under low concentrations of heavy metals (MPS) and high concentrations of copper (MPS-Cu) and cadmium (MPS-Cd). Differential gene expression analysis revealed that 53 (control vs. MPS), 27 (MPS vs. MPS-Cd), and 725 (MPS vs. MPS-Cu) genes were expressed differentially. Differentially expressed genes identified in our study included those with protective roles against oxidative stress and those involved in metal transport to the vacuole. Furthermore, exposure to heavy metal stress had a negative impact on the photosynthetic apparatus structural proteins of U. pertusa, resulting in photosynthetic inhibition. Moreover, exposure to high concentrations of copper resulted in the activation of carbon-related metabolism. These findings contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying heavy metal toxicity in U. pertusa.

The impact of human activities on the mangrove forests of the Qeshm Island, Iran

This article investigates the human impact on the mangrove forest in the Qeshm Geopark on the Qeshm Island in the south of Iran from 1986 to 2020. The area of mangrove forests increased by 14% from 5,131 hectares in 1986 to 5,472 hectares in 2000, and to 5,967 hectares in 2020. The mangrove forest is threatened by oil and gas facilities and a zinc smelter located on the island. The average concentration of nickel in sediment (97.2 μg/g) and in leaves (3.1 μg/g) was higher than the average concentration of vanadium in sediment (38.7 μg/g) and in leaves (0.5 μg/g). The results showed that the transfer coefficient of nickel and vanadium from root to leaf on the dry side of the Qeshm habitat (r = 0.597 and r = 0.516, respectively) was positively correlated with pH. Therefore, increasing the pH leads to an increased metal transfer from the root to the leaf, which endangers the mangrove habitat on the island. The mangrove forest in the vicinity of the zinc factory is threatened by high concentrations of lead (244.2 ppm), zinc (3172.8 ppm), arsenic, and cadmium found in the soil sample.

Environmental characterization of the estuarine zone of the Gulf of Montijo, province of Veraguas, Panama.

The study was performed in the Republic of Panama. Panama has a coastline of 2,988.3 km, of which 1,700.6 km corresponds to the Pacific coast. Most of the coast is flat, and several geomorphological features characterize the Panamanian coastal sector, such as the Gulf of Montijo, which is located towards the west of the Panamanian Pacific coast in the province of Veraguas. The Gulf is a remarkable ecosystem of mangroves well preserved and internationally recognized as a Ramsar area. It represents the buffer zone of Coiba Island (Coiba National Park). Sixteen sampling stations were established along the coast to analyze the vertical and spatial variability of physical and chemical parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductivity). The quality of unexposed marine sediment was evaluated in four samples from the western sector of the Gulf of Montijo. The marine sediment samples were collected with a Dietz-LaFond Snapper dredge, between 1.5 and 3.0 m depth. Physical and chemical observations and marine sediment sampling were carried out during high tide +4 to low tide +3, in negative syzygy phase tide. The analysis of the oceanographic conditions, especially the physical and chemical properties of the water along with the longitudinal profile, showed a conservative distribution increasing gradually towards the outer region in an approximately linear way due to the dilution and mixing processes, both in the surface layer and at the bottom, and a not very developed vertical gradient, with slight stratification. The results of heavy metal analyses in marine sediments report high cadmium concentrations along the west coast, with concentrations above the limit levels of the Canadian marine sediment quality guidelines. The study area requires continuous monitoring that is representative of seasonality (dry, intermediate, and rainy periods), including a more significant number of stations since it is evidence of an affectation of the environmental quality of the marine ecosystem due to possible anthropogenic activities.

A phytochemical study of the clover growing in Kuzbass

In addition to studying bioactive organic compounds in plants, it is increasingly important to determine the biological role of elements in plants growing in environmentally unfavorable areas. One of such regions in Russia is Kuzbass with its intensively developing chemical, metallurgical, and coal mining sectors. In this study, we assessed the plant materials of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum L.), and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) collected from their natural populations in Kuzbass.&#x0D; The qualitative and quantitative composition of heavy metals in the clover samples was determined voltammetrically. The contents of molybdenum and phosphorus were measured by the photocolorimetric method. Total nitrogen and protein were determined by the Kjeldahl method. Nickel, cobalt, and chromium were quantified by spectrophotometry.&#x0D; We analyzed the plant materials of the clover samples for heavy metals and found that the content of lead was the least in red clover and the highest in alsike clover. Copper varied in a larger range and was minimal in red clover compared to that in alsike and white clover. Zinc was found at higher concentrations of in white and red clover compared to that in alsike clover. The levels of cadmium exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations in all the clover samples. We also revealed that the clover samples contained different amounts of various amino acids, including arginine, valine, lysine, glycine, aspartic acid, and alanine.&#x0D; The plant materials of the clover species growing in Kuzbass can be used to improve the fertility of soil and nitrogen regime. However, the clover species should not be used in bulk feed for farm animals because of high concentrations of cadmium.

Assessment of the water quality of Bar-Bula Village well waters, Tafawa Balewa local government area, Bauchi State, Nigeria

There was a report of health challenges in our study area due to the consumption of water from wells sited in the community. The research was aimed at assessing the water quality parameters of the wells consumed by the villagers towards providing information on the possible health implication(s) of its consumption. Two sampling sites were selected, well 1 and well 2, which were hitherto the sole sources of water in the village. Physicochemical and microbiological quality parameters of samples were done in order to assess their conformance with the specification of Nigerian Standard for drinking water quality (NIS 554-2015). The results indicated that all physical water quality parameters have their mean concentration values below the maximum permissible limits, except colour which had total mean concentrations of 16.5 ± 0.65 TCU and 15.3 ± 0.65 TCU for well 1 and well 2 respectively, are relatively above the allowable unit range of 15 TCU (NIS-554-2015). The water quality assessment of wells also revealed high concentration of Cadmium (0.11 mg L-1 and 0.16 mg L-1, for well 1 and 2 respectively as against 0.003 mg L-1 specified by standard) and Magnesium (185 mg L-1 and 105 mg L-1 for well 1 and 2 respectively as against the maximum permissible limit of 20 mg L-1 specified by the standard). The microbial values of samples fall below the maximum permissible limit prescribed by the NIS standard. From the study, it was concluded that the presence of Cadmium in the well waters indicated that the water is unfit for consumption.

Association between cadmium and lead in active and passive cigarette smokers with bone mass: a retrospective study

Objective: Cigarette smoking harms all body systems, and its effects are primarily related to nicotine. However, the heavy metal content (mainly lead and cadmium) could add to nicotine's hazardous effects. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of cigarette smoking content of cadmium and lead on bone mineral density. Subjects and Methods: A retrospective analysis of data from active, passive, and non-smokers (every 70 subjects) was analyzed for patient demographics, laboratory investigation, serum cotinine (as a confirmatory marker of smoking, bone mineral density (BMD), blood and urinary levels of cadmium and lead). Results: Hemoglobin concentrations and red blood cell count were significantly reduced, while erythrocyte sedimentation rate and liver enzymes were significantly increased in active and passive smokers than non-smokers. Serum cadmium, lead, and cotinine were raised considerably in passive and active than non-smokers (0.47±0.05, 21.94±3.99, 5.35±0.90 in active, 0.32±0.09, 18.91±3.30, and 4.35±0.89 in passive, versus 0.09±0.06, 9.84±2.63, and 1.28±0.21 in the control group, successively). Bone mineral density was reduced in active and passive than non-smokers at the radial shaft, femoral neck, and spine. Cotinine was significantly and proportionately correlated with serum cadmium and lead and inversely correlated with bone mineral density. Furthermore, cadmium and lead were inversely correlated with BMD. Conclusion: Cigarettesmoke was associated with higher concentrations of cadmium, and lead may directly and indirectly share in the harmful effects of smoking on BMD. Keywords: Bone Mineral Density, Cotinine, Toxic Heavy Metals, Smoking

Assessment of the impacts of selected physicochemical and bacteriological parameters of wastewater (hospital effluents) from the University teaching hospital of Butare on the surrounding environment

Physicochemical and bacteriological properties are used to assess the quality of wastewater before discharge into the surrounding environment. This presented study was carried out to determine the contamination of effluents from the University Teaching Hospital of Butare. The results showed that the mean values such as 185 ± 7.07 mg/L, 1816 ± 2.83 mg/L, 335 ± 4.24 mg/L, 150.66 ± 2 mg/L, 269 ± 13 mg/L, and 4.19 ± 0.41 mg/L for EC, TDS, TSS, BOD, COD, and phosphates in the treated effluents, exceeded the permissible limits of WHO standards for wastewater discharge in the surrounding environment. In the case of heavy metals, a higher concentration of cadmium (0.29 ± 0.04 mg/L) was observed out of the allowed limit of WHO standard, whereas those for manganese (0.02 ± 0.01 mg/L) and zinc (0.16 ± 0.04 mg/L) were within the stipulated limit. Lead, iron, and chromium were not detected in CHUB treated effluents. Although CHUB treatment plant showed higher treatment efficiency, including 99.2%, 99.9%, and 92.9%, the recorded mean values showed higher abundance (7 × 106 Cfu/100 mL of TC, 6 × 105 Cfu/100 mL, and 5 × 107 Cfu/100 mL) of TC, FC, and E.coli in treated CHUB effluents. The proper treatment of CHUB effluent should be ensured before it is discharged into the environment.

The distribution of cadmium in soil and cacao beans in Peru

Peru is the eighth largest producer of cacao beans globally, but high cadmium contents are constraining access to international markets which have set upper thresholds for permitted concentrations in chocolate and derivatives. Preliminary data have suggested that high cadmium concentrations in cacao beans are restricted to specific regions in the country, but to date no reliable maps exist of expected cadmium concentrations in soils and cacao beans. Drawing on >2000 representative samples of cacao beans and soils we developed multiple national and regional random forest models to develop predictive maps of cadmium in soil and cacao beans across the area suitable for cacao cultivation. Our model projections show that elevated concentrations of cadmium in cacao soils and beans are largely restricted to the northern parts of the country in the departments of Tumbes, Piura, Amazonas and Loreto, as well as some very localized pockets in the central departments of Huánuco and San Martin. Unsurprisingly, soil cadmium was the by far most important predictor of bean cadmium. Aside from the south-eastern to north-western spatial trend of increasing cadmium values in soils and beans, the most important predictors of both variables in nation-wide models were geology, rainfall seasonality, soil pH and rainfall. At regional level, alluvial deposits and mining operations were also associated with higher cadmium levels in cacao beans. Based on our predictive map of cadmium in cacao beans we estimate that while at a national level <20 % of cacao farming households might be impacted by the cadmium regulations, in the most affected department of Piura this could be as high as 89 %.