Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer Research Articles

Enrichment, sources, and distributions of toxic elements in the farming land's topsoil near a heavily industrialized area of central Bangladesh, and associated risks assessment

Toxic element accumulation in the surrounding soils of the advanced industry- and agriculture-oriented areas may lead to severe environmental degradation and harmful impact on inhabitants. This work examined the concentration of some concerned toxic elements (Cr, Pb, Cd, Cu, As, and Ni) in the representative topsoil from 10 industrially contaminated sites in central Bangladesh (Narayanganj district) using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer concerning the probable ecological and human health risks. The mean concentrations (mg/kg) of the elements were found in the order of Ni (58.1 ± 11.8) > Pb (34.1 ± 14.3) > Cr (32.1 ± 6.77) > Cu (14.5 ± 3.30) > Cd (2.74 ± 1.08) > As (1.49 ± 0.43). The findings pointed out that diversified manmade events enhanced the intensities of elemental contamination through the studied sites. Source analysis showed that Cr, Pb, As, and Cd may originate from industrial wastewater and agricultural activities, whereas Cu and Ni came from natural sources. The geo-accumulation index level for Cd (1.70–3.39) was determined as grade 3 (moderately to strongly polluted), the enrichment factor score for Cd (13.9) fell in the very severe enhanced category (cluster 5), and the highest contamination factor value was found for Cd (15.7). The contamination degree values for all the tested elements signify a moderate to severe contamination grade; conversely, pollution load index levels depicted the nonexistence of elemental pollution. The assessment revealed serious Cd pollution in agricultural soils and moderate to significant potential ecological risk for the rest of the examined toxic elements. Furthermore, hazard index values exceeded the safe exposure levels, indicating that there was potential non-carcinogenic risk in the soils for children and adults. Ingestion exposure had much higher carcinogenic risk values than inhalation and cutaneous exposure, and children are exposed to considerable carcinogenic hazards. Therefore, it is suggested that the harmful practices that expose this farming soil to contaminants should be stopped immediately and effective environment-friendly techniques of waste management and effluent treatment should be employed in the study area.

Distribution of Silver (Ag) and Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) in Aquatic Environment

Nanomaterials, classified as emerging pollutants that are toxic to the environment, are known to bioaccumulate across different trophic levels in the aquatic ecosystem. This study therefore investigates the distribution of silver and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the aquatic environment of Skudai River, Johor, Malaysia. Water, sediment, plant, and fish samples were collected seasonally along four sites along Skudai River between May 2018 and April 2019. All samples were subjected to Ag analysis using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The analysis demonstrated that the concentration of Ag detected in water samples ranging from 0.001 to 0.505 mg/L was the lowest, whereas in the plants, 0.235 to 4.713 mg/kg of Ag was quantified. The upper sediments contained 0.036 to 28.115 mg/kg of Ag, whilst fish samples presented the highest accumulation of Ag, averaging between 9.144 and 53.784 mg/kg of Ag. Subsequently, the formation of silver nanoparticles was further proven by TEM-EDX analysis, where the detected size of AgNPs ranged from 20 nm to 35 nm. The overriding conclusion implied by bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and biota–sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) calculations suggested that Skudai River was indeed polluted by Ag and AgNPs. The values obtained stipulated that silver accumulation is occurring at an alarming rate and could therefore endanger fish consumers.

Assessment of Elements in Curcuma caesia Rhizome through Various Instrumentation Techniques

Background: Curcuma caesia Roxb. is a zingiberaceae plant and their rhizomes have been used for various medicinal properties based on the presence of alkaloid, glycosides, essential oils and vitamin. But, the studies on medicinal properties of rhizomes of the plant in inorganic component are very limited. The trace elements and certain elements present in medicinal plants are important for safety of herbal drugs and also to help in establishing the structure in phytochemistry and chelating therapy. The present study emphasises to investigate the presence of nutrient and trace elements in the rhizome of the plant quantitatively, as deficiency or excessiveness leads to various health issues. Methods: Curcuma caesia rhizomes were collected from Thoubal District, Manipur, North-East India during the month of November-December, 2017. Rhizomes powder was investigated for the determination of various elements by instrumental techniques like, Flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Carbon - Hydrogen - Nitrogen - Sulphur (CHNS). Result: After comparison of the various results given by FAAS, ICP-MS, SEM, EDX and CHNS Techniques, 17 elements consisting of both major and minor elements viz. C (7.705 wt.%), H (1.22wt.%), N (4.41 wt.%), O (36.97 at. %), Na (5.5 µg/mL), K (15.8 µg/mL), Mg (1.3 µg/mL), Fe (0.53 µg/mL), Ca (0.46 µg/mL), Co ( less than 2 ng/mL), V ( less than 2 ng/mL), Cr (6 ng/mL), Ni (30 ng/mL), As ( less than 5 ng/mL), Mn (82 ng/mL), Cu (42 ng/mL) and Pb (10 ng/mL) have been determined in Curcuma caesia rhizome (µg/mL means micro gram per millilitre while ng/mL means nano gram per millilitre). A comprehensive elemental analysis data Curcuma caesia rhizome of such kind is not yet reposted earlier. The study will be very helpful in further study of the medicinal values of the rhizome.

Characterization of water-insoluble particulate matters in sequential rain samples collected by a novel automatic sampler in Antalya, Turkey

Three rainfall events were sampled sequentially in Antalya, Turkey on November 19 and December 04,13, 2020 by using an automatic rain sample collection device that was developed and validated by our group. Water-insoluble particulate matters (PMs) were characterized by using a scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (SEM-EDS) and the particle size distributions in the rain sequences were determined by using particle size analyzer directly, without any sample pretreatment In order to determine the transport regions of the sampled rain events, back trajectory calculations were made using the HYSPLIT modeling program. In studies on the detection of air pollution in aerosol samples, the particles (PMs) are collected on the filter and examined. This method can cause many particles to accumulate on the filter and make it difficult to characterize them by using semi-quantitative methods. The use of particle size analyzer and SEM device to characterize and detect particles in rainwater provides more successful results. This method can provide direct evidence for single particle analyses, and the determination of compositions and morphologies of atmospheric PMs. In this study, the water-soluble ionic compositions were determined by using ion chromatography. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) was used for water soluble and insoluble element concentrations. The pHs of all sequences changed from 6.88 to 7.84 The measured particle size distribution ranged from 0.073 to 1503.2 μm, 0.266–680.2 μm, and 0.406–530.7 μm, respectively for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd series samples. Arithmetic mean and the standard deviation of the neutralization factors corresponding to calcium, potassium, ammonium, magnesium, and sodium ions were determined as 4.88 ± 7.03, 0.07 ± 0.11, 0.55 ± 0.29, 0.14 ± 0.09, 0.01 ± 0.04, respectively. The main aim of the study was to demonstrate the applicability of chemical compositions of water-insoluble PMs (from EDS) in source identification and the advantage of sequential sampling.

Is Biofloc fish a safe alternative to conventionally cultivated fish regarding metal bioaccumulation in Bangladesh?

In this study, two types of biofloc cultivated fishes (n=10) namely Anabas testudineus and Oreochromis niloticus, used water (n=6), and commercial fish feeds (n=5) from Dhaka, Bangladesh were collected and analyzed for 11 metals.The contamination level and bioaccumulation of metals to different organs of fishes were also determined. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) was used to quantify the concentration of metals in different samples. The concentration (ppb FW) range of metals in the fish samples are as follows, As (0.47-1.14), Cd (0.09-0.59), Co (0.03-0.33), Cr (0.82-4.60), Cu (0.001-7.01), Hg (0.96-3.37), Ni (1.01-10.8), Pb (2.10-4.40), Zn (0.12-73.1), Mn (1.64-18.0), Fe (23.1-261.5); and in the feed samples (ppb), As (1.56-1.91), Cd (0.09-0.39), Co (0.25-1.17), Cr (0.001-1.93), Cu (4.96-11.7), Hg (0.90-2.06), Ni (2.19-3.38), Pb (2.93-5.38), Zn (0.002-105.8), Mn (0.01-0.03), Fe (132.3-603.4). This study found fish feed as a source of metals in the Biofloc system as the metal pollution index value followed the order of fish feed>fish tank water>fish. However, the metal concentrations in the fish species and feeds were within the safe limits recommended by different international and national institutions. The highest bioaccumulation of metals in the fish species is found for Mn and lowest for Co. Fish tank water was found as hyperaccumulator for As, Cd, Ni, Zn, and Fe. On the other hand, fish-feed acts as an excluder considering the metal bioaccumulation from feed to fish except for Cr, Hg, and Mn. According to the findings, all fish organs have a considerable tendency to accumulate metals from their diet and tank water. However, human health risk assessment revealed no non-carcinogenic health hazard (THQ<1) and target cancer risk due to the consumption of these farmed fish. Thus, the consumption of the studied Biofloc fish is quite safe regarding metal contamination.

Paleo-productivity and petroleum source evaluation of the Nkporo and Awgu shales, Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria: Insight from inorganic geochemistry

The petroleum paleo-productivity and generative potential of the Nkporo and Awgu shales in the Lower Benue Trough (LBT) were studied. Major oxides were determined using Spectro Ciros Inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) while trace and rare earth elements were determined using an ELAN 9000 Inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The shales have Co/Ni ratios greater than 0.1 suggesting oil source rocks with more marine source input due to brief marine incursion in the transition zone after deposition. The very low Ni values and moderate V values, and a lack of correlation between the TOC and sulphur content, suggests that the organic matter is of terrestrial Type Ⅲ; and the very low paleo-productivity (Ba/Al and P/Ti ratios) suggests that the organic matter is of terrestrial origin. The low V/Ni values of the Nkporo and Awgu shales (Av. ≈ 4) and the high metal concentrations indicate a matured status. From the K/Rb ratios of the Nkporo (191–259) and Awgu shales (198–261), it can be deduced that the organic matter within the shales experienced a considerable loss of K and the shales are mature to generate gaseous hydrocarbons.

Agmatine, telomerase and trace minerals levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a disease characterized by repetitive, partially or complete upper airway obstructions resulting in hypoxia and bioelectrical wakefulness reactions along with sleep. There is a limited and different information on the biochemical pathways that may determine harmful effects in OSAS patients with different disease severity. Hence, we aimed to estimate the plasma levels of polyamine agmatine, which has many effects on the central nervous system, telomerase and trace minerals in patients with OSAS. The study included 90 volunteer patients diagnosed with OSAS and divided into three groups of 30 people each according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) score: mild, moderate and severe. Nocturnal blood oxygen saturation percentage (SpO2) and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Plasma agmatine level was defined by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC), plasma trace elements (Cu, Co, Mg, Mo, Zn, Se) level by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and serum telomerase level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. It was found that SpO2 value decreased as the disease progressed and showed a negative correlation with BMI, Co and Se plasma levels. The levels of agmatine and telomerase were shown to lower in patients with severe OSAS group compared to other groups. Keywords: agmatine, sleep apnea syndrome, SpO2, telomerase, trace minerals

An Assessment of Serum Selenium Concentration in Women with Ovarian Cancer.

Available studies on the effect of serum selenium levels on the risk of malignancies show some conflicting results. In this study, we investigated the correlation between serum selenium levels and ovarian cancer occurrence. 314 women (157 diseased patients and 157 healthy ones) matched in terms of age and BMI were included in the study. The measurements of selenium in the collected blood samples were performed using an ICP mass spectrometer. Univariable and multivariable analyzes were performed to determine the relationship between the factors under the study and the occurrence of ovarian cancer. The mean concentration of selenium was lower among diseased ones than among controls (53.31 μg/L vs. 78.99 μg/L). A decrease in selenium concentration was noticed with the advancement of ovarian cancer. In univariable and multivariable analyzes, a clear relationship between low selenium concentration and the occurrence of ovarian cancer was found (35.3 (95% CI: 11.2-111; p < 0.001) and 45.8 (95% CI: 12.8-164; p < 0.001)). The studied patients with ovarian cancer are characterized by statistically significant lower serum selenium levels than patients from the control group. Among the study group, a decrease in selenium concentration was observed with an increase in the FIGO stage. The determination of the role of selenium as a prophylactic factor in ovarian cancer requires further prospective studies.

Significantly Enhanced Robustness of K Isotope Analysis by Collision Cell MC-ICP-MS and Its Application to the Returned Lunar Samples by China’s Chang’e-5 Project

Stable K isotope ratios, an emerging research tool for a wide range of problems, can be measured precisely with high sensitivity by using collision cell multicollector ICP mass spectrometers (CC-MC-ICP-MS). However, it has been shown that the accuracy of K isotope analysis by CC-MC-ICP-MS could be compromised severely by trace-level Ca contaminants, although the cause of such an effect remains poorly understood. Here, we report that the influence of Ca on K isotope analysis by CC-MC-ICP-MS can be dramatically reduced if D2 rather than H2 (the default gas) is used as the reaction gas that goes into the collision cell. This indicates the generation of positively charged calcium-hydride molecules in the collision cell. Usage of D2 as reaction gas circumvents the Ca-induced inaccuracy issues during K isotope analysis because 40CaD+ does not interfere with 41K+ as 40CaH+ does; as such, the robustness of K isotope analysis by CC-MC-ICP-MS is significantly enhanced. This improved method is verified by K isotope analysis of seven geostandards, and applied to China's Chang'e-5 lunar return samples at submicrogram K consumption, revealing significant K isotope variability within a 17 mg lunar basalt fragment.

Evaluation of Heavy Metal (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, and Manganese) Levels in Blood, Plasma, and Urine of Adolescents With Aggressive Behavior.

Background Heavy metals can cause health problems by affecting the biological structure even at very low concentrations. Asymptomatic heavy metal poisoning causes non-specific symptoms such as behavioral disorders, difficulty in learning, and aggressive behaviors. There is also a great concern about the incidence of aggressive behavior among adolescents. A few research studies have concluded that a complex interaction or combination of factors leads to an increased risk of aggressive behavior in adolescents. This study aims to determine the correlation between the heavy metal levels in blood, plasma, and urine and the aggression level in adolescents. Materials and methods Two hundred twenty-eight adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19 were enrolled in the study. Blood, plasma, and urine heavy metal levels of the participants were measured by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) device (Model 7700x; Agilent, Santa Clara, CA, USA). Buss and Perry's aggression questionnaire was used to investigate the correlation between heavy metals and aggressive behaviors in adolescents. Results Lead blood (r=0.34, p<.01), lead plasma (r=0.22, p<0.01), lead urine (r=0.31, p<.01), mercury blood (r=0.35, p<0.01), mercury urine (r=0.21, p<0.01), manganese blood (r=0.34, p<0.01), manganese plasma (r=0.33, p<0.01) and manganese urine (r=0.39, p<0.01) were positively correlated with tendency to aggression whereas no significant relationship was found between cadmium in blood, plasma, urine and mercury in plasma with aggression. Conclusion The study showed valuable data to associate a significant relationship between adolescents' aggression levels and heavy metals. There is an undeniable relationship between the health of adolescents and environmental pollution caused by heavy metals. Therefore, taking the necessary measures to prevent environmental heavy metal pollution is crucial for adolescent health.

Water Quality Assessment and Environmental Impact of Heavy Metals in the Red Sea Coastal Seawater of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia

The Yanbu industrial city along the Red Sea coast includes industries associated with crude oil and natural gas production and refining and support industries that produce manufactured goods for domestic and/or internal consumption. This study investigates the potential environmental impact and the possible sources of heavy metals (HMs), and it evaluates the quality of coastal surface seawater in the vicinity of Yanbu, along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. Thirty seawater samples have been collected and analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) in order to determine the concentration values of Fe, Cr, Pb, Sb, Mn, Cu, Zn, Al, Ni, As, Cd, Co, and Hg. Reported HMs averages (μg/L) are in the following sequence: Ni (4.424) &gt; As (4.297) &gt; Cu (2.447) &gt; Zn (1.667) &gt; Al (1.133) &gt; Fe (0.983) &gt; Cr (0.723) &gt; Mn (0.328) &gt; Cd (0.309) &gt; Pb (0.276) &gt; Sb (0.238) &gt; Co (0.144) &gt; Hg (0.058). The contamination index (Cd) showed low contamination levels in all of the analyzed samples, whereas the index of heavy metal pollution (HPI) revealed medium contamination levels in 28 samples and low levels in two samples. Reported high HMs variations within samples are attributed to the multiplication of sources. The statistical analyses indicated anthropogenic sources for Cd, Co, Hg, Zn, and Ni, which may have originated from industrial, farming, or fishing activities around Yanbu city, while the remaining metals might be originated from combined lithogenic and human sources.

Automated determination of gallium in seawater using seaFAST pre-concentration and high-resolution inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry

There has been increased interest in dissolved gallium (Ga) in natural waters due to its long residence time and its usefulness in tracking water masses; however, current analytical approaches are time consuming and labor intensive (e.g., magnesium hydroxide co-precipitation method, (Mg(OH)2)) or have concerns such as carryover and sample recovery (automated resin column extraction). Ocean observing programs, such as GEOTRACES, recover hundreds of samples per expedition. There are both logistical (sample volume) and analytical (person-hour) demands to economically collect and analyze Ga. We present an automated isotope dilution method (using 99.8% enriched 71Ga) to determine Ga in seawater utilizing commercially available equipment while addressing the challenges of a) sample volume and sample pre-concentration factor, b) instrumental interferences, c) sample-sample carryover, d) sample recovery variability, and e) improving sample detection limits, accuracy and precision. A seaFAST SC-4DXS pico (Elemental Scientific, Inc.; ESI) was used to pre-concentrate 20 mL of sample on a Nobias PA1 resin column 67-fold before analysis in medium resolution on a ThermoFisher high-resolution inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (HR-ICP-MS) equipped with an APEX Q FAST enabled spray chamber (ESI) to increase signal intensity and decrease instrument interferences. The new automated seaFAST method reproduced Ga concentrations determined by the Mg(OH)2 method, but with greater precision (RSD <4%) and a lower detection limit (0.10 pmol L−1). This method is ideal for high throughput applications and can be easily implemented using commercially available equipment.

Accumulation of Pd-doped Polystyrene Nanoplastics in the Digestive Tract of Sebastes Schlegelii

Nanoplastics (NPs) are widely concerned because of their potential adverse effects on marine organisms. However, the detection and quantification of NPs are challenging due to their small size and weak signals. In this study, the ac-cumulation of Pd-doped polystyrene (PS) NPs in the digestive tract of Sebastes schlegelii was investigated by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Results showed that NPs could be accumulated in the digestive tract and faeces after 3-day exposure with concentrations of 0.5, 5, and 10 mg/L. The highest accumulation of NPs was in the digestive tract, up to 0.23 ± 0.02 mg/g wet wt after 2 days. However, the highest accumulation of NPs was found in faeces (29.59 ± 0.54 mg/g wet wt) after 3-day exposure. Moreover, the digestive tract and faeces showed a concentration-dependent of NPs, which may lead to the transfer of NPs to higher trophic levels. The present study provides evidence for the bioaccumulation of NPs in organisms and the potential impact of NPs on ecological risk.

In Vivo Efficacy of Wound Healing under External (Bio)AgNCs Treatment: Localization Case Study in Liver and Blood Tissue

The present study reports on the in vivo application of (Bio)silver nanocomposite formulations (LBPC-AgNCs) on wound healing. Additionally, the present study emphasizes the limited uptake of silver by liver and blood tissues as well as the high viability of PBMCs following external LBPC-AgNCs treatment. The wound closure was monitored via stereoscopic microscope, a localization case study in liver and blood tissue was carried out by (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometers (ICP/MS), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBC) viability was determined via flow cytometry technique. The silver formulation was applied externally on the site of the wound infection for a period of ten days. At the beginning of the experiment, a moderate decrease in body weight and atypical behavior was observed. However, during the last period of the experiment, no abnormal mouse behaviors were noticed. The wound-healing process took place in a gradual manner, presenting the regeneration effect at around 30% from the fourth day. From the seventh day, the wounds treated with the silver formulation showed 80% of the wound healing potential. The viability of PBMCs was found to be 97%, whereas the concentrations of silver in the liver and blood samples were determined to be 0.022 µg/g and 9.3 µg/g, respectively. Furthermore, the present report becomes a pilot study in transferring from in vitro to in vivo scale (e.g., medical field application) once LBPC-AgNCs have demonstrated a unique wound healing potential as well as a non-toxic effect on the liver and blood.

Metallic elements in foliar material and fruits of three tree species as bioindicators

This study aimed to determine the presence of metal elements in fruits and leaves of three tree species as bioindicators in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Ninety fruit and 90 leaf samples (30 per tree species) were collected at five sites (agricultural, suburban, commercial and services, urban, and mining), using the site and the presence of P. laevigata, S. molle, and A. farnesiana as references. Total concentrations of 13 metal elements were determined using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The species were significantly affected by Co, As, and Pb (ANOVA, p≤0.05). Considering the land use and the species, the contents determined in the leaves and fruits of the three species had sufficient and phytotoxic contents of Al, Cd, Co, Ni, Mn, Ti, and Cr, and excessive ranges with the possible phytotoxic effect of As, Cu, Pb, Zn, V, and Fe. The A. farnesiana had the highest concentrations of 12 heavy metals analyzed (HM). The variation in total metal concentrations between leaves and fruits ranged from 84.70 to 99.06%, with V, As, and Cr being prominent. The functionality of these tree species as phytoremediators and bioindicators is reviewed to evaluate environmental impacts on land use. Highlights Tree species represent a potential bioindicator for studying environmental pollutants due to their ability to accumulate heavy metals. The variation in total metal concentrations between leaves and fruits ranged from 84.70 to 99.06% The contents determined in the leaves and fruits of the three species trees had sufficient and phytotoxic HM contents. The tree species have phytoremediators capacity to evaluate environmental impacts and environmental contamination of land use.

A simple approach to analysing trace metals in aerosols produced by e-cigarettes.

Electronic cigarettes are a relatively new alternative to cigarettes, which have been marketed as being safer for users than conventional cigarettes. However, they may still result in inhalation of potentially toxic or carcinogenic substances, including metals produced by the heating element. This study looked at the levels of trace metals being produced by different atomizers used in e-cigarettes using a sample introduction technique based on the collection of aerosols produced by e-cigarettes in nitric acid, using glass midget impingers. Collected metals were then identified using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), which allowed detection in the low ppb range. Results obtained showed considerable variation in the levels of metals between both manufacturers of atomizers and also between different batches of coils. This variation is likely to be even greater if the ability of users to customise some types of e-cigarettes is considered. Although there are limitations in terms of possible interferences from other metallic components in the e-cigarettes, the findings suggest the proposed method could be of use in investigating the risk of inhalation of toxic metals from e-cigarette use.

Spatial distribution and ecological risk of heavy metal in surface sediment of Old Brahmaputra River, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT The study was conducted to investigate the concentrations, distributions, sources, and potential ecological risk of heavy metals in surface sediments from the Old Brahmaputra River. Sediment samples were collected from five sampling stations and analyzed with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The results showed that mean concentrations (mg/kg) of heavy metals were in order of Ni (58.82) > Cr (32.45) > Pb (21.04) > Cu (14.24) > Cd (3.81) > As (2.02). Element-specific environmental indices exposed that the ecological risks trailed in the same downward direction as Cd > Ni > Pb > As > Cu > Cr. The contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), and geo-accumulation index (Igeo) exposed all cases to a modest level of contamination except for Cd, which has a significant level of contamination. Only Ni and Cd were found to pose a high ecological risk for aquatic life based on the sediment quality guidelines. The prospective ecological risk factor and potential ecological risk both suggested low to moderate ecological risk. The river sediments were mostly uncontaminated or mildly contaminated, posing a minimal ecological risk. The study concluded that the Old Brahmaputra River is subjected to anthropogenic disturbances in its aquatic environment.

Insights into the health status of the general population living near an electroplating industry zone: metal elevations and renal impairment.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 in Zhejiang Province, China, to evaluate the body burdens of metals and metalloids associated with renal dysfunction in populations living near electroplating industries. We recruited 236 subjects and performed physical examinations, determined the blood and urinary levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), and selenium (Se) by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), and measured three renal impairment biomarkers, namely nacetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), retinol-binding protein (RBP), and β2-microglobulin (BMG). The proportion of abnormal nasal symptoms in the exposure group (10.1%) was much higher than in the control group (0; p < 0.05). The blood and urinary levels of As, Cd, and Se in the exposure group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The blood levels of Mn and Pb, as well as the urinary levels of Cr and Ni, were significantly higher in the exposure group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The exposure group demonstrated higher levels of NAG, RBP, and BMG than the control group (0.51 vs. 0.14mg/g creatinine, 12.79 vs. 9.26IU/g creatinine, and 1.39 vs. 0.78mg/g creatinine, respectively; p < 0.05). Urinary BMG was positively correlated with urinary Cd levels (r = 0.223, p < 0.05), while urinary RBP was correlated with blood Cd levels (r = 0.151, p < 0.05) and urinary Cd, Cr, Ni, and Se levels (r = 0.220, 0.303, 0.162, and 0.306, respectively; p < 0.05). In conclusion, our study indicated that a population living in the vicinity of electroplating industries had high body burdens of certain metals and metalloids associated with non-negligible renal dysfunction.

Understanding the Stability of Manganese Chromium Antimonate Electrocatalysts through Multimodal In Situ and Operando Measurements.

Improving electrocatalyst stability is critical for the development of electrocatalytic devices. Herein, we utilize an on-line electrochemical flow cell coupled with an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) to characterize the impact of composition and reactant gas on the multielement dissolution of Mn(-Cr)-Sb-O electrocatalysts. Compared to Mn2O3 and Cr2O3 oxides, the antimonate framework stabilizes Mn at OER potentials and Cr at both ORR and OER potentials. Furthermore, dissolution of Mn and Cr from Mn(-Cr) -Sb-O is driven by the ORR reaction rate, with minimal dissolution under N2. We observe preferential dissolution of Cr totaling 13% over 10 min at 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 V vs RHE, with only 1.5% loss of Mn, indicating an enrichment of Mn at the surface of the particles. Despite this asymmetric dissolution, operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) showed no measurable changes in the Mn K-edge at comparable potentials. This could suggest that modification to the Mn oxidation state and/or phase in the surface layer is too small or that the layer is too thin to be measured with the bulk XAS measurement. Lastly, on-line ICP-MS was used to assess the effects of applied potential, scan rate, and current on Mn-Cr-Sb-O during cyclic voltammetry and accelerated stress tests. With this deeper understanding of the interplay between oxygen reduction and dissolution, testing procedures were identified to maximize both activity and stability. This work highlights the use of multimodal in situ characterization techniques in tandem to build a more complete model of stability and develop protocols for optimizing catalyst performance.

Indirect GC‐MS Method via Alcoholysis Reaction for Rapid Detection of Organoaluminum Compounds and its Impurities: A Case Study of Triethylaluminium

AbstractOrganoaluminum compounds have been employed as catalysts in many reactions. However, due to their high reactivity of the Al−C bond towards water or air, the accurate analysis and detection of organoaluminum compounds are still challenging. Here we demonstrate the possibility of rapidly and precisely detecting the purity and impurities of triethylaluminium (TEAL). An indirect GC‐MS method via alcoholysis reaction using a designed alcoholysis reactor was adopted to detect and separate the main components and impurities of the synthesized TEAL. Previously, the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and the inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometer (ICP‐MS) methods were also selected to detect the main compounds in the synthesized TEAL. The impurities in TEAL was identified as n‐butyl aluminum, and the purity of synthesized TEAL is 97.47 % with high accuracy (ca. 99 %). This work suggests a new strategy to detect the purity and impurities of some kind of hazardous compounds.