Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Research Articles

Influence of municipal waste treated sludge on the quality attributes of African marigold (Tagetes erecta)

Using treated sludge to amend soil in agriculture presents opportunities and challenges, particularly concerning the augmentation of heavy metals in cultivated plants. This research looks into how applying treated sludge affects the buildup of heavy metals in African marigold (Tagetes erecta), a popular ornamental plant that could potentially help with phytoremediation. Several treatment combinations were imposed, out of which treated sludge at 2.5 t/ha showed promising results. The effect of incorporating treated sludge was found to be better in terms of using conventional manures like Farm Yard Manure and Vermicompost in quantitative terms. The sludge processed at the treatment plant underwent strict treatment procedures, resulting in odourless material that can be used as an organic amendment with nutrients. Heavy metal concentrations in plant tissues were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) to assess the uptake and accumulation of heavy metals by African marigolds. Results indicated that treated sludge application did not significantly influence the accumulation and bioavailability of heavy metals in African marigolds. The treated sludge helped plants grow better and absorb nutrients; it did not cause higher levels of harmful heavy metals like cadmium and lead in the plants. The levels of heavy metals found were lower than what is considered unsafe for plants. In addition, treated sludge can serve as a soil conditioner to enhance the physicochemical properties of the soil.

Combined effect of magmatic fluid–seawater mixing and host rock alteration on the formation of gold-enriched massive sulfides in the Forecast vent field, southern Mariana Trough

Massive sulfides and sulfide-bearing breccia were collected from the Forecast vent field in the southern Mariana Trough. These samples exhibit varying degrees of hydrothermal alteration and/or mineralization, with the former type having significant enrichments in Au (up to 101 ppm). In this study, detailed analyses of mineralogy, geochemistry, S isotope, and fluid inclusion were conducted to understand the unusual Au-rich mineralization. Mineralogical investigations and geochemical analyses (LA–ICP–MS and EPMA) of dominant sulfide minerals indicate that electrums, the main phase of Au mineralization, are characterized by two different generations based on mineralogical relationships and fineness. Early-stage high fineness electrums (930–981 ‰) are associated with sphalerite under relatively high-temperature fluid conditions, whereas galena is main host mineral related to late-stage low fineness electrums (773–868 ‰). Sphalerite geothermometry (231–264 °C), the occurrence of colloform textured sulfides, and microthermometric characteristics of fluid inclusions (Th = 220–304 °C; Salinity = 1.4–6.6 wt% NaCl equivalent; a general trend of decreasing salinity with decreasing Th) indicate that significant decreases in H2S activity, attributed to seawater dilution and rapid precipitation of sulfide minerals, facilitated the efficient destabilization and deposition of Au transported as sulfide complexes from hydrothermal fluids. In particular, the lower 34S values (+0.2 ‰ to + 1.3 ‰) of sulfides compared to those of arc/back-arc lavas (δ34S = +5‰ to + 11 ‰), along with the prevalence of CO2 in the vapor phase of fluid inclusions, reflect that the significant contribution of magmatic volatile influx supplied most of the sulfur and metals (including Au) to the Forecast hydrothermal fluids. Additionally, the abundance of montmorillonite and varying proportions of sulfide and gangue minerals observed in hydrothermal samples suggest that the chemical buffering of fluids by associated substrates and/or sediments could be another significant factor in promoting Au-rich mineralization. Therefore we conclude that the combination of magmatic fluid–seawater mixing and host rock alteration plays an important role in the formation of Au-enriched massive sulfides in the Forecast vent field.

Chemometric classification of Vietnamese green tea (Camellia sinensis) varieties and origins using elemental profiling and FTIR spectroscopy

SummaryThe objective of this study was to employ multi‐elemental analysis and chemometric multivariate data analysis for identifying the geographical origin of Camellia sinensis cultivated in Vietnam's northeastern region. Ninety‐two tea leaf samples encompassing four distinct varieties were sourced from Bac Can and Thai Nguyen provinces. These samples underwent analysis through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and chemometrics, while elemental quantification was achieved via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS), utilising mixed standards for 26 elements. The FTIR spectra exhibited characteristic peaks, denoting the functional groups of the potential compounds present. ICP/MS analysis identified the presence of 14 elements in the tea samples, revealing significant variations in content across the four varieties. principal component analysis (PCA) of the FTIR data illustrated that the initial two principal components accounted for 91.26% of the total variance, effectively segregating the four green tea varieties into distinct clusters. Conversely, PCA of the ICP‐MS spectra also distinguished the four varieties, albeit Trung Du and Hybrid F1 exhibited a proximate distribution. This closeness may be incidental and not indicative of correlation, considering the limited variable set. Our findings ascertain that ICP/MS and FTIR, augmented by chemometric software, serve as efficacious tools for ascertaining the geographical origins of tea.

Be aware of the effect of electrode activation and morphology on its performance in gas diffusion electrode setups

The superior performance enhancement in catalyst research for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) revealed in the model rotating disc electrode (RDE) environment is rarely demonstrated in membrane electrode assemblies (MEA). The discrepancy is typically attributed to the difference in the chemical structure and morphology of the catalyst layer (CL), affecting the transport of reactants of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). In this study, the gas diffusion electrode (GDE) half-cell setup is used to focus on crucial aspects of CL development, especially on the activation and morphology of CLs, to gain a fundamental understanding of the development of PEMFCs. Adjusting the CL porosity by using different solvent compositions of water and isopropyl alcohol and implementing an activation method for low platinum content catalysts, we focus on understanding the contributions of macro-porosity and hydrophobicity in a liquid electrolyte-based system. We show that macro-porosity significantly influences the O2 mass transport in the CL, demonstrating increased performance with higher porosities. Coupling inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with the GDE half-cell setup, we propose a method for qualitative estimation of water content in the CL. Lower macro-porosity shows higher platinum dissolution, attributed to improved mass transport of dissolved ions in aqueous media.

Analytical Investigation of Phthalates and Heavy Metals in Edible Ice from Vending Machines Connected to the Italian Water Supply.

Edible ice is often produced by special machines that can represent a source of significant chemical and microbiological contamination. In this work, the presence of phthalic acid esters (phthalates, PAEs) and heavy metals in ice cubes distributed by 77 vending machines installed in two different zones in southern Italy and fed by water from the public water supply was investigated. Solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS) was used to evaluate contamination with four PAEs, which were selected because they are commonly used in the production of food-contact plastics, while inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) was used to quantify the heavy metals. It was found that ice samples, especially those from one of the two considered zones (zone 2), exceeded the dibutyl phthalate (DBP) threshold limit value; some ice cubes from the other zone (zone 1) instead showed levels of both lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) up to one order of magnitude higher than those observed in samples collected in zone 2 and higher than the maximum permitted values (European Directive n. 2184/2020). Since the water source connected to the ice vending machines was found to be free from significant levels of all considered target compounds and metals, the high levels of DBP, Ni, and Pb in ice cubes could be attributed to the components and/or to the state of repair of the ice vending machines themselves.

Understanding physiological, elemental distribution and bioaccumulation responses of crustose and foliose lichens in the vicinity of coal-based thermal power plant, Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, India

Environmental pollution, especially from coal-based thermal power plants, poses significant risks to human respiratory health and the environment. This study evaluates the diversity of lichens in the areas. Physiological and bioaccumulation responses of two crustose lichens (Bacidia incongruens and Rindoina sophodes) and one foliose lichen (Pyxine cocoes) in the vicinity of the Feroz Gandhi Unchahar National Thermal Power Corporation, Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, India were also assessed. These lichens, exposed to emissions including fly ash, greenhouse gases, metals, and particulate matter were analyzed for metal accumulation and physiological responses. Changes in physiological parameters and metal profiles concerning distance from the coal-based thermal power plant to the outskirts were analyzed for B. incongruens, R. sophodes and P. cocoes by utilizing Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The study identified 18 lichen species from 12 genera and 10 families in the area, with Pyxine sorediata newly recorded in Uttar Pradesh. The dominant species, B. incongruens, P. cocoes, and R. sophodes, preferred substrates like Mangifera indica, Acacia nilotica, and Azadirachta indica bark. Physiological analyses revealed variations in pigment concentrations, with significant differences in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and chlorophyll degradation, while protein content remained stable. Metal accumulation studies showed nine metals with distinct patterns, B. incongruens had higher concentrations in the west (52730.61 µg g-1) and P. cocoes in the east (23628.32 µg g-1). Correlation analyses indicated significant relationships between paired elements, suggesting specific sources of environmental contamination. This research highlights the significance of integrating physiological and environmental factors to understand lichen responses to coal based thermal power plant.

Thiol-functionalized MOF modified 3D printed monolithic microextraction array for analysis of trace Cd and Pb in human urine

Controlling the position, size, and shape of pores is a limitation of traditional monolithic preparation methods. The application of 3D printing technology offers high customizability, allowing the precise printing of pore positions, sizes, and shapes according to the designer's 3D model. Herein, by using Projection Microstereolithography (PμSL), we prepared a 3D-printed monolithic array with post-modification of thiol-functionalized metal-organic framework (MOF), and combined it with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the online analysis of trace Cd and Pb in human urine. To achieve array monolithic microextraction, six 3D-printed monolithic columns were modified with thiol-functionalized MOF-808 (MOF-808-SH), and were then assembled in the 3D printed extraction device incorporating gas valve and scaffold. The MOF-808-SH modified 3D-printed monolithic column exhibits excellent extraction performance to Cd2+ and Pb2+ due to rich active adsorption sites and hierarchical porous structure, and has long life span (>100 reused times). Under the optimized conditions, the limits of detection (LODs) are 3.5 and 17.6 ng L−1 for Cd2+ and Pb2+, respectively, with the relative standard deviations of 4.9 % and 8.2 % (0.1 μg L−1, n = 7), and the sample throughput is 11 h−1. To validate the accuracy of the method, the method was used to determine Cd and Pb in Certified Reference Materials of freeze-dried human urine, the determined results agree well with the certified values. This method was also successfully applied to the determination of trace Cd and Pb in real human urine samples. The developed method offers low LODs, robust anti-interference capability, high sample throughput, long reuse cycles, and automation analysis, showing great potential for the analysis of trace heavy metals in biological samples.

The Potential of Helichsryum splendidum (Thunb.) Less. for the Restoration of Sites Polluted with Coal Fly Ash.

The disposal of coal fly ash (CFA) generated from coal-fired power stations has serious impact on the ecosystem, by converting large pieces of land to barren ash dams with the potential to contaminate groundwater, surface water, air and soil. The aim of this study was to clarify the potential of phytoremediation using Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less. in areas polluted by CFA through conduction of pot trial experiments for 14 weeks. Plants of the same age were cultivated in CFA to assess their growth, photosynthetic rate and tolerance towards metal toxicity. This study revealed that the CFA was moderately polluted with heavy metals, and a lower photosynthetic rate was recorded for the CFA plants in comparison to the controls (plants grown in soil). Although the CO2 assimilation rate was lower for the CFA plants, increased growth was recorded for all the plants tested. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to quantify the amount of trace elements in samples and parameters including translocation factor (TF) and bioconcentration factor (BCF) were used to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of H. splendidum (Thunb.) Less. The results revealed that higher concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn and Pb were accumulated in the roots, while As, Ni and Zn were found in the shoots. Elements including As, Cr and Zn reported TF values above 1, indicating the plants' phytoextraction potential. The BCF values for As, Cu and Zn were 1.22, 1.19 and 1.03, indicating effectiveness in the phytostabilization processes. A removal rate efficiency ranging from 18.0 to 56.7% was recorded confirming that, H. splendidum (Thunb.) Less. can be employed for restoration of CFA dams.

Authentication of premium Asian rice varieties: Stable isotope ratios and multi-elemental content for the identification of geographic fingerprints

Over 90 percent of the world's rice is produced and consumed in the Asia-Pacific region. Varieties such as Thai Jasmine rice and Paw San (or “Myanmar pearl rice”) are globally recognised as premium, while more local high-grade varieties include the Indonesian Ciherang and Inpari. Being able to trace the origin of these products has become necessary, since they are marketed at relatively higher prices compared to other cultivars, and they often become the target of fraudulent activities. In this work, we aimed to identify variables that could distinguish the premium-producing regions within each country, by Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma- Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Low-Level Data Fusion (LLDF) followed the analysis of more than 300 authentic samples, and (O)PLS-DA models yielded very high accuracy values. The most important geo-differentiating variables (VIP>1.4) were identified as: δ13C, δ18O, δ2H, δ34S, Co, Rb, Cu, Ba and Zn.

Effect of Ca doping at A or B sites on electrochemical performance of La1.9In0.1Ce2O7 proton conductors

Fluorite proton conductors La1.8In0.1Ca0.1Ce2O7-δ and La1.9In0.1Ce1.9Ca0.1O7-δ (LICaC and LICCa) were synthesized by solid state reaction. The effect of Ca doping at A site or B site on La1.9In0.1Ce2O7 was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrical conductivity measurement. XRD shows that the LICaC and LICCa were successfully synthesized, and Ca was doped to the expected sites. The measured mass ratios of each element by ICP were in good agreement with their theoretical values. In addition, SEM also found that the surface of the sample was dense without holes. The conductivities of LICaC and LICCa were studied at 400–800 ℃, and their highest conductivities were 7.28×10−4 and 5.56×10−3 S·cm−1, respectively. The conductivity of LICCa doped at the B site is better than that of LICaC doped at the A site. In the wet air at 800 ℃, the proton transference numbers of LICaC and LICCa are 0.5 and 0.52, respectively. LICaC and LICCa were used as electrolytes to prepare fuel cells and their performance was tested. The electrolyte thickness of LICAC and LICCA was about 0.9 mm. At 700 ℃, the maximum power density of LICaC and LICCa electrolyte-based single cells are 124.51 and 162.26 mW cm−2, respectively. The results show that LICCa has good proton conductivity and has potential as an electrolyte for high-performance fuel cells.

Exploring serum trace element shifts: Implications for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

BackgroundCervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) represents a premalignant state presumably related to perturbations in circulating levels of trace elements. Materials and methodsEmploying inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), we quantified essential and toxic trace elements in the sera of 60 women diagnosed with CIN and 60 age-matched healthy counterparts. ResultsOur investigation revealed a noteworthy higher levels in serum of Mn, Zn, and Pb, as well as lower levels in Ni, Se, Rb, and Mo levels within the CIN cohort. Levels of Mn, Zn, and Pb were higher by approximately 5.5-fold, 3.0-fold, and 7.5-fold, respectively, while Mo levels exhibited an approximate 4.5-fold reduction in CIN sera compared to the control group. While the study provided valuable insights into trace element variations, it’s important to note that the adult Serbian population is considered Zn-deficient, so the Zn data should be interpreted with caution. Age stratification (30–40 vs. 40–50 vs. 50–60 years), smoking status (smokers vs. nonsmokers), and CIN severity (CIN 2 vs. CIN 3) yielded no significant disparities in elemental profiles. Among the 10 proposed ratios, 5 demonstrated a significant surge in CIN sera relative to controls: Mn/Se, Mn/Mo, Zn/Se, Zn/Mo, and Se/Mo. Correlation analysis of trace element levels revealed a predominantly consistent pattern between CIN cases and healthy subjects, except for Zn and its negative correlations (antagonistic interactions) with other analyzed trace elements. ConclusionOur findings underscore differences in serum levels of specific trace elements in CIN cases versus controls, implicating their potential involvement in the underlying pathophysiological cascades culminating in cervical neoplasms.

Research on the Composition of Feldspar Production Waste and Prospects for its Use

The results of studies of the material composition of tailings from the feldspar production of JSC Vishnegorsk Mining and Processing Plant are presented, and the possibilities of their use as technogenic mineral raw materials are assessed. Size distribution, qualitative and quantitative analyzes of the chemical and mineral composition of the tailings were carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The possibility of involving the modern tailings in a repeated technological cycle has been noted, especially considering the exclusion of crushing and grinding of the original ore from the technological process. It has been found that the tailings dump has the potential for significant concentrations (mg/kg): niobium (up to 390), cerium (up to 64.1), tantalum (74.3), neodymium (up to 15.2), germanium (up to 11.7), hafnium (up to 11.5). It is recommended to study the lower horizons of the Vishnegorsky MPP tailings dump for the presence of zones of possible enrichment in these elements, which is proposed to be carried out before the start of the reclamation process of the waste disposal site.

Quantifying the effects of chlorine disinfection on microplastics by time-resolved inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Using current water treatment systems, significant amounts of microplastics (MPs) are passing through and being released into the aquatic environment. However, we do not clearly know what effects disinfection processes have had on these particles. In this study, we applied inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) operating in time-resolved analysis (TRA) mode for quantifying changes in the chlorine (Cl) content of MPs under a variety of water treatment scenarios. Our results illustrated that time-resolved ICP-MS offers a potential method for sensitive and direct analysis of Cl content, including Cl mass and chlorine association (%Cl/C), of discrete particles in the MP suspension by the fast sequential measurements of signals from 35Cl1H2 and 12C1H. Our research, across various water treatment scenarios, also showed that polystyrene (PS) MPs exhibited greater reactivity to Cl disinfectant after being pre-disinfected with UV light and in mildly acidic to neutral pH environments. It is noteworthy that about half of the particles in MP suspension exposed to 10 mg Cl2/L, a typical Cl dose applied in water treatment, were chlorinated, and had a Cl content comparable to that of particles subjected to extreme conditions. Of even greater concern is the fact that our cell viability tests revealed that chlorinated MPs induced considerably higher rates of cell death in both human A549 and Caco-2 cells, and that the effects were Cl dose- and polymer type-dependent. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of time-resolved ICP-MS as a valuable technique for quantifying the Cl content of MP particles, which is crucial to assessing the fate and transformation of MPs in our water supply and treatment systems.

Assessing the risk of consuming fish from Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu), India: An evaluative study on bioaccumulated heavy metals in different fish species using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Environmental pollutants which are developing an alarming situation in the contemporary world captured attention in the present research. When it comes to food safety and security concerns it becomes an important field to be studied rigorously as food contributes majorly to human and animal health. The pollution of aquatic ecosystems by heavy metals (HMs) ultimately results in adverse effect on the food chain, which is covered in the current study. Fish is considered to be one of the main components of a balanced diet plate due to its high-quality protein, which sets it apart from other dietary sources. On the other hand, it is also susceptible to the absorption and bioaccumulation of HMs at toxic levels. In our study, we have considered three different species (Nemipterus japonicus, Oreochromis mossambicus, and Lates calcarifer) of fish collected from Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu (India). Three organs namely liver, gill, and muscle were taken into consideration for the HM profiling using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Mercury (Hg) and Lead (Pb) were found to be in varied concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1.13, 0.89–1.45, 9.95–30.66, 0.14–1.62, and 24.69–189.5 µg/kg respectively, in the studied organs of fish. Carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risk assessments were also done indicating a notable level of Pb and Cr in selected fish species. The Hazard Index (HI) for Oreochromis mossambicus was >1 for adults and children, indicating future possibility of probable health hazards on daily consumption of these fish. In Oreochromis mossambicus, the cancer risk (CR) values for Cr and As were significantly high, particularly for children, indicating a possible occurrence of acute health risk as it exceeded the threshold of 1 × 10−3 and suggesting a significant concern. Though consumption of fish on daily basis in such significant quantity is practically impossible both for adult and children, rendering these species safe.

Impact of Chronic Beryllium Exposure on Liver and Lung Function and Hematologic Parameters

Beryllium is a lightweight metal that is toxic to humans. The critical health effects related to beryllium exposure are liver toxicity, immune system toxicity, and chronic beryllium disease (CBD). This study investigated the effects of occupational beryllium exposure on liver and lung function and hematologic parameters among beryllium smelter workers. A cross-sectional study was performed by comparing 65 exposed workers and 34 non-exposed workers. Health information was collected through questionnaire surveys and biochemical tests. The concentration of urinary beryllium was determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The findings indicated that the urinary beryllium levels of the exposed workers and the controls were 0.48 (0.115, 1.19) μg/mL and 0.0125 (0.005, 0.005) μg/mL, respectively (p < 0.001). Compared with the controls, the exposed workers showed a significant increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level, hemoglobin (HGB) concentration, white blood cell (WBC) count, red blood cell (RBC) count, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the HGB concentration and ALT level were significantly correlated with the concentration of beryllium in urine (p < 0.05). The exposed workers had increased urinary concentrations of beryllium, in contrast to the control subjects. Moreover, the urinary beryllium levels among the exposed workers are much higher than that in the Chinese general population. Beryllium-exposed workers may be at risk of liver and hematologic impairments.

Sources, Distribution, and Health Implications of Heavy Metals in Street Dust across Industrial, Capital City, and Peri-Urban Areas of Bangladesh

Heavy metals in road dusts can directly pose significant health risks through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. This study investigated the pollution, distribution, and health effect of heavy metals in street dust from industrial, capital city, and peri-urban areas of Bangladesh. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) examined eight hazardous heavy metals such as Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Mn, Cr, Cd, and Co. Results revealed that industrial areas showed the highest metal concentrations, following the order Mn > Zn > Cr > Pb > Ni > Co > Cd, with an average level of 444.35, 299.25, 238.31, 54.22, 52.78, 45.66, and 2.73 mg/kg, respectively, for fine particles (≤20 μm). Conversely, multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to assess pollution levels and sources. Anthropogenic activities like traffic emissions, construction, and industrial processing were the main pollution sources. A pollution load index revealed that industrial areas had significantly higher pollution (PLI of 2.45), while the capital city and peri-urban areas experienced moderate pollution (PLI of 1.54 and 1.59). Hazard index values were below the safety level of 1, but health risk evaluations revealed increased non-carcinogenic risks for children, especially from Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb where Cr poses the highest cancer risk via inhalation, with values reaching 1.13 × 10−4–5.96 × 10−4 falling within the threshold level (10−4 to 10−6). These results underline the need for continuous environmental monitoring and pollution control in order to lower health hazards.

Soil heavy metals contamination and health risk of an endemic plant in southeast of Damavand Mt., Iran

Considering the toxicological effects of some heavy metals (HMs) in which directly related to mortality and carcinogenicity in the population by their entrance from plants through livestock grazing, and medical skin cream, the rehabilitation of contaminated sites through phytoremediation by native plants might be quite challenging. Diplotaenia damavandica Mozaff. ex-Hedge & Lamond, is used as medical skin creams due to the existence of specific ingredients, which can be effective in treating skin disease. In the present study, the plant and associated soil sampling were performed around the boundary of D. damavandica. The concentration was measured using the Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results revealed the effect of existing endemic plants on reducing the average concentration of lead and zinc in soil by 40 and 60%, respectively, due to phytoremediation. EDX confirmed the presence of Pb and Zn in root and shoot tissues. Based on the results of this study, D. damavandica is an endemic perennial herbaceous plant with 60% biomass and prosperous root systems, which can grow in low contaminated areas of Pb in the southeast of Damavand Mt. Hence, the HMs pattern indicated less often in the aerial parts except for lead, which should be examined more carefully for skin cream uses.

Analysis of sulfur in soil and plant digests using methane as a reaction gas for ICP-MS

Quantitation of sulfur (S) is vitally important for analysis of agricultural soil and plant samples due to the requirement of S in living organisms. Although inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a commonly used and robust instrument for multi-elemental detection, S is usually analysed by ICP-optical emission spectroscopy (OES) since S quantitation poses a particular challenge for ICP-MS due to interferences on all S isotopes. The requirement for analysis by two instruments increases time and cost for sample analysis, hence analysis by one instrument is desirable. The use of reaction gases in ICP-MS can improve the performance by shifting S to a mass for detection where no interference is present. This work explored the potential of methane as a reaction gas for analysis of S in soil and plant samples to give users an alternative option to oxygen. The product ion clusters CH2SH+ were monitored (m/z 47 and 49 on ICP-MS and with mass shift of +15 from Q1 → Q2 using 32 → 47 and 34 → 49 on triple quadrupole ICP-MS). As expected, triple quadrupole ICP-MS performed better than single quadrupole ICP-MS containing a reaction cell due to the ability to preselect the m/z of choice and remove ions that may react with methane in the reaction cell. The method detection limit (MDL) was 150 mg kg−1 S for plants and 53 mg kg−1 S for soils which is fit for requirements. This is the first-time methane has been reported as a reaction gas for analysis of S and shows promising results for agricultural samples when using a triple quadrupole ICP-MS. Results compared well to those obtained via the more commonly used ICP-optical emission spectroscopy (OES) method with results <20 % for all samples. Interlaboratory comparison samples were within 2 Z-scores of the consensus mean. In the absence of ICP-MS/MS, Q-ICP-MS with detection of cluster m/z 47 was deemed to be suitable for detection of S in plant samples, with acceptable MDL (250 mg kg−1 S), acceptable precision (<20 % RSD) and <20 % variation to the reported ICP-OES result.

Associations of multiple serum metals with the risk of metabolic syndrome among the older population in China based on a community study: A mediation role of peripheral blood cells

Metal exposure has been reported to be associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), however, the evidence remains inconclusive, particularly in elderly individuals. From May to July 2016, serum levels of 16 metals were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in 852 elderly individuals (≥65 years) residing in Wuhan, China. Biological detection and disease recognition were based on individual surveys conducted during health check-ups. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis was performed to identify the correlation among serum metals. The data were Ln-transformed to fit a normal distribution for further analyses. Linear and logistic regression were applied to explore the associations between metals and diseases. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was utilized to examine dose-response relationships. The Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) score was applied to determine the empirical weights of each heavy metal in the context of their combined effect on metabolic diseases. The prevalence of MetS, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were 46.36 %, 68.90 %, 24.65 %, and 21.60 %, respectively. Serum metal mixture was positively associated with the prevalence of MetS (OR = 1.92, 95 % CI: 1.30–2.82), hypertension (OR = 1.50, 95 % CI: 1.01–2.23), and diabetes (OR = 2.18, 95 % CI: 1.48–3.22). In single metal models, we found that serum zinc levels were associated with an increased risk of MetS, while rubidium had a protective effect against MetS. Interestingly, different metals had distinct effects on specific diseases in this study: lithium and barium were more likely to influence blood pressure, while selenium had a more significant effect on blood glucose. Lipids were more susceptible to the effects of zinc, selenium, and strontium. Platelet count (PLT) and lymphocyte count (LYM) mediated the association between selenium exposure and hyperlipidemia, while neutrophil count (NEU) mediated the relationship between serum rubidium exposure and MetS. Our findings offer valuable etiological insights into the relationship between serum heavy metals and the prevalence of MetS, suggesting that peripheral blood cells may play a mediating role in this association.

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography: An efficient tool for assessing thorium interaction with phosphorylated biomimetic peptides

In the field of nuclear toxicology, the knowledge of the interaction of actinides (An) with biomolecules is of prime concern in order to elucidate their toxicity mechanism and to further develop selective decorporating agents. In this work, we demonstrated the great potential of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) to separate polar thorium (Th) biomimetic peptide complexes, as a key starting point to tackle these challenges. Th4+ was used as plutonium (Pu4+) analogue and pS16 and pS1368 as synthetic di- and tetra-phosphorylated peptides capable of mimicking the interaction sites of these An in osteopontin (OPN), a hyperphosphorylated protein. The objective was to determine the relative affinity of pS16 and pS1368 towards Th4+, and to evaluate the pS1368 selectivity when Th4+ was in competition complexation reaction with UO22+ at physiological pH. To meet these aims, HILIC was simultaneously coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), which allowed to identify online the molecular structure of the separated complexes and quantify them, in a single step. Dedicated HILIC conditions were firstly set up to separate the new dimeric Th2(peptide)2 complexes with good separation resolution (peptide = pS16 or pS1368). By adding pS16 and pS1368 in different proportions relatively to Th4+, we found that lower or equal proportions of pS16 with respect to pS1368 were not sufficient to displace pS1368 from Th2pS13682 and pS16 proportion higher than pS1368 led to the formation of a predominant ternary complex Th2(pS16)(pS1368), demonstrating preferential Th4+ binding to the tetra-phosphorylated peptide. Finally, online identification and quantification of the formed complexes when Th4+ and UO22+ were mixed in equimolar ratio relatively to pS1368 showed that in spite of pS1368 has been specifically designed to coordinate UO22+, pS1368 is also Th4+-selective and exhibits stronger affinity for this latter than for UO22+. Hence, the results gathered through this approach highlight the impact of Th4+ coordination chemistry on its interaction with pS1368 and more widely to its affinity for biomolecules.