Potentially Toxic Elements Levels Research Articles

Spatial variability and risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in the effluent of Kumasi Abattoir [sbnd] Ghana

Hypothesis-driven experiments have been conducted to explore the spatial variability and potential ecological risk indices (RIs) of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in untreated in situ effluent continuously discharged downstream by the Kumasi Abattoir Ghana (KAG). The study focused on seven PTEs nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe), based on these hypotheses: (i) Variations in PTE levels may be significant in the effluent; (ii) Comparative RI assessments based on the three background values natural background values (NBVs) for freshwater, maximum admissible concentrations (MACs), and reference values (RVs) provide objective evaluations; and (iii) PTEs’ cluster distances are linked to RIs. Effluent samples were randomly collected in quintuplicates from the drainage receptacle and analyzed using standard methods. The spatial variability of PTEs was investigated using divisive hierarchical cluster analysis (DHCA). The RIs and their uncertainties were computed using Hakanson's equations and standard deviation (SD). PTE dispersion was analyzed using the coefficient of variation (CV). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to test for the significance of hypotheses 1 and 2, complemented by Scheffé's post-hoc test where significance was detected. Hypothesis 3 was investigated by analyzing PTE cluster distances and RIs based on Pearson's correlation metric. The DHCA produced two clusters Cd–Cu–Mn–Ni and Zn-(Fe)-Pb. The CVs (< 50 %) indicated medium variability, relatively uniform spatial distributions, and minimal fluctuations. High to very high RIs ± SDs obtained were 300 ± 57.5 (MACs), 2900 ± 500 (RVs), and 7666 ± 2980 (NBVs). The ANOVA yielded significant results for both hypotheses, while moderate to high correlations were obtained for the third hypothesis. While RIs provided compelling evidence of inimical effluent, the study highlights the influence of background values on RIs. It further suggests that the PTE cluster distances may be used as surrogates for the RIs.

Contamination levels of potentially toxic elements within the Ogun River estuary sediments, southwest Nigeria: Ecological and human health risk assessments

BackgroundThe Ogun River estuary is located at the northwestern corner of the Lagos Lagoon in southwest Nigeria. Metal smelting, petroleum products transport, sewage disposal and chemical production are activities within this region, which could lead to the release of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) into the immediate environment. This study investigates the contamination levels of PTEs in the Ogun River estuary sediments, with emphasis on ecological and human health risks. MethodsFourteen sediment samples were collected from the estuary through the Ogun River and Majidun environments. These samples were analyzed for PTEs including Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). The contamination levels of sedimented PTEs from selected sample sites in the estuary were documented for ecological and health risk assessments. ResultsThe analysis revealed bulk concentrations of PTEs across the sampling stations. The contamination factor (CF) showed high contamination levels for Cd and Zn at sample sites 2, 14 and 16; while the other metals revealed moderate pollution indices across all the sites. The risk factor (Er) values of Cd at stations 2, 15 and 16 showed potential contamination. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) signified that the distribution of the PTEs is independent of the environmental factors, exposing significant anthropogenic input. Evaluations of the sediment quality revealed that PTEs such as Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn, whose concentrations are above their TECs and ERLs, have little to no detrimental effects on sediment living organisms. The health risk assessment has shown that HI values for the elements fall within the non-carcinogenic risk range. The effects of the mean concentrations of these metals on the non-carcinogenic risk (HQ) for adults and children in decreasing order of impact are Co > Pb > Mn > Ni > Cd > Cu > Zn > Fe for both ingestion and dermal pathways. The human health risk index varies from low cancer risk in adult (LCR = 4.4 × 10−5) to moderate cancer risk in children (LCR = 4.1 × 10−4). ConclusionThis study has revealed the significance of anthropogenic input of PTEs into the environment. The sedimented PTEs are within permissible range, but monitoring and assessment activities should be focused on the Majidun axis since most metals show high concentration in this region.

Geochemical status of non-reclaimed ash dumps subjected to long-term self-overgrowing: Evidence from the Tyumen, Russia

Establishing the geochemical state of ash dumps of solid fuel thermal power plants in the absence of reclamation is extremely important in urban conditions. The current study was performed to assess the level, spatial distribution, soil pollution and risk of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils of abandoned ash dumps from the city of Tyumen, Russia. In general, the soils of as dumps had elevated levels of PTEs and PAHs compared to the crustal abundance and global soil background. A number of metals, namely Sr, Ni, Cu, Cr, Zn, and V, were concentrated in the soils of ash dumps (2–6 times), while As, Co, and Pb slightly exceeded the citywide average (up to 1.5 times). Naphthalene (NAP) was the only representative of the studied PAHs, the concentrations of which in the soils of ash dumps significantly exceeded the median content in urban soils of Tyumen. Elevated levels of NAP are likely a consequence of frequent fires occurring in grassy areas. Spatial patterns of pollutants are mainly controlled by the initial heterogeneity of technogenic substrates, rather than the post-depositional processes including vegetation and soil cover development. Low and moderate pollution and human health risks of PTEs and PAHs were revealed in topsoils of the studied sites. Although elevated levels of pollutants in coal ash dump soils are due to peat combustion, they pose less of an environmental risk than the more common coal ash dumps and are potentially suitable for a wider variety of management practices.

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and ecological risk at waste disposal sites: An analysis of sanitary landfills.

This study presents an analysis of soil contamination caused by Ni, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb at municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, with a focus on ecological risk assessment. The approach aims to assess how different landfill practices and environmental conditions affect soil contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and associated environmental risks. Soil samples were collected from MSW landfills in Poland and the Czech Republic. The research included a comprehensive assessment of PTEs in soils in the context of global environmental regulations. The degree of soil contamination by PTEs was assessed using indices: Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Single Pollution Index (Pi), Nemerow Pollution Index (PN), and Load Capacity of a Pollutant (PLI). The ecological risk was determined using the Risk of PTEs (ERi) and Sum of Individual Potential Risk Factors (ERI). The maximum values of the indicators observed for the Radiowo landfill were as follows: Igeo = 4.04 for Cd, Pi = 24.80 for Cd, PN = 18.22 for Cd, PLI = 2.66, ERi = 744 for Cd, ERI = 771.80. The maximum values of the indicators observed for the Zdounky landfill were as follows: Igeo = 1.04 for Cu, Pi = 3.10 for Cu, PN = 2.52 for Cu, PLI = 0.27, ERi = 25 for Cd, ERI = 41.86. The soils of the tested landfills were considered to be non-saline, with electrical conductivity (EC) values less than 2,000 μS/cm. Varying levels of PTEs were observed, and geostatistical analysis highlighted hotspots indicating pollution sources. Elevated concentrations of Cd in the soil indicated potential ecological risks. Concentrations of Cu and lead Pb were well below the thresholds set by the environmental legislation in several countries. In addition, Ni concentrations in the soils of both landfills indicated that the average levels were within acceptable limits. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed common sources of PTEs. The identification of specific risk points at the Radiowo and Zdounky sites contributes to a better understanding of potential hazards in landfill environments. By establishing buffer zones and implementing regular maintenance programs, emerging environmental problems can be addressed in a timely manner.

Chemical food safety of seaweed: Species, spatial and thallus dependent variation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and techniques for their removal

The increasing interest in seaweed as a food resource in Western societies raises concerns about associated potentially toxic elements (PTEs), including arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead, and iodine. Hence, this study examined variation in PTEs by including samples of four different species (Ulva lactuca, Palmaria palmata, Alaria esculenta, and Saccharina latissima) from Ireland, as well as of a single species (S. latissima) from three different harvest sites and with different thallus parts analyzed from a single harvest site. Comparing different species from the Irish site, U. lactuca showed the overall lowest PTE levels, while S. latissima and A. esculenta had notably higher levels of arsenic (105±3 and 57.9±5.5 mg kg-1 DW, respectively) and cadmium (0.839±0.046 and 1.03±0.05 mg kg-1 DW, respectively), and S. latissima had highest iodine levels (2480±210 mg kg-1 DW). Lead was higher in P. palmata and U. lactuca but below maximum limits. Further analysis of S. latissima from three sites (Ireland, Norway, Sweden) showed site-specific variations in inorganic arsenic (0.192–9.69 mg kg-1 DW), lead (0.0751–0.269 mg kg-1 DW), and cadmium (0.554–1.16 mg kg-1 DW). Saccharina latissima from the Swedish site exhibited uneven PTE distribution in tissue of different age. In terms of tolerable intake levels, iodine and cadmium posed most concern for seaweed consumption. After processing, total ash content decreased, leading to reductions in total arsenic (61.1%), inorganic arsenic (92.4%), lead (49.4%), and iodine (72.8%). Cadmium and mercury were difficult to remove. This study offers insights into the chemical food safety of seaweed, both pre- and post-processing, for introduction into expanding European markets.Graphical abstract

Human health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements and microplastics accumulation in products from the Danube River Basin fish market

The present study aimed to quantify the concentration levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, and mercury, as well as microplastics occurrence in various tissues of fish and seafood species, commercialized in the Lower Danube River Basin. A health risk assessment analysis was performed based on the PTEs concentration levels in the muscle tissue. Estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), and target cancer risk (TR) of PTEs were calculated. It was observed that the species within the seafood category registered the highest levels of PTEs. For instance, in the muscle tissue of bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis (from the Black Sea), the highest value was observed in the case of Zn (37.693 mg/kg), and the presence of polystyrene polymer was identified. The values associated with EDI, THQ, HI, and TR of PTE exposure were significantly lower than 1.

Environmental Risk Assessment and Sources of Potentially Toxic Elements in Seawater of Jazan Coastal Area, Saudi Arabia

High levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in water bodies negatively affect the biota of aquatic ecosystems and surrounding environments. A risk assessment investigation of the levels and distribution of PTEs in the seawater of the Jazan coastal area, southwest Saudi Arabia, was conducted. Thirty-two surface seawater samples were collected, and contamination (Cd) and heavy metal pollution (HPI) indices, as well as multivariate statistics, were applied. The average PTE levels (µg/L), in descending order of magnitude, were Cu (2.56), Pb (2.27), Ni (1.30), Cr (1.28), Zn (1.04), Sb (0.36), Co (0.22), and Cd (0.06). A fluctuating pattern without a fixed direction was detected in the spatial distribution of these metals, with increased pollution being linked to high metal levels as shown by some samples. The HPI indicated low pollution in 50% of the samples and medium pollution in the remaining 50%, whereas the Cd indicated low contamination with PTEs. The absence of significant correlations between pairs of metals indicated different sources of metal pollution. Lithogenic sources are implicated in the supply of Co, Ni, Pb, and Sb, whereas Cr was mainly derived from an anthropogenic source, and combined lithogenic and anthropogenic sources are believed to have contributed Cu and Zn to the area. It is proposed that urbanization, agriculture, and industry are among the potential anthropogenic sources of pollutants on the Jazan coastline. Soils generated on the undifferentiated Quaternary rocks along the investigated area are the main lithogenic sources.

Influencing Factors of Elevated Levels of Potentially Toxic Elements in Agricultural Soils from Typical Karst Regions of China

Agricultural soils originating from carbonate rocks within karst regions exhibit inherent high concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) due to geogenic processes. However, the influencing factors of the elevated levels of PTEs in the naturally contaminated karst regions remain inadequately comprehended. This research investigates the chemical compositions of 278 soils derived from carbonate rocks. Descriptive statistics, stepwise multiple regression, and the random forest (RF) method were applied to screen the significant factors that affect the distribution, migration, and enrichment of the PTEs in soils. Cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) are the most highly contaminated PTEs in the soils of the study area, and the average contents of Cd and As in soils are 11.5 and 2.92 times the national soil background value, respectively. The pollution risk ranking of PTEs is Cd &gt; As &gt; Cr &gt; Zn &gt; Pb &gt; Cu &gt; Ni &gt; Hg, using the proportion exceeding the risk screening thresholds of agricultural land as the standard. Soil Fe2O3 and Mn contents, soil pH and total organic carbon (TOC) values, and weathering intensity (characterized using the chemical index of alternation, CIA) are the most important factors influencing the PTE levels in agricultural soils.

A circular economy approach to drinking water treatment residue management in a catchment impacted by historic metal mines

Drinking water treatment residues (DWTR) from mining areas which remove and contain potentially toxic elements (PTE) could still potentially be used as a soil amendment to restore contaminated sites in the same catchment, thus eliminating waste and reducing the chemical and physical mobility of the pollutants. To assess this restorative and regenerative approach to DWTR management, field and pot trials were established with soils from a historic Pb–Zn mine site in the North East of England, amended with either local DWTR or the nearest available municipal green waste compost (GWC). Soils from the mine site were found to have very low levels of nutrients and very high levels of PTE (Pb and Zn > 13, 000 mg/kg). The perennial grass species Phalaris arundinacea, known for many ecosystem service benefits including soil stabilization, was used throughout this study. The application of the BCR sequential extraction to soils amended with the DWTR in the pot trials found a significant decrease in the bioavailability of Pb and Cu (p < 0.05) after plant growth when compared with an unamended control. The field trial involved 648 pre-grown grass plants planted-out into mine soils amended with either DWTR, GWC or a mixture (MIX) of the two, all at rates of 25–30% w/w. Both amendments and the MIX had significant positive effects on biomass production compared to the unamended control in the following order GWC > MIX > DWTR (p < 0.05). Results of the elemental analysis of biomass from the field trial were generally ambiguous and did not reflect the decreased bioavailability noted in the pot trials using the BCR procedure. Pot trials, however, showed increases in plant growth and decreases in concentrations of Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in above ground biomass following the application of both amendments. Further work should involve the testing of a mixture of DWTR and other soil amendments to enhance plant growth. The success of these trials should provide confidence for those working in drinking water treatment and catchment management to reuse the waste residues in a circular economy and a sustainable way that could improve water quality over time.

Potentially toxic elements in soil and air along an altitudinal gradient in Tatra National Park

With a growing number of tourists, national parks are facing high pressure in terms of production and spreading the potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Car parks, roads or civil amenities have become a source of PTEs, which are spreading not only in their immediate vicinity, but can contaminate much wider surroundings. Total content of Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn was determined in soil samples and, also in mosses and lichen samples, which were used as bioindication method for air pollution monitoring. Soil pollution was evaluated by contamination factor (Cf), degree of contamination (Cd) and the pollution load index (PLI). The impact of pollution on selected soil characteristics (soil enzymes, soil respiration, total nitrogen, organic carbon, soil pH) was also evaluated. Content of PTEs in moss and lichen samples was expressed by relative accumulation factor values (RAF).The most serious soil pollution was recorded at the first (lowest in terms of altitude) sampling point, but soil contamination reached significant values also at higher altitudes. All evaluated soil properties showed decreasing tendency under the soil pollution, with exception of soil pH, which showed positive correlation with PTEs. The ability of mosses and lichen to accumulate pollution in their insoles varied depending on the toxic element. High levels of PTEs have also been captured at higher altitudes due to their ability to spread, transport and accumulate in the environment.

Ecotoxicological monitoring of potentially toxic elements contamination in Eucalyptus forest plantation subjected to long-term irrigation with recycled wastewater

Afforestation is an evergreen technology for restraining greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission and improving soil carbon sink in arid and semi-arid regions. Nonetheless, the long-term impact of woody forests irrigation using recycled wastewater resources remains inconclusive so far. For this purpose, the ecological risk benchmarks of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) were investigated on Eucalyptus forest plantation in order to gauge their bioavailability in the rhizospheric layer of Typic Torripsammentsoil and their accretion capacity in the biosphere. Water quality guidelines pointed to a moderate degree of restriction on use with elevated levels of PTEs. Notably, concentrations of As, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, V and Zn were above the permissible limits for irrigation. The geospatial mapping of PTEs concentration in soil pointed to elevated levels of most PTEs, particularly in the deforestated areas. Some of PTEs (Cd, Cu, Hg and Zn) showed values above the permissible limits. A spectrum of ecological risk indices showed considerable to high degree of contamination. Among PTEs, the water–soluble and exchangeable fractions showed high values of As, Cd and Hg (20.7, 17.2 and 11.0%, respectively). Sequential extraction showed variations among PTEs in their tendency to bind with different soil geochemical fractions: (i) carbonate (Cd, Zn and Cu), (ii) Fe–Mn oxides (Pb, Zn and Mn) and (iii) organic matter (B, Pb and Hg). Eight fungal species including Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium solani, Cephalosporimsp., Penicilliumsp., Rhizoctonia solani, Aspergillus niger, Botrytissp. and Verticilliumsp. were dominated in soil. Meanwhile, Agrobacteriumsp., phosphate solubilizing bacteria, nitrogen fixing bacteria and Escherichia coli were the dominant bacterial strains. Values of bioaccumulation index varied among PTEs, wherein B (5.15), Ni (1.98), Mn (1.62) and Cd (1.02) exhibited higher phytoextraction potentials. Other PTEs, however, exhibited values below 1.0 confirming their low phytoextraction potentials. Findings of this investigation, therefore, provide insights into biochemical signals of PTEs contamination in woody forest plantations and the urgent need to contextualize the large-scale utilization of recycled wastewater resources in such vulnerable areas.

Impact of Potentially Toxic Compounds in Cow Milk: How Industrial Activities Affect Animal Primary Productions.

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) frequently coexist in soils near industrial areas and sometimes in environmental compartments directly linked to feed (forage) and food (milk) production. However, the distribution of these pollutants along the dairy farm production chain is unclear. Here, we analyzed soil, forage, and milk samples from 16 livestock farms in Spain: several PTEs and PAHs were quantified. Farms were compared in terms of whether they were close to (<5 km) or far away from (>5 km) industrial areas. The results showed that PTEs and PAHs were enriched in the soils and forages from farms close to industrial areas, but not in the milk. In the soil, the maximum concentrations of PTEs reached 141, 46.1, 3.67, 6.11, and 138 mg kg-1 for chromium, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead, respectively, while fluoranthene (172.8 µg kg-1) and benzo(b)fluoranthene (177.4 µg kg-1) were the most abundant PAHs. Principal component analysis of the soil PTEs suggested common pollution sources for iron, arsenic, and lead. In the forage, the maximum contents of chromium, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead were 32.8, 7.87, 1.31, 0.47, and 7.85 mg kg-1, respectively. The PAH found in the highest concentration in the feed forage was pyrene (120 µg kg-1). In the milk, the maximum PTE levels were much lower than in the soil or the feed forages: 74.1, 16.1, 0.12, 0.28, and 2.7 µg kg-1 for chromium, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead, respectively. Neither of the two milk samples exceeded the 20 µg kg-1 limit for lead set in EU 1881/2006. Pyrene was the most abundant PAH found in the milk (39.4 µg kg-1), while high molecular weight PAHs were not detected. For PTEs, the results showed that soil-forage transfer factors were higher than forage-milk ratios. Our results suggest that soils and forages around farms near industries, as well as the milk produced from those farms, have generally low levels of PTE and PAH contaminants.

Contamination Fingerprints in an Inactive W (Sn) Mine: The Regoufe Mine Study Case (Northern Portugal)

The target of this study was the tungsten Regoufe mine, whose exploitation stopped in the 1970s. When the mine closed, an unacceptable legacy constituted of mining waste tailings and the ruins of infrastructure was left behind. This work assessed the soil, plants, and water contamination in the mining area; namely their content in potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The global impact of PTEs in the Regoufe mine surface soil points to a very high to ultrahigh degree of contamination of the area having a serious ecological risk level, mainly related to As and Cd contributions. However, establishing the direct relation between As contamination and the anthropogenic effects caused by the mining process cannot be carried out in a straightforward manner, since the soils were already enriched in metals and metalloids as a result of the geological processes that gave origin to the mineral deposits. The studies performed on the plants revealed that the PTE levels in the plants were lower than in the soil, but site-specific soil concentrations in As and Pb positively influence bioaccumulation in plants. The magnetic studies showed the presence of magnetic technogenic particles concentrated in the magnetic fraction, in the form of magnetic spherules. The magnetic technogenic particles probably result from temperature increases induced by some technological process related to ore processing/mining activity. The PTEs in the surface and groundwater samples were similar and relatively low, being unlikely to pose potential health and environmental risks. Arsenic (As) constituted the exception, with levels above reference for drinking water purposes.

The Concentration and Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Farmed and Wild Carps (Cyprinus carpio) in Hamadan Province of Iran.

This study focuses on measuring potentially toxic elements (PTEs) including mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) in farmed and wild carp by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and their intake amount and risk assessment. Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and the total THQ (TTHQ) were calculated for each element. In the present research, the concentration of As in farmed and wild carp samples was below the detection limit of ICP-OES (< 0.005mg/kg). The mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Fe, and Cu in farmed carp samples were significantly higher than that in wild carp samples, while Zn level was higher in the wild carp samples (P < 0.05). There is no significant difference between Hg and Mn in both fish (P > 0.05). The Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) results showed that the ranking order of PTEs based on their THQ was Hg > Pb > Zn > Cu > Fe > Cd > Mn. In the worst-case scenario (in the top 95 percentile) for both wild and farmed carp, the THQ of measured metals was less than one except Hg in children. Overall, this study demonstrated that the levels of PTEs in farmed and wild common carp had a potential non-carcinogenic risk for children (TTHQ > 1).

Quantitative Source Apportionment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Baoshan Soils Employing Combined Receptor Models.

Arable soils are crucial for national development and food security; therefore, contamination of agricultural soils from potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is a global concern. In this study, we collected 152 soil samples for evaluation. Considering the contamination factors and using the cumulative index and geostatistical methods, we investigated the contamination levels of PTEs in Baoshan City, China. Using principal component analysis, absolute principal component score-multivariate linear regression, positive matrix factorization, and UNMIX, we analyzed the sources and quantitatively estimated their contributions. The average Cd, As, Pb, Cu, and Zn concentrations were 0.28, 31.42, 47.59, 100.46, and 12.36 mg/kg, respectively. The Cd, Cu, and Zn concentrations exceeded the corresponding background values for Yunnan Province. The combined receptor models showed that natural and agricultural sources contributed primarily to Cd and Cu and As and Pb inputs, accounting for 35.23 and 7.67% pollution, respectively. Industrial and traffic sources contributed primarily to Pb and Zn inputs (47.12%). Anthropogenic activities and natural causes accounted for 64.76 and 35.23% of soil pollution, respectively. Industrial and traffic sources contributed 47.12% to pollution from anthropogenic activities. Accordingly, the control of industrial PTE pollution emissions should be strengthened, and awareness should be raised to protect arable land around roads.

Integration of proteomic and metabolomic analyses: New insights for mapping informal workers exposed to potentially toxic elements.

Occupational exposure to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is a concerning reality of informal workers engaged in the jewelry production chain that can lead to adverse health effects. In this study, untargeted proteomic and metabolomic analyses were employed to assess the impact of these exposures on informal workers' exposome in Limeira city, São Paulo state, Brazil. PTE levels (Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sn, Sb, Hg, and Pb) were determined in blood, proteomic analyses were performed for saliva samples (n = 26), and metabolomic analyses in plasma (n = 145) using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometry. Blood PTE levels of workers, controls, and their family members were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). High concentration levels of Sn and Cu were detected in welders' blood (p < 0.001). Statistical analyses were performed using MetaboAnalyst 4.0. The results showed that 26 proteins were upregulated, and 14 proteins downregulated on the welder group, and thirty of these proteins were also correlated with blood Pb, Cu, Sb, and Sn blood levels in the welder group (p < 0.05). Using gene ontology analysis of these 40 proteins revealed the biological processes related to the upregulated proteins were translational initiation, SRP-dependent co-translational protein targeting to membrane, and viral transcription. A Metabolome-Wide Association Study (MWAS) was performed to search for associations between blood metabolites and exposure groups. A pathway enrichment analysis of significant features from the MWAS was then conducted with Mummichog. A total of 73 metabolomic compounds and 40 proteins up or down-regulated in welders were used to perform a multi-omics analysis, disclosing seven metabolic pathways potentially disturbed by the informal work: valine leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis, valine leucine and isoleucine degradation, arginine and proline metabolism, ABC transporters, central carbon metabolism in cancer, arachidonic acid metabolism and cysteine and methionine metabolism. The majority of the proteins found to be statistically up or downregulated in welders also correlated with at least one blood PTE level, providing insights into the biological responses to PTE exposures in the informal work exposure scenario. These findings shed new light on the effects of occupational activity on workers' exposome, underscoring the harmful effects of PTE.

Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Agricultural Soils of Al-Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia

Contamination of soil with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is receiving great attention worldwide due to its apparent toxicity and hazards to local residents. The assessments of soil PTE distribution, sources, and environmental risks are, therefore, the first steps of high-efficiency pollutant degradation and sustainable utilization. The current study used a variety of contamination indicators and multivariate methods to evaluate the environmental risk of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in Al-Ahsa soils in eastern Saudi Arabia. For analysis, 30 surface soil samples were collected from palm fields irrigated with groundwater and treated sewage water. Landsat images of Al-Ahsa indicated an increase in the total vegetative area and the residential area, and a decrease in the bare land area from 1985 to 2021. The average concentrations of PTEs (mg/kg−1) were lower than the maximum admissible concentrations and had the following decreasing order: Zn (54.43) &gt; Cr (28.67) &gt; Ni (14.53) &gt; Cu (10.83) &gt; Pb (5.23) &gt; As (2.27) &gt; Hg (0.35) &gt; Cd (0.26). The enrichment factor (EF) findings confirmed that the Al-Ahsa soil is significantly enriched with Hg, moderately to severely enriched with As, and moderately enriched with Cd. The potential ecological risk index (RI) demonstrates a moderate ecological risk, with only certain parts presenting a high risk. The different PTE levels in agricultural soils may be caused partly by the various qualities of groundwater that originate from various aquifers and sewage-treated water. The results of a multivariate analysis showed that most of the anthropogenic sources of Hg, As, and Cd may come from using a lot of fertilizers and insecticides. Levels of the remaining PTEs indicated natural sources from earth crust materials.

Seasonal variations in mercury, cadmium, lead and arsenic species in Norwegian blue mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) – Assessing the influence of biological and environmental factors

BackgroundBlue mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) can accumulate undesirable substances, including the potentially toxic elements (PTEs) cadmium (Cd), mercury, (Hg), lead (Pb), arsenic (As) and As species. In this study, the levels of PTEs and As species were determined in samples of blue mussels to assess the influence of environmental and biological factors, and evaluate the potential risk associated with blue mussels in terms of food and feed safety. MethodologyBlue mussels were collected monthly from one location in Western Norway from February 2018 to December 2018, and from April 2019 to April 2020. Samples were analyzed for PTEs using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to ICP-MS. Temperature, salinity and fluorescence (chlorophyll a) were monitored in the seawater column by STD/CTD, to assess the potential influence of these environmental factors on the PTE levels in the mussels. ResultsThe results showed seasonal variations in the PTEs, with somewhat higher concentrations in spring and winter months. Unusually high levels of total As (101.2 mg kg-1 dw) and inorganic As (53.6 mg kg-1 dw) were observed for some of the time points. The organic As species arsenobetaine was generally the major As species (17–82% of total As) in the mussels, but also simple methylated As species and arsenosugars were detected. Principal components analysis (PCA) did not show a consistent relationship between the environmental factors and the PTE concentrations, showing contrary results for some elements for the periods studied. The condition index (CI) could explain variations in element concentration with significant correlations for Cd (r = −0.67, p = 0.009) and Pb (r = −0.62, p = 0.02 in 2019/20 and r = −0.52, p = 0.02 in 2018), whereas the correlation between As and CI was not significant (r = 0.12 in 2018, and r = −0.06 in 2019/20). Higher concentrations of iAs and arsenosugars coincided with increased signals of chlorophyll a, suggesting that phytoplankton blooms could be a source of As in the blue mussels. ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first study of As species in blue mussels collected over a time period of two years, providing an insight into the natural variations of these chemical forms in mussels. In terms of mussel as food and future feed material, concentrations of Cd, Hg and Pb were below the maximum levels (MLs) established in the EU food and feed legislation. However, levels of As and iAs in mussels at some time points exceeded the MLs for As in the feed legislation, and the margin of exposure (MOE) was low if these mussels were for human consumption, highlighting the importance of determining the chemical forms of As in feed and food.

Pollution and Health Risk Assessments of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Fine-Grained Particles (10−63 µm and

Fine road dust is a major source of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) pollution in urban environments, which adversely affects the atmospheric environment and public health. Two different sizes (10−63 and <10 μm) were separated from road dust collected from Apia City, Samoa, and 10 PTEs were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Fine road dust (<10 μm) had 1.2−2.3 times higher levels of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), antimony (Sb), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) than 10−63 μm particles. The enrichment factor (EF) value of Sb was the highest among PTEs, and reflected significant contamination. Cu, Zn, and Pb in road dust were also present at moderate to significant levels. Chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), and nickel (Ni) in road dust were mainly of natural origins, while Cu, Zn, Sb, and Pb were due to traffic activity. The levels of PTEs in road dust in Samoa are lower than in highly urbanized cities, and the exposure of residents in Samoa to PTEs in road dust does not pose a noncarcinogenic health risk. Further studies of the effects of PTEs contamination in road dust on the atmosphere and living organisms are needed.

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in Gomti-Ganga Alluvial Plain, associated human health risks assessment and potential remediation using novel-nanomaterials.

The health risks associated with consumption of water from river Gomti polluted with potentially toxic elements (PTEs), including As, Fe, Pb, Cd, Mn, Cr, Ni, and Hg were investigated at the initiation of unlocking of COVID-19 lockdown and compared with pre-COVID-19 lockdown status. In the current investigation, the total hazard index (THI) values exceeded the acceptable limit of “unity” at all sampling stations. The use of river water for drinking and domestic purposes by millions of people with high THI values has emerged as a matter of huge concern. The individual hazard quotients associated with Cd and Pb were found to be most severe (> 1). A vivid difference between the THI values during the two study phases indicated the positive impact of COVID-19 lockdown signifying the prominent impact of anthropogenic activities on the PTE concentrations. The closure of local manufacturing units (textile, battery, etc.) emerged as a potential reason for decreased health risks associated with PTE levels. The higher susceptibility of children to health risks in comparison with adults through the values of THI and HQs was interpreted across the study area. Potential remedial measures for PTE contamination have also been suggested in the study. Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10661-022-10562-2.