Mean Concentrations Of Metals Research Articles

Heavy metal pollution in marine ecosystems poses significant threats to aquatic organisms and human health. This study determined the concentrations of metals in the edible muscle tissues of recently obtained Mullus surmuletus samples collected from three distinct regions of the Mersin Bay, Northeastern (NE) Mediterranean Sea. The muscle tissues of the obtained fish samples were analyzed for the selected metals using microwave-assisted digestion and the ICP-MS technique. Then, potential health risks were assessed using Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Cancer Risk (CR) values. Study findings showed that the mean metal concentrations varied between 1.58 and 9.75mg/kg for Al, 0.0018-0.0020mg/kg for Cr, 0.292-0.680mg/kg for Mn, 6.20-20.05mg/kg for Fe, 0.0006-0.0016mg/kg for Co, 0.0007-0.0039mg/kg for Ni, 0.450-0.562mg/kg for Cu, 4.651-5.823mg/kg for Zn, 0.00019-0.00022mg/kg for Cd, and 0.0019-0.0030mg/kg for Pb, respectively. Metal concentrations varied significantly among sampling locations, with the highest levels detected in the central and eastern regions of the bay, highly influenced by riverine inputs from the Seyhan and Berdan Rivers, as well as maritime and wastewater discharges. One-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation analyses indicated significant spatial variation and potential common sources of metal contamination in the study region. Though all metal concentrations in fish samples were below national and international permissible threshold limits for human consumption, health risk assessments indicated that copper may pose long-term carcinogenic risks.

ABSTRACT The Cochin Estuary in India is experiencing considerable metal pollution, which originates from industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and domestic sewage. Evaluating sediment metal contamination and its associated ecological risks is essential for the effective management and conservation of this delicate ecosystem. This study provides an extensive assessment of trace metal concentrations (Fe, Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, and Cr), contamination levels, and related ecological risks in sediments collected from five locations within the estuary, sampled over three seasons: monsoon, post-monsoon, and pre-monsoon, for two years (2017–2019) to quantify the extent of anthropogenic impact. The mean concentrations of metals (mg/kg) were as follows: Fe (33,145.78 ± 12,066.92) > Zn (295.23 ± 191.11) > Cr (43.48 ± 14.68) > Ni (32.86 ± 14.31) > Cu (30.52 ± 11.31) > Pb (28.41 ± 10.22) > Cd (6.07 ± 3.59). The sediment quality indices, including the geo-accumulation index (I_geo ≈1 to 4), enrichment factor (EF ≈ 3 to 40), and contamination factor (CF ≈ 1 to > 6), indicated significant pollution from Zn and Cd. Most sampling stations recorded Pollution Load Index (PLI) values above 1, suggesting substantial degradation of sediment quality due to anthropogenic influence. Principal component analysis identified human-related activities as the major source of metal contamination. The Ecological Risk Index (ERI) values lie within the range from approximately 600 to 1200 at most sites, indicating a very high ecological risk and severe trace metal pollution. This comprehensive study underscores the urgent need for targeted mitigation strategies to protect the estuary’s ecosystem.

Heavy metal levels in Elemi and Ogbese Rivers surpass WHO standards, endangering community health. Limited awareness, linked to education gaps, increases exposure risks. Urgent action is needed to improve water safety and public health awareness. Hence, this study investigated water usage trends and heavy metal contamination in Elemi and Ogbese Rivers in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Data on demographic characteristics were collected through a guided questionnaire administered to 150 adults each, aged 18-55, from the two communities. Metals (Hg, Cr, Pb, Zn, Co, Cd) analyses in the water samples were carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy AAS. Statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS 29 with significance at p<0.05. The study revealed significant differences in educational levels and employment status between the two communities, with Elemi having higher frequencies than Ogbese in both parameters. The frequency of water usage showed that Ogbese consumed a higher daily water intake (12%) than Elemi (6%), a marker for a potentially increased susceptibility to contaminant contact through frequent water use. Education and occupation significantly influenced water usage in both rivers, while gender significantly influenced water usage in the Ogbese River only. There was higher awareness of heavy metal pollution in Elemi (36.0%) compared to Ogbese (10.0%). However, awareness of heavy metal pollution and effluent discharge is significantly correlated to education. Mean metal concentrations in Ogbese River and Elemi River were higher than the WHO recommended values, indicating a possible health hazard for communities that rely on these rivers. Low community awareness of heavy metal contamination poses significant public health risks, as river concentrations exceed WHO standards. Educational disparities affect awareness and water usage behaviours, emphasising the need for targeted interventions. Regulatory measures are necessary to control effluent discharge into rivers, Ongoing environmental monitoring is crucial for sustained protection. Community engagement remains key to safeguarding public health and ecosystems

Heavy metal exposure has raised grave health concerns globally in recent decades. The objective of the present research was to examine the contents of heavy metals, including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), and zinc (Zn) in canned fish, canned chick peas, and canned green peas collected from Tehran, Iran, utilizing inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Moreover, the health risks of heavy metal exposure through canned sample ingestion were evaluated utilizing Monte-Carlo simulation. The heavy metals in samples were detected in the range of 0.01 - 0.2 mg/kg for As, < LOD - 0.05 mg/kg for Cd, 0.9 - 11.8 mg/kg for Cu, 3 - 12.17 mg/kg for Fe, < LOD - 0.11 mg/kg for Hg, 0.01 - 0.9 mg/kg for Pb, 0.02 - 4.08 mg/kg for Sn, and 2.9 - 7.75 mg/kg for Zn. The mean concentration of metals in samples was within standard limits. THQ and HI values were below 1 and CR values were below 10-6, which were acceptable.These findings suggest that the concentrations of heavy metals in canned fish, chickpeas, and green peas do not pose a health risk to Iranian consumers.

This study was conducted to investigate the pollution level of heavy metals such as Pb, Cr, Ni, Mn, Zn and Fe in the water, sediment and body organs (head, intestine &amp; tile) of Tilapia zilli and Clarias batrachus from River Rukubi Doma, Nasarawa State. This was carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Magnesium was the most highly concentrated in the various matrices. Metal levels in the various body organs of the two fishes studied were found to be highly concentrated in the head. Comparison of metal levels in the body parts of the two fishes, sediment and water showed that Cu (85.9%) had the widest variability while Mg (13.1%) was the least. Also comparison of metal levels in the body parts of the Tilapia zilli and Clarias batrachus showed that Mg has the highest mean metal concentration in Clarias batrachus (655.85 µgg-1) than in Tilapia zilli (608.40 µgg-1). Iron showed the highest mean metal concentration in Tilapia zilli (166.51 µgg-1) than in Clarias batrachus (57.20 µgg-1). The heavy metals determined were mostly within the ranged of acceptable limit with exception of Pb, Cr and Mn. In view of this study it is recommended that biological monitoring of fishes meant for consumption from this water body be carried out regularly to ensure human safety. This study contributes to understanding the evaluation of metals level in fishes and their importance in food balanced approach for essential benefits.

Metal contaminant risk at active floating photovoltaic sites and future research roadmap.

Heavy metals are among the important environmental pollutants, yet their impact in remote areas remains underexplored because of limited studies on their monitoring. This study presents the first dendrochemical analysis from Mizoram, using Magnolia champaca tree rings to assess heavy metal concentration trends at a natural forest site (Site-I) and a roadside plantation (Site-II) for about two and half decades (from 1993 to 2019). The concentrations of Zn, Pb, Fe, Cu, Ni, and Mn were analyzed in tree rings to reconstruct pollution history. The results revealed a significant difference between the two sites, with roadside tree cores exhibiting greater variability and steadily increasing heavy metal concentrations as compared to natural forest. The mean concentrations of metals in natural forest samples were in the order: Fe (18.22mgkg⁻1) > Mn (12.01mgkg⁻1) > Ni (7.23mgkg⁻1) > Cu (3.71mgkg⁻1) > Pb (0.398mgkg⁻1) > Zn (0.411mgkg⁻1). In contrast, roadside samples showed considerably higher metal concentrations in the order: Mn (39.92mgkg⁻1) > Fe (22.9mgkg⁻1) > Ni (11.61mgkg⁻1) > Cu (10.28mgkg⁻1) > Zn (6.723mgkg⁻1) > Pb (3.17mgkg⁻1). Notably, M. champaca samples collected from the roadside contained elevated levels of Pb, Fe, Cu, and Ni, exceeding the permissible limits for plant parts as prescribed by the WHO. The study underscores the potential of species as a bioindicator of heavy metal pollution. These findings are crucial for informing soil management, pollution control, and understanding nutrient-metal cycling in trees. Further research is needed to explore the plant-soil interactions and behaviours of heavy metals in these environments.

Increased population growth coupled with heightened industrial processes and improved lifestyles have led to more generation of solid waste which end up in indiscriminate and unregulated dumpsites. These slid wastes are well repositories for heavy metals which can impact negatively on the ecosystem causing severe ecological damage affecting biota. In this study, soils and Chromolaena odorata collected from ten dumpsites in Kazaure town were assayed for their heavy metal content using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Physicochemical parameters of the soil were also examined using standard analytical procedures. The results revealed varying concentration of the metals in the soil and plant sample. The mean concentrations (mg/kg) of the heavy metals in the soil were: 43.0±9.3&gt;24.4±8.4&gt;14.0±9.0&gt;1.3±0.7, respectively while for Chromolaena odorata the mean metal concentrations (mg/kg) reveal: 36.20 ± 7.70, 21.10 ± 5.30, 11.20 ± 3.00 and 1.5 ± 0.8 for Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd, respectively. The general trend in the metal abundance in both the soil and Chromolaena odorata is: Zn&gt;Cu&gt;Pb&gt;Cd. The metal level of metals in both the soil and plant is higher than the control sites and generally exceeded the WHO maximum permissible limits. The metal transfer factors were greater than unity in several sampling locations which suggest that the plant has high potential to translocate and bio accumulate the metal in its tissues. This implies higher risk concerns about the use of soils of dumpsites as manures to grow crops for consumption. Therefore regular monitoring and decontamination of the soils from the dumpsite needs to be done before using it for agricultural activities. Moreso, it is imperative that stringent waste management policies be put in place to mitigate contamination risks, and ensure resilient and secure food system

Vegetables play critical role in human nutrition and overall health. However, consumption of vegetables cultivated through wastewater-impacted river can be source of potentially toxic heavy metals, which can cause detrimental health effects when their concentration exceeds the recommended maximum levels. Despite growing body of evidence highlighting the dangers associated with heavy metal accumulation in vegetables, there remains critical gap in systematic assessments within Ethiopian context. Therefore, objective of this review is to reveal heavy metals concentrations in vegetables grown with wastewater-impacted river and assess associated public health risks. Research articles published in English were identified through systematic searching using electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, WHO/FAO library, and searching from Google manually. The outcomes of interest were mean concentration of heavy metals in vegetables and associated health risks. Cross-sectional studies that met inclusion criteria were considered. Data were extracted by independent reviewers. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed using critical appraisal tools. Moreover, health risks of consumers were assessed through evaluating estimated daily intakes (EDI), Health Risk Index (HRI), and Hazard Index (HI). Nineteen articles were included in this systematic review. The findings revealed that the mean concentration of Pb, Cr, Cd, As, Hg, Cu, Ni, Zn, Mn, and Fe in tested vegetables ranged from: 0.28-7.68, 0.75-33.01, 0.14-3.93, 0.05-3.13, ND-4.25, 0.92-15.33, 2.13-13.1, 18.27-62.83, 8.83-331.8, and 177.8-1034.3 mg/kg (dry weight), respectively. The EDI of Pb, Cr, Cd, As, Hg, Cu, Ni, Zn, Mn, and Fe in vegetables was range from: 0.00104-0.0286, 0.00279-0.123, 0.00052-0.0146, 0.0000372-0.0116, 0.0124-0.0158, 0.00342-0.0439, 0.0079-0.0487, 0.068-0.23, 0.03-1.23, and 0.53-3.84 mg/kg/day, respectively. The HRI of toxic heavy metals for all vegetable types ranged as; Pb (0.26-7.15), Cr (0.00186-0.0820), Cd (0.52-14.6), As (0.12-38.7), and Hg (1.24-1.58). The HRI due to consumption of all vegetables was 35, 0.168, 46.6, 70, and 2.82 for Pb, Cr, Cd, As, and Hg, respectively indicating severe health impact except for Cr. This review underscores health implications linked to consumption of vegetables cultivated using wastewater in Ethiopia. It revealed that the concentration of toxic heavy metals in vegetables grown with wastewater-affected water was higher than the maximum allowable safe limit set for edible vegetables by WHO that would be a public health risk.

This study investigated the human health risks associated with exposure to potentially toxic metals, including arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc, at select parks in Eastern Canadian cities. Except for arsenic in Halifax, the mean metal concentrations in the cities, including Saint John, Fredericton, Ottawa, Toronto, London, Windsor, Woodstock, Kitchener, Guelph, Chatham, and Montreal, were below the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment soil quality guideline for parkland use. Metal distribution reflected either the regional natural-occurring concentrations or anthropogenic sources such as industrial activities, historical land use, and heavy traffic corridors. In vitro bioaccessibility values were variable and in the order chromium &lt; nickel &lt; cobalt &lt; arsenic &lt; zinc &lt; copper &lt; lead &lt; cadmium. The risk associated with incidental soil ingestion for children, incorporating bioaccessibility, indicated unacceptable levels of non-carcinogenic effects for 6 out of the 101 samples analyzed. For adults, unacceptable non-carcinogenic effects were noted for only one sample. Lead was the leading contributor to the non-carcinogenic risk. Carcinogenic risk for arsenic was limited to two samples. The overall risks associated with exposure to metals in soils in most of the parks studied were deemed low except for arsenic and lead at a few parks.

The consumption of heavy metal-contaminated vegetables poses a threat to human health and the environment. This study assessed the level of heavy metals in selected leafy vegetables collected from wastewater-irrigated agricultural land located at Jalkuri Union of Siddhirganj Upazila in Narayanganj district of Bangladesh. The mean concentrations of metals were decreasing in the following order: Fe &gt; Mn &gt; Zn &gt; Pb&gt; Cr&gt; Cu &gt; Ni &gt; Cd in wastewater, Fe&gt; Mn &gt; Cr &gt; Zn &gt; Ni &gt; Pb&gt; Cu&gt; Cd in irrigated soil, and Fe &gt; Zn &gt; Mn&gt; Cu&gt; Pb &gt; Cr&gt; Ni &gt; Cd in leafy vegetables. The contamination factor (CF) showed that the soils were moderate to highly contaminated by Cr and Cd. The pollution load index (PLI) and geo-accumulation index (Igeo) values of the analyzed samples revealed that the soils were non-polluted to moderately polluted. The target hazard quotients (THQ) for most of the metals were &lt;1, suggesting non-carcinogenic health hazards for humans. The target carcinogenic risk (TCR) of heavy metals, except for Pb, was above the safe standard, suggesting a carcinogenic risk (CR) for their consumption. It is a matter of concern that regular intake of contaminated leafy vegetables in the area would increase health risk, as the hazard index (HI) was greater than 1. The study observed that vegetables should not be irrigated with contaminated water, and industrial wastewater must be properly treated before discharging into the environment.

Assessment of trace element occurrence in Nile Tilapia from the Rosetta branch of the River Nile, Egypt: Implications for human health risk via lifetime consumption

Chemometric evaluation, source apportionment, and health risk analysis of natural spring water in Murree, outer Himalayas

The increase in heavy metal concentration in water bodies due to rapid industrial and socio-economic development significantly threatens ecological and human health. This study evaluated metal pollution and related risks to ecology and human health in the Maroon-Jarahi river sub-basin in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea basin, southwest Iran, using various indicators. A total of 70 water samples were taken from the sampling sites in the Maroon, Allah, and Jarahi sub-basins and analyzed for nine heavy metals. According to the results, the mean concentration of metals in the sampling locations across the entire sub-basin of Maroon-Jarahi was observed as follows Iron (528.22µg/L), zinc (292.62µg/L), manganese (56.47µg/L), copper (36.23µg/L), chromium (11.78µg/L), arsenic (7.09µg/L), lead (3.43µg/L), nickel (3.23µg/L), and cadmium (1.38µg/L). Most of the metals were detected at the highest concentration in the sub-basin of the Jarahi River. The Water Quality Index (WQI) index in the basin varied from 18.74 to 22.88, indicating well to excellent quality. However, the investigation of the pollution status at the monitoring stations, based on the classification of Degree of Contamination (CD) and Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) indices, revealed that they are in the category of relatively high pollution (16 < CD < 32) to very high (32 ≤ CD), and in the low pollution category (HPI < 15) to high pollution (HPI < 30), respectively. According to the three sub-basins, the highest amount of WQI, HPI, and Cd was observed in the stations located in the sub-basins of the Jarahi River. The calculation of Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HEI) also indicated that only 10% of the monitoring stations are in moderate pollution (10 < HEI < 20), while in other monitoring stations the HEI level is less than 10. The Potential ecological risk factors ( ) of an individual metal was obtained as follows: Cd (173.70) > As (131.99) > Zn (57.52) > Cu (55.39) > Ni (48.98) > Cr (21.57) > Pb (0.71), revealing that Cd and As are the main elements responsible for creating ecological risk in the studied area. The Maroon-Jarahi watershed included areas with ecological risks that ranged from low (PERI ≤ 150) to very high (PERI ≥ 600). HI and ILCR health indicators indicated that consumption and long-term contact with river water in the study area can cause potential risks to human health, especially children. Moreover, the findings, the highest level of pollution and health risk for both children and adults, considering both exposure routes, occurred in the Jarahi River sub-basin, suggesting that those who live in the vicinity of the Jarahi River are likely to face more adverse health effects. In addition, the findings of the evaluation of the relationship between land use patterns and water quality in the studied basin showed that agricultural lands acts as a main source of pollutants, but forest lands play an important role in the deposition of pollutants and the protection of water quality at the basin scale. In general, the results of pollution indicators, risk assessment, and statistical techniques suggest that the lower sub-basin, the Jarahi area, and the Shadegan wetland are the most polluted areas in the investigated sub-basin due to excessive discharge of agricultural runoff, industrialization, and rapid urbanization. Thus, special measures should be considered to reduce the risks of HMs pollution in the sub-basin of the Maroon-Jarahi watershed, especially its downstream and the impact of agricultural land use on water quality should be taken into consideration in basin management plans.

Waste disposal sites contribute a great deal to environmental pollution. The degree of pollution brought on by heavy metal contamination of soil collected from the Oti-Dompoase dump site in Kumasi of Ashanti region, Ghana was investigated in this study. Twelve (12) composite samples of the surface soil were taken in total at 10 cm depth from the dumpsite to conduct metal analysis. The measurement of heavy metal concentration was done utilizing Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, which uses the absorbance at various wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum to determine the chemical identity of constituents of the sample and their concentrations with the help of standard solutions and Beer-Lambert law. The mean metal concentrations of soil samples were reported and arranged in terms of magnitude as follows: Iron (2,582.21 mg/kg) &gt; Copper (348.50 mg/kg) &gt; Lead (324.85 mg/kg) &gt; Manganese (192.27 mg/kg) &gt; Zinc (146.24 mg/kg) &gt; Cadmium (7.06 mg/kg). Physiochemical properties such as electrical conductivity (EC), pH and organic matter and water content (%) were also investigated using a PHYWE electrical conductivity meter, pH meter and an oven, respectively. Most of the parameters analysed indicated pollution when compared to baseline values, while human exposure levels were within World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Assessments using geo-statistics of different hazard indicators, including pollution load index, contamination factor (CF), and geo-accumulation, all point to heavy metal pollution of the soil samples. Cadmium contamination was very high based on the pollution indices (CF, geo-accumulation, and pollution load) and manganese has the lowest level of pollution. There is limited data on the extent of pollution caused by the Oti-Dompoase dumpsite and this study will serve to fill this knowledge gap and contribute to the Millenium Development Goal seven (7) by providing data on the extent of pollution of soil around the Oti-Dompoase dumpsite and highlight the need for regular monitoring and on-site remediation strategies to safeguard the site to ensure environmental sustainability.

Investigating the composition of household dust can provide crucial insights into potential environmental and health implications. This study aimed to determine the concentration of selected metals in 30 household floor dust samples collected from two cities in Peninsular Malaysia, namely Melaka and Butterworth. The samples were collected using nylon socks attached to a vacuum cleaner nozzle during January-February 2021. All samples were sieved through a 200-µm sieve, acid-digested with aqua regia, and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Mean metal concentrations decreased in the order of Fe&gt;Al&gt;Mg&gt;Zn&gt;Mn&gt;Ba&gt;Cu&gt;Cr&gt;Pb. Cd was not detected in any samples. The median concentrations of Al, Ba, and Mg from Melaka were significantly higher than those from Butterworth. Hazard indexes for all metals were less than one, indicating a low noncarcinogenic risk of exposure to occupants via inhalation, dust ingestion, and skin absorption. Statistical analyses revealed that the levels of metals in household dust were influenced by factors such as the location and age of the house, the presence of air conditioning, and the time since the last paint. This study highlights the presence of metals in indoor settings of different cities in Malaysia, providing fundamental data for future research in the field.

Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk assessment of heavy metals in the offal of animals from Felele Abattoir, Lokoja, Nigeria

ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the metal concentration, mobility, bioavailability, ecological risk, and toxicity in the surface sediment of Anzali International Wetland. Contamination and ecological risk were evaluated using parameters such as Global Contamination Factors (GCF), Risk Assessment Code (RAC), Toxic Unit (TU), sum of Toxic Units (ΣTUs), Toxic Risk Index (TRI), ecological risk (ER), Risk Index (RI), and modified Hazard Quotients (MHQ). Heavy metal mean concentrations (mean ± SD) ranked as follows: Zn (95.46 ± 20.71) > Cr (19.79 ± 2.79) > Ni (18.49 ± 5.23) > Pb (13.97 ± 3.20) > As (6.45 ± 1.87) > Cd (0.90 ± 0.34). Cd exhibited high mobility and bioavailability, while Cr, Pb, Zn, Ni, and As mainly existed in residual fractions, indicating low bioavailability and minimal ecological risk. Ecological risk assessment identified “moderate” to “considerable” risk potential for Cd at specific sites. The Risk Index categorized Anzali sediment as having “low” to “moderate” risk potential (150 < RI < 300). Values of RI, ΣTUs, and MHQ suggested low to moderate risk potential and low toxicity in the sediment. Global Contamination Factor (GCF) values indicated high contamination (12.53 to 79.11). Recommendations include installing effective sewage treatment plants and promoting proper agricultural practices to mitigate metal toxicity in Anzali Wetland and also protect human and environmental health.

The Arctic faces increasing exposure to environmental chemicals such as metals, posing health risks to humans and wildlife. Biomonitoring of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) can be used to quantify chemicals in the environment and in traditional foods consumed by the Inuit. However, typically, these samples are collected through invasive or terminal methods. The biomonitoring of feces could be a useful alternative to the current metal monitoring method within the Arctic. Here, we aim to 1) quantify the relationship between concentrations of metals in the feces and tissues (muscle, liver, and fat) of polar bears using predictive modeling, 2) develop an easy-to-use conversion tool for use in community-based monitoring programs to non-invasively estimate contaminant concentrations in polar bears tissues and 3) demonstrate the application of these models by examining potential exposure risk for humans from consumption of polar bear muscle. Fecal, muscle, liver, and fat samples were harvested from 49 polar bears through a community-based monitoring program. The samples were analyzed for 32 metals. Exploratory analysis indicated that mean metal concentrations generally did not vary by age or sex, and many of the metals measured in feces were positively correlated with the internal tissue concentration. We developed predictive linear regression models between internal (muscle, liver, fat) and external (feces) metal concentrations and further explored the mercury and methylmercury relationships for utility risk screening. Using the cross-validated regression coefficients, we developed a conversion tool that contributes to the One Health approach by understanding the interrelated health of humans, wildlife, and the environment in the Arctic. The findings support using feces as a biomonitoring tool for assessing contaminants in polar bears. Further research is needed to validate the developed models for other regions in the Arctic and assess the impact of environmental weathering on fecal metal concentrations.

The presence of elevated levels of heavy metals in soil poses a significant environmental concern with implications for human health and other organisms. The main objective of our study was to reduce the gap information of seasonal abundance, distribution of heavy metals in soil, leaf litter, and some macroinvertebrates in a citrus orchard (Citrus sinensis) in Sohag Governorate, Egypt. The heavy metals copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Degree of contamination (DC) was determined for both soil and leaf litter contamination. However, the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was estimated to determine metal accumulation in the macroinvertebrates including earwigs Anisolabis maritima, chilopoda Scolopendra moristans, spider Dysdera crocata, and earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa. The study area had clay-loam with varying organic matter, salinity, and pH levels. The degree of contamination varied among seasons, with the highest levels typically observed in autumn in both soil and leaf litter. The soil ranged from low contamination (1.82) to high contamination levels (4.4), while the leaf litter showed extremely high (30.03) to ultra-high (85.92) contamination levels. The mean ecological risk index results indicated that the sampling area had moderate ecological risk levels for Cd (44.3), Zn (42.17), and Pb (80.05), and extremely high levels for Cu (342.5). Heavy metal concentrations in the selected fauna were the highest in autumn, and the bioaccumulation factor varied among species and seasons with some species classified as e-concentrators, micro-concentrators, and macro-concentrators of certain heavy metals. Scolopendra moristans exhibited the highest mean metal concentrations (Cd, Pb, and Zn), while Aporrectodea caliginosa had the lowest. Thus, the differences in heavy metal concentrations found in different soil taxa highlight the significance of taxing a holistic understanding of feeding mechanisms into account when evaluating the potential risk for animals that consume invertebrates.