The increasing popularity of roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco has raised toxicological concerns regarding heavy metal exposure. This study quantified fourteen metals (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Cd, Mo, Co, Sb, Pb, As, Hg, and V) in RYO tobacco samples collected from ten provinces in Türkiye using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Fe exhibited the highest mean concentration (18.11mg.kg-1), followed by Zn (10.53mg.kg-1) and Mn (5.020mg.kg-1), whereas As (0.041mg.kg-1), Hg (0.015mg.kg-1) and V (0.001mg.kg-1) occurred at the lowest concentrations. Statistically significant correlations were observed, including Fe-Hg (r = 0.97, p < 0.001) and Zn-As (r = -0.77, p < 0.01), indicating shared geochemical influences and contrasting uptake patterns. Health risk assessment following USEPA guidelines indicated that all Hazard Quotients (HQ < 1) and Hazard Index (HI = 4.8 × 10-3) remained below the non-carcinogenic threshold, and Carcinogenic Risk values ranged from 2.50 × 10-7 to 2.00 × 10-10 and remained below 10-6. The results characterize metal exposure levels in RYO tobacco and indicate potential toxic elements as elements requiring continued monitoring due to their toxicological relevance.

In this study, the bioaccumulation levels, the geochemical distributions and the ecotoxicological risk levels of potential toxic elements (PTEs: Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Hg and Pb) were determined in water and fish (Rainbow trout) collected from 15 different ponds in the Black Sea coastal basin. Among the PTEs in muscle tissue, Fe was determined to be at the highest level, while Cd and Co were at the lowest level. It was observed that As and Mn were above the maximum permissible levels. Water Quality Index (WQI) values were excellent at all stations, and no pollution levels were detected that would threaten human health according to the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) and the Heavy Metal Evaluation Index. The metal pollution index level in fish produced in inland waters in the study area was less than 2 (0.78), indicating that there may not be a potential health risk due to the bioaccumulation pattern. However, the target hazard coefficient (THQ) for As was > 1 at all stations except S1 and S15, and the hazard index was > 1 at all stations except S1, suggesting the possibility of non-carcinogenic adverse health effects. When evaluated in terms of total cancer risk level, it suggests that there may be a cancer risk due to metal accumulation in all stations except S1.

Lake Anna is an important ecological and recreational body of water in Virginia but struggles with stream water and sediment quality impairments due to historical and modern anthropogenic activities. The overarching goal was to quantify potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (As, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn) and P pollution across nine subwatersheds and the outflow of Lake Anna to evaluate the role of exposed mine tailings, agriculture, and physicochemical properties on sourcing and transport. Phosphorus enrichment in stream waters and sediments was associated with DOM and Fe, but not agricultural land cover. Suspended sediment total annual P export (191Mg/year) was greater than dissolved P export (0.7Mg/year), but < 56% of the P was retained within Lake Anna. Stream water, suspended sediment, and bottom sediment Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations at Contrary Creek subwatershed (CC) exceeded ecologically hazardous concentrations and was a major PTE source for the reservoir. Comparing total annual exports, Lake Anna was a net accumulator of PTEs and P. Exposed mine tailings at CC had ecologically hazardous concentrations of As, Pb, and Cu, but pine tree needle PTEs were not elevated, demonstrating limited bioavailability. Lastly, our column experiment using exposed mine tailings found an application rate of 9.2 tonnes/ha of lime and biochar could decrease the leaching of Pb and Zn and increase leachate pH but could not significantly reduce As or Cu. Additional research of subsurface transport pathways and mobility of legacy sediments is warranted to immobilize PTE transport.

Occurrence and ecological risks of potentially toxic elements in composts from recycling facilities at Himalayan cities, India: Unveiling the route of waste-to-soil contamination.

Drosophila melanogaster as Model Organism to Assess Brake Dust Toxicity by a Multi-platform Approach.

Toxic element contamination from tailings dam failure disrupts seedling emergence dynamics and soil seed bank resilience in riparian ecosystems.

Land use types as an ecological driver: Unravelling the microbial genomic adaptations to PTEs in super-large Sb mining ecosystems.

Source-oriented probabilistic health risk assessment of surface water potentially toxic elements and essential trace elements in the Tethyan-Himalayan Tectonic Domain.

Toxicity indices-based insights for sustainable sediment management in hydropower-regulated river systems.

Multi-indicator appraisal of potentially toxic elements pollution in the southeastern Mediterranean Sea harbours: Unraveling sources, acute ecotoxicity and health risks.

The investigation report concerns anthropogenic enrichment of road soils under a noise barrier and road dust collected from its surface with potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Circular traffic and slower car access to the roundabout on the busy bypass in Żagań indicate that soils closer to the round- about contain nearly twice as much of metals as the road dust. Further from the roundabout, the situation is reversed, primarily regarding lead and copper content in road dust. The recorded concentrations of Pb, Cu, and Zn are permissible in road soils, but in two locations, they exceed the allowed limits for soils in residential areas near the DK12 national road. The individual and integrated pollution indices confirm a deterioration in the quality of soil and dust samples. The Nemerow index indicates that 80% of road soils and 90% of noise barrier dust are heavily polluted. Lower PTE pollution is observed at the endpoints of the barrier. A potentially high ecological risk has been estimated in the soil near the roundabout; therefore, environmental monitoring should be continued. No health risk is currently present, which is important for the safety of residents living behind the barrier, within 80 m of a road.

To remedy environmental pollution caused by acid drainage from abandoned mine waste at mining sites, this aims to study the effectiveness of some carbonaceous amendments (marble, snail shell, and phosphate sludge), with and without manure, in immobilizing trace metal elements in mine tailings. Two-column scale leaching experiments were conducted. The first study experiment consisted of combining mine tailings with inorganic amendments (marble, snail shell, or phosphate sludge), in an eight-week experiment. In the second study parallel experiment, organic amendment (sheep manure) was mixed to each component of the first experiment. The immobilization effect of potential toxic elements was observed for 16 weeks. The mine tailings before leaching had concentrations of copper 1473. 82 mg kg copper, zinc 596.37 mg kg-1, and lead 414.62 mg kg-1. Amendments to the tailings had a synergistic effect, resulting in a significant reduction in copper 420.39 mg kg-1 for tailings amended with snail shell and manure), zinc (127.06 mg kg-1 for tailings amended with marble and manure) and lead (66.22 mg kg-1 for tailings amended with snail shell and manure) in the leachate, immobilization in the substrates, and an increase in pH from 1.23 to 6.83. These results demonstrate the potential of chemical remediation approaches for the sustainable stabilization of acid mine waste.

Air Quality Assessment using Phaeophyscia hispidula as a Bioindicator in Mount Abu: Potential Toxic Element Accumulation and Physiological Effects

In this study, the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, which can accumulate potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in its tissues, was used as a bioindicator. The main objective of the study was to determine the records of PTEs such as Cr, Pb, Cd, Ni, Co, Fe, Cu, Hg, As, Mn, and Zn in mussel samples collected from five stations along the eastern shores of the Çanakkale Strait. PTEs in the samples were examined using Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), and common and different sources of the pollutants were addressed using correlation and principal component analysis (PCA). The obtained data indicate the presence of As well above the limit values at all sampling stations. Correlation and PCA analyses indicate strong positive correlations between some PTEs, such as Cr-Ni and Fe-Cu, indicating that PTEs originate from common anthropogenic sources. Cd is negatively correlated with As and Zn, pointing to a different source. According to ICP-OES analyses, the PTEs at the stations studied are ranked according to average values as follows: Al&gt;Fe&gt;As&gt;Mn&gt;Cu&gt;Zn&gt;Cr&gt;Ni&gt;Pb&gt;Cd&gt;Hg. The PTEs that pose the most risk are As, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cu, and Zn. Ferry transport, chemicals used in agricultural activities, and municipal waste are likely to be the main contributors to the PTE load.

Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UA) plays an increasingly important role in promoting sustainable urban development, providing socioeconomic, environmental, and educational benefits. However, UA is often linked to nutrient accumulation in soils since vegetable-growing areas typically receive substantial inputs of both organic and inorganic fertilizers. This study examines soil variability in two sections of an urban allotment garden subjected to long-term manure fertilization for 12 or 16 years, with application rates up to 10–12 kg m−2 yr−1. Surface soils were analyzed for organic and inorganic carbon, total-N, available-P and -K, pH, and elemental composition using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF). Prolonged manure incorporation substantially enhanced soil fertility, as evidenced by increases in soil organic carbon (up to 3.78%), total-N (up to 0.38%), available-K (up to 412 mg kg−1), and both total- and available-P (up to 2485 and 276 mg kg−1, respectively). Marked shifts in mineral composition were also detected, including significant increases in total Ca, inorganic C (as calcium carbonate), Sr, and S. Despite the high manure inputs, no accumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) was observed. However, pronounced spatial heterogeneity emerged among individual plots, with coefficients of variation reaching 58% for S and 47% for Zn, reflecting differences in fertilization intensity and management practices. Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis proved highly effective for detecting soil compositional changes and adequate for predicting K and P availability, highlighting its value as a rapid diagnostic tool for precision agriculture. Overall, these findings demonstrate the agronomic benefits of long-term organic fertilization while emphasizing the need for careful management to avoid nutrient imbalances and ensure sustainable practices that minimize environmental risks.

Vegetables are essential for human nutrition due to their low fat content and high levels of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. However, studies have shown that vegetables are vulnerable to PTE contamination as a result of anthropogenic activities. This study determined the concentrations and health impacts associated with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in specific vegetables (green beans, spinach, green pepper, carrots, and onions). A total of 90 vegetable samples were randomly selected and purchased from local markets and analyzed for potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (Cd, Fe, Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn, Co, and Ni) using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The mean concentrations (mg·kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) of PTEs ranged from 0.006 - 0.021 for Cd, 2.27 - 12.32 for Fe, 0.05 - 0.150 for Cr, 0.087 - 0.254 for Pb, 0.035 - 0.062 for Cu, 2.65 - 15.61 for Zn, 0.010 - 0.050 for Co, and 0.012 - 0.058 for Ni. The abundance of PTEs was found to be in the following declining order: Zn &gt;Fe &gt;Cu &gt;Cr &gt;Ni &gt;Co &gt;Pb &gt;Cd. The hazard index (HI) for both children and adults was &lt;1, suggesting that there is no likely non-carcinogenic effect from consuming these vegetables. Similarly, the carcinogenic risk was below the acceptable value range of 1.0 × 10&lt;sup&gt;-6&lt;/sup&gt; - 1.0 × 10&lt;sup&gt;-4&lt;/sup&gt;. Based on the results of this study, it is unlikely that the vegetables analyzed pose a health risk to consumers. However, monitoring and continuous stringent regulations of PTEs on foodstuff for public health protection.

In China, rare earth mining (REEs mining) is amongst the most important anthropogenic sources of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) release into the soil. In the last few decades, many researchers have conducted studies on PTE pollution in REEs mining areas. Yet, most of those studies only focused on a small geographical area or a single REEs mining, which does not reflect the overall scenario on a national scale. The current study collected data on the concentration of 8 PTEs (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, As, Zn, and Ni) from various research articles published from 2008 to 2024 in six rare earth mining provinces of China, investigated the spatial distribution of PTEs, their contamination level, potential sources and human health risk associated with them. The findings revealed that the average concentration of all eight PTEs was significantly higher than both Chinese and world background values, with Pb, Cd, and Hg exceeding the GB 15618-2018 guidelines for agricultural soils also. The Nemerow composite pollution index (NCPI) results indicated substantially elevated levels of pollution in all REEs mining provinces, with Sichuan having the highest NCPI (50.8). The principal component analysis (PCA) results showed mixed anthropogenic and geogenic sources of pollution for the selected PTEs. The human health risk assessment indicated that children were more at risk than adults via exposure pathways (oral, dermal, inhalation). The carcinogenic risk assessment revealed that Cr posed a significant cancer risk in both children (CR = 4.9 × 10-3) and adults (CR = 2.1 × 10-3) while Cu showed no carcinogenic risk in adults (CR = 8.6 × 10-4) but presented a carcinogenic risk in children (CR = 2.0 × 10-3), suggesting that children are more prone to the adverse effects of PTEs in REEs mining soils. Therefore, the present study indicates that REEs mining releases PTEs into nearby soils and poses a potential health risk to the surrounding environment, and should be mitigated by the government through effective management strategies.

Moss biomonitoring was conducted in 2002, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 to evaluate atmospheric mercury (Hg) deposition across N. Macedonia as part of a comprehensive survey of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). More than 70 samples of the dominant moss species Hypnum cupressiforme and Homalothecium lutescens were collected during the summer field campaigns. Mercury concentrations were determined using cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results revealed marked temporal fluctuations: median Hg content increased from 56 µg/kg in 2002 to 68 µg/kg in 2005, peaked at 93 µg/kg in 2010, then decreased to 84 µg/kg in 2015, and further to 52 µg/kg in 2020. Over the study period, Hg concentrations ranged from 10 to 595 µg/kg, with the highest variability observed in 2010. Spatial distribution maps and regional comparisons indicate that elevated Hg contents correspond predominantly to anthropogenic sources, particularly in industrialised zones and regions affected by mining and metallurgical activities. The 2020 dataset shows a significantly lower median value (52 µg/kg) compared to previous surveys, indicating a slight improvement in air quality, although local hotspots persist. These results highlight the importance of long-term moss biomonitoring as a cost-effective approach for tracking atmospheric mercury trends and informing national environmental policy.

This study provides a seasonal and cross-shore characterization of sediments along the Ferrara coastal area (Italy). Four sites (Goro, Volano, Estensi, and Spina) were investigated through an integrated approach including textural and geochemical analyses. Surface sediments were sampled seasonally from summer 2023 to summer 2024 and analyzed to determine granulometry, major oxides composition, carbonate content, and potentially toxic element (PTE) contents. Results revealed that both grain-size and geochemistry vary seasonally and along the cross-shore profile, reflecting the combined effects of hydrodynamic forcing, sediment transport, and fluvial inputs. Elevated contents of Ce, Cr, La, V, and Zr were detected at various sites, seasons, and geomorphological zones. In some cases, the environmental quality indices applied allowed the sediments to be classified as polluted. Furthermore, some exceedances of the legal limits for Cr and V contents were observed at Goro and Volano. These pollution levels are attributable to the presence of PTE-bearing minerals originating from the source basins (geogenic sources). Overall, the results highlight the interplay between hydrodynamics and sediment provenance, emphasizing the dominance of geogenic contributions along the northern Adriatic coast, providing updated geochemical data for future monitoring and environmental management of coastal systems.

ABSTRACT Potentially toxic element (PTE) contamination in seasonal, size fractionated surface sediments of the Yamuna River across the Delhi segment is examined. Mean concentrations of Pb (39.9–83.8 mg/kg), Cr (37–78 mg/kg), and Cu (3.1–39.6 mg/kg) followed a general seasonal trend of winter > summer > monsoon, while Mn (344–477 mg/kg) and Co (5.8–10.3 mg/kg) peaked in the summer, indicating physicochemical and hydrological control on element accumulation. Several ecological risk frameworks were employed to evaluate spatiotemporal contamination levels. Pb and Cr posed moderate contamination (summer > winter > monsoon). Fine fraction (<53 µm) showed higher PTE accumulation, exhibiting 1.2–2.5 times greater enrichment than the bulk fraction (<2 mm). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and correlation analyses indicated both geogenic and anthropogenic contributions, including inputs from industrial discharge, domestic wastewater, urban runoff, and weathering. Risk assessments showed negligible non-carcinogenic risk (Hazard Index (HI) ranges from 3.94E-04 to 3.39E-02) but highlighted potential carcinogenic risks associated with Ni (ILCRtotal -10−5) and Cr (ILCRtotal -10-4 – 10-5), particularly through ingestion and dermal exposure. The results underscore the need for element-targeted remediation and integrated watershed management to mitigate trace element loading and associated ecological and public health impacts in this critical urban river system.