Cadmium Salts Research Articles

Mechanisms of influence of cadmium salt on postembryonic hemopoiesis in red bone marrow

This review examines the mechanisms by which cadmium salts affect the lineages of blood cells during postembryonic hematopoiesis in the bone marrow, as well as the disruptions that arise due to cadmium exposure, based on recent researches. Cadmium is a highly toxic heavy metal that, as proven by numerous scientific studies, can enter the human body from the environment and cause various diseases. The article analyzes the impact of cadmium compounds on the cellular composition of the bone marrow, especially on the hematopoietic process and cell differentiation. It illustrates the ways in which cadmium disrupts hematopoiesis by triggering cellular stress responses, apoptosis and inflammatory processes. As blood, being the primary liquid medium of the body, participates in regulating all ongoing processes, understanding the impact of cadmium on hematopoiesis and the balance of blood cells is crucial for public health. The article is relevant both scientifically and practically due to the rising concentrations of heavy metal in the environment. The research findings provide insights into the mechanisms of cadmium toxicity at the molecular and cellular levels, which in turn can serve as a basis for disease prevention, diagnosis, and the development of new therapeutic strategies in medical practice. This research work presents valuable information in the fields of biology, ecology, medicine, and toxicology, contributing to the assessment of cadmium’s risk to human health.

The Effect of Cadmium Salts on the In Vitro Growth and Development of Sorghum (Sorghum)

Purpose. To determine the effect of different concentrations of cadmium salt on the growth and development of shoots of different sorghum species in vitro and to select tolerant forms for developing breeding genotypes resistant to abiotic factors. Methods. The study involved different sorghum species: grain, broomcorn, Sudan grass, and soryz. Sorghum bicolor cultivar 'Stepovyi 8' was used as a control. Nutrient media were prepared using the standard Murashige and Skoog (MS) formulation. Sorghum seeds were sterilized with a solution of Bilyzna (bleach). Clonal micropropagation was conducted through direct selection with the addition of cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) and cadmium sulfate (CdSO₄) at concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 45.0 mg/L. The resulting shoots were evaluated on days 3 and 7 for the percentage of viable, necrotic, and dead shoots, as well as their biometric parameters. Results. The tolerance levels of sorghum plants varied depending on the species, the type of cadmium salt, and the salt concentration. Sudan grass exhibited the highest tolerance, whereas broomcorn was the most sensitive. This trend was consistent for both cadmium chloride and cadmium sulfate. At a concentration of 10.0 mg/L CdCl₂, shoot viability remained high in all treatments (82–95%). Increasing the concentration to 15.0 mg/L reduced viability to 70–87%, while at a concentration of 20.0 mg/L, it dropped to 44–54%. Concentrations of 30.0 mg/L and higher were critical, reducing shoot viability to 2–12%. The maximum toxic concentration (45.0 mg/L) caused the death of broomcorn shoots. In comparison, CdSO₄ demonstrated lower toxicity under similar conditions. At a concentration of 10.0 mg/L, shoot viability was 90–98%, while at a concentration of 15.0 mg/L, it was 80–95%. Even at higher concentrations (20.0–25.0 mg/L), viability remained higher compared to CdCl₂, and the maximum concentrations provided survival of a small proportion of viable shoots (up to 6%). Necrotic shoots began to appear at CdCl₂ concentrations as low as 7.5 mg/L, with the highest percentage of necrosis recorded in broomcorn plants. CdSO₄ caused less necrosis, even at higher concentrations (10.0–17.5 mg/L), indicating its reduced toxicity. At low cadmium salt concentrations (1.0–5.0 mg/L), the number of newly formed shoots was high in all treatments. CdSO₄ promoted greater shoot formation compared to CdCl₂. At 1.0 mg/L, the number of new shoots ranged from 7 to 18, while at 15.0 mg/L, this number decreased to 2–10. Conclusions. CdSO₄ is a less toxic alternative to obtain viable sorghum shoots in cadmium-containing media. The best results were observed at concentrations up to 10.0 mg/L, particularly for Sudan grass and soryz. Breeding programs should consider the species-specific tolerance of sorghum to heavy metals, with special attention to Sudan grass as the most tolerant species.

Variability in cadmium tolerance of closely related Listeria monocytogenes isolates originating from dairy processing environments.

Mobile genetic elements in Listeria monocytogenes contribute to its survival in natural and food processing environments. This study focused on how different genetic variants of the efflux pump gene cadAC and group of closely related cadA1C1 strains respond to cadmium exposure. When exposed to two cadmium salts, cadmium chloride and cadmium sulfate, we observed varying growth patterns, with a significantly longer lag phase in cadmium sulfate compared to cadmium chloride. Strains with cadA1 to cadA3 had similar growth trends, whereas a strain with the cadA4 variant had the highest minimum inhibitory concentration value. Among 88 strains from dairy processing facilities, significant phenotypic differences were observed despite core genome similarities, indicating other underlying genetic and physiological factors contribute to cadmium tolerance. Since cadmium tolerance studies in L. monocytogenes are limited, with rare phenotypic comparisons between closely related strains, our study makes an important observation and contribution to understanding of L. monocytogenes tolerance to cadmium by providing phenotypic comparisons between numerous strains within the same clonal group (<16 single nucleotide polymorphisms).

Heterogeneous Processes in Detoxification of Metal Ions

The conditions for the synthesis of sparingly soluble salts of lead, cadmium, mercury(II), copper(II) and iron(II, III) with anions of some organic acids HmL were given. Based on their solubility data (ionic strength I = 0.1), the solubility constants KS were calculated; based on the [Mn+]/MPCM ratio, conclusions were drawn about the applicability of low-toxic organic ligands as precipitators (antidotes) of toxic metal ions. It was shown that deactivation is also possible during the redox reaction of mercury(II), copper(II) with ascorbic acid. According to adsorption data on activated carbon, a number of ions were established to reduce sorption (deactivation ability): Pb2+ (96.6%), Fe3+ (95.4%), Hg2+ (80.6%), Cd2+ (42.4%). Adsorption data complemented the results of reagent methods for studying the detoxification of metal ions.

Influence of enzyme drug and adsorbent on digestive metabolism processes of steers fattening in technogenic zone

In the practice of feeding of young ruminants for fattening, feed drugs of new generation adsorbents are increasingly and widely introduced. They often exhibit synergistic eff ects on metabolic processes with a large set of biologically active additives including enzyme drugs. The purpose of the research was to study the infl uence of the adsorbent drugs toxfi n and MEC celloviridin G20x on the state of rumen metabolism in fattening steers in whose diets there was an excess content of lead, zinc and cadmium salts. It was found that in order to activate the processes of digestive metabolism due to better elimination of heavy metal salts, it is advisable to jointly introduce the adsorbent toxfi n in the amount of 1 kg/t of compound feed and MEC celloviridin G20x in the amount of 70 g/t of compound feed into the composition of the rations of fattening steers. The results of the conducted studies showed that by the end of fattening at the age of 18 months the animals of the 4th experimental group had the highest body weight, which surpassed the steers of the 1st control group by 29.20 kg (p &lt; 0.05) or 6.86 %. Relative to the control analogues the steers of the 4th experimental group showed an activation of growth in the forestomachs of ciliates (producers of cellulases and amylases) by 54.26 % (p &lt; 0.05) and bacteria of the Flavobacterium vitarumen group (producers of proteinases) by 29.36 % (p &lt; 0.05). Due to the combined feeding of the adsorbent drugs toxfi n and MEC celloviridin G20x, the processes of detoxifi cation of heavy metal salts were more effective. Therefore, the fattening steers of the 4th experimental group more actively accumulated volatile fatty acids in the rumen fl uid, significantly (p &lt; 0.05) outperforming the animals of the 1st control group in this indicator by 1.68 mmol/100 ml or by 20.71 %.

Effect of chronic intake of cadmium chloride on the transcriptional activity of metallothionein and zinc transporter genes

Introduction. Cadmium chloride is an inorganic compound containing cadmium, a heavy metal that is one of the active environmental pollutants today. Damage to organs in experimental animals due to cadmium poisoning is similar to that in humans. In this work, the activity of metallothionein and zinc transporters genes was studied in a chronic model of cadmium-induced poisoning in experimental animals.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The experiment was carried out using seventy two individuals of white inbred rats of both sexes, the average weight of which was 215 g. Animals from four groups were injected with a solution of cadmium chloride in four different doses, respectively, individuals of the fifth group, the control group, received an equimolar volume of pure water. The objects of the study were the kidneys and livers of rats, removed after the animals were withdrawn from the experiment. Next, the activity of the Mt1A, Mt2A, Mt3A, Zip1 and Znt1 genes was analyzed in organ samples using real-time PCR.&#x0D; Results. Significant increases in the expression multiplicity of Mt1A, Mt2A and Mt3A metallothionein genes in the kidneys at different doses of the toxicant were revealed. In liver samples, a decrease in the expression of the Mt2A gene was found in the experimental group exposed to cadmium chloride at a dose &#x0D; of 0.1 mg/kg (p&lt;0.05). For the Znt1 gene in rat liver tissue, there was a statistically significant decrease in expression at a dose of 0.001 mg/kg (p&lt;0.05) &#x0D; and, conversely, an increase at doses of 0.1 and 1 mg/kg (p&lt;0.05) compared to the control group. Analysis of the level of transcripts of the Zip1 gene in the kidneys and liver after 6 months of inoculation with the toxicant in the presented doses did not reveal statistically significant differences between the groups.&#x0D; Limitations. Laboratory animals of the only biological species were used for the experiment. Four doses of the cadmium salt alone were evaluated.&#x0D; Conclusion. The results obtained allow concluding that the level of expression of the Mt1A, Mt2A and Mt3A genes in the kidneys can play the role of a diagnostic marker in chronic poisoning with the toxicant under study.

Ultralong Nanowires of Cadmium Phosphate Hydroxide Synthesized Using a Cadmium Oleate Precursor Hydrothermal Method and Sulfidation Conversion to Ultralong CdS Nanowires.

Ultralong nanowires with ultrahigh aspect ratios exhibit high flexibility, and they are promising for applications in various fields. Herein, a cadmium oleate precursor hydrothermal method is developed for the synthesis of ultralong nanowires of cadmium phosphate hydroxide. In this method, water-soluble cadmium salt is used as the cadmium source, water-soluble phosphate is used as the phosphorus source, and sodium oleate is adopted as a reactant to form cadmium oleate precursor and as a structure-directing agent. By using this method, ultralong nanowires of cadmium phosphate hydroxide are successfully synthesized using CdCl2, sodium oleate, and NaH2PO4 as reactants in an aqueous solution by hydrothermal treatment at 180 °C for 24 h. In addition, a new type of flexible fire-resistant inorganic paper with good electrical insulation performance is fabricated using ultralong nanowires of cadmium phosphate hydroxide. As an example of the extended application of this synthetic method, ultralong nanowires of cadmium phosphate hydroxide can be converted to ultralong CdS nanowires through a convenient sulfidation reaction. In this way, ultralong CdS nanowires are successfully synthesized by simple sulfidation of ultralong nanowires of cadmium phosphate hydroxide under mild conditions. The as-prepared ultralong nanowires of cadmium phosphate hydroxide are promising for applications as the precursors and templates for synthesizing other inorganic ultralong nanowires and have wide applications in various fields.

Dynamics of changes in cadmium levels in environmental objects and its impact on the bio-elemental composition of living organisms.

As a result of intensive anthropogenic impact in the biosphere there is a rapid process of accumulation of heavy metal salts. They have led to the aggravation of problems associated with the pollution of ecosystems and basic food products of plant and animal origin. Environmental pollution by these compounds is caused by their persistence in environmental objects, migration ability, accumulation by plants. This contributes to their accumulation in the human environment. A number of studies have shown that heavy metals have mutagenic, toxic effects and affect the intensity of biochemical processes. Therefore, the presence of heavy metals in the environment is extremely undesirable. Moreover, the ecological state of the environment is directly related to changes in the human internal environment. Deficiency or excess of certain bioelements in soils and drinking water or non-compliance with its stable chemical composition causes the development of dysmicroelementosis. The ecological situation of the Carpathian region is closely related to the state of soils and water resources. In this regard, it is advisable to study and control the level of cadmium compounds in the environment of the region. The study of the effect of cadmium intoxication on the macro- and microelement composition of the brain and myocardium of experimental animals is also worthwhile. Materials and methods. Soils and drinking water of the plain, foothill and mountainous zones of the region, as well as organs and tissues of experimental animals served as the object of research. Cadmium levels in drinking water and myocardial tissues and brain of experimental animals have been measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results and discussion. The study of soils in the Prykarpattia region has revealed an increase in the toxic element cadmium. Its content is 1.1-1.5 times higher than background levels. The analysis of drinking water allowed to establish that a significant number of people living in the plain and foothill zone of the region consume water with a high content of cadmium. The main stages of cadmium intake and accumulation in plants have been analyzed. Significant disorders in the body of experimental animals under conditions of excessive intake of cadmium compounds have been revealed. It was accompanied by the accumulation of cadmium in the myocardium and brain, on the background of redistribution of vital macronutrients calcium and magnesium along with micronutrients copper and zinc. Thus, excessive intake of cadmium salts causes the development of dysmicroelementosis, which is accompanied by a violation of the homeostasis of a living organism. It is suggested to conduct continuous monitoring of the level of toxicants in the ecosystem as an integral component of environmental monitoring.

Effect of Cadmium Toxicity on Different Antioxidant Enzymes in Growing Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Seedlings

Assessing the impact of Cadmium (Cd) on plant cells requires an understanding of the defensive mechanisms and adaptive responses employed by plants to counteract the deleterious effects of Cd toxicity. Wheat seedlings were grown under different concentrations (0 µM, 100 µM and 500 µM) of Cadmium salt (CdCl2). The growth of metal-treated seedlings was significantly affected. This study evaluated the ecotoxicological effects of two experimental concentrations of Cadmium (100 µM and 500 µM) against water control. It has been examined in recent studies that the toxic effects of Cadmium comprising the variables in fresh weight, dry weight and germination percentage of the wheat seedlings, photosynthesis and enzymatic activities in different stresses after seven days of cadmium exposure on roots and shoots of wheat seedling. Different antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase (CAT), ascorbic acid oxidase (AOX), catechol peroxidase (CPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), acid and alkaline phosphatase and inorganic pyrophosphatase have been measured. The various enzyme activities were increased in roots treated with high concentrations (500 µM) of Cadmium but decreased at low concentrations (100 µM) with respect to water control. This result indicated a complex defense mechanism in the root tissues induced by Cadmium. This work provides valuable insights for future research on plant responses to heavy metal stress and advances our understanding of the complex relationship between Cd toxicity and the antioxidant defense system in wheat seedlings.

THE EFFECT OF CRONIC ISOLATED ADMINISTRATION OF CADMIUM CHLORIDE ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL STRUCTURES IN THE WALLS OF SMALL INTESTINE OF PREGNANT FEMALE RATS

In recent years, the anthropopolitical environmental polluntion with heavy metals has become one of the main threats to living organisms, including humans, and economic and technological progress is increasingly resulting in the disruption of natural ecosystems. Heavy metals include more than forty chemical elements of the periodic table, including chromium, cadmium, manganese, mercury, iron, cobalt, nickel, and others. They are often used in industry and are part of herbicides, insecticides, and medicines. In excessive quantities, they can change the structure of proteins, negatively affect metabolism, lead to cellular mutations, disrupt the structure and permeability of cell membranes, and cause malfunctioning of internal organs. Today, it is important to determine the impact of heavy metal compounds on the body in case of their constant (chronic) intake and accumulation in the body.&#x0D; The purpose of this study was to determine morphological changes in the structure of the walls in the small intestine of rats subjected to the chronic isolated exposure to cadmium salts in a dose of 2.0 mg/kg (enteral administration).&#x0D; The study involved 32 young female Wistar rats, with weights ranging from 180 to 300 g. Female rats with confirmed pregnancies were divided into the following groups: the first group served as the control, and the second group underwent isolated injection of cadmium chloride solution at a dose of 2.0 mg/kg.&#x0D; The results of the experimental daily intragastric long-term administration of cadmium chloride showed morphological changes in the structure of the small intestine in rats. The analysis of the data obtained showed that exposure to cadmium chloride in a dose of 2.0 mg/kg leads to a significant thinning of the villi of the small intestine and mucous membrane compared to the control. When exposed to cadmium chloride in the specified dose, the number of goblet cells in the mucous membrane of the small intestine villi increased at both periods of the study, which indicates an increase in the protective function of the small intestinal mucosa against the action of a negative factor. Under the influence of cadmium, the narrowing of the outer and inner diameters of the crypt was also determined that is confirmed by the calculation of the index of the diameter of the small intestine crypt.

Integral indicators of cardiotoxicity of lead and cadmium on the background of physical activity

Introduction. Modern metallurgical production is characterized by mixed exposure of workers to harmful chemicals, of which lead and cadmium are the most common. A high physical workload is yet another occupational risk factor for metallurgists. &#x0D; Objective. Experimental study of effects of lead or cadmium and physical load on integral indicators of cardiotoxicity in rats.&#x0D; Materials and methods. We have carried out two 6-week experiments on rats to study integral indicators of cardiotoxicity of lead or cadmium and their changes under effect of physical activity. Solutions of lead or cadmium salts were administered intraperitoneally three times a week. Physical workload was simulated on a treadmill (10 min/day, 5 days a week). At the end of the experiment, electrocardiogram and blood pressure parameters were registered non-invasively.&#x0D; Results. Lead and cadmium had a cardiotoxic effect manifested by ECG changes. No pronounced hemodynamic changes were observed in our studies. According to ECG parameters, physical load slightly mitigates cardiotoxic effects of lead, but enhances manifestations of cadmium toxicity.&#x0D; Limitations. Data comparison can be affected by the fact that both outbred and inbred rats were used in the experiments. Caution should be taken when extrapolating animal data to humans since electrophysiological processes in the work of the heart differ in small rodents and large mammals.&#x0D; Conclusion. The established ambiguity of the impact of the physical workload on cardiotoxic effects of heavy metals necessitates further studies of this problem.

Effect of the Anionic Component of Cadmium Salt on the Morphology, Composition, and Topological Features of CdS–PbS Nanocrystalline Films

Effect of the Anionic Component of Cadmium Salt on the Morphology, Composition, and Topological Features of CdS–PbS Nanocrystalline Films

Co-exposure of chromium or cadmium and a low concentration of amoxicillin are responsible to emerge amoxicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Heavy metals and antimicrobials co-exist in many environmental settings. The co-exposure of heavy metals and antimicrobials can drive emergence of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) Enterobacteriaceae. We hypothesized that co-exposure to heavy metals and a low concentration of antibiotic might alter antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, which facilitate emergence of AMR Staphylococcus aureus. The growth kinetics of antimicrobial susceptibleS. aureuswas carried out in the presence of chromium or cadmium salt and a low concentration of antibiotics. Subsequently, the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.Moreover, the mRNA copy number was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile revealed that the zone of inhibition (ZOI) for ampicillin, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin and doxycycline was significantly decreased in chromium pre-exposed S. aureuscompared to unexposed bacteria, whereas cadmium pre-exposed bacteria only showed significant decreased in ZOI for amoxicillin. Moreover, the MIC of amoxicillin for S. aureus was increased by 8-fold in chromium and 32-fold in cadmium when bacteria were co-exposed with low concentrations of amoxicillin. The mRNA expression of femX, mepA and norA also significantly increased in S. aureus after exposure tochromium and a low concentration of amoxicillin. Cultivation of S. aureus at the minimum levels of chromium or cadmium and a low concentration of amoxicillin increased the inhibitory concentration of amoxicillin through inducing bacterial efflux pumps and antibiotic resistant genes. However, it is warranted to assess the whole transcriptome to find out all responsible factors behind this de novo amoxicillin resistant S. aureus.

New tetradentate long chain Schiff base and its cadmium(II) complexes: Antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer activities

In the current study, a new long chain tetra-nitrogen donor Schiff base ligand (SB) entitled as N1,N2-bis(2-(((1E,2E)-3-(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)allylidene)amino)ethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine and some its molecular cadmium (II) complexes formulated as Cd(SB)X2 (X = halide/pseudohalide) were prepared and characterized by various physicochemical and spectral methods such as melting point, micro-analytical data, thermal analysis (TG/DTG/DTA), molar conductivity and UV–Visible, FT-IR, 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopies. Also nanostructured cadmium chloride and iodide chelate complexes approved by PXRD SEM and EDX techniques were synthesized to use as precursor to prepare nanostructure cadmium oxide. The particle sizes about 2–10 nm were estimated for nanostructured cadmium complexes and oxide. Thermo-gravimetric plots showed the compounds are decomposed via 2–4 steps with weight loss of 69–100% to leave out metallic Cd or cadmium salt as final residue. Thermo-kinetic activation parameters calculated based on TG plots suggested non-spontaneous thermal decomposition with activation Ea*, ΔH* and ΔG* parameters in the ranges of (13.54–160.48 kJ.mol−1), (8.22–155.95 kJ.mol−1) and (1.59 × 102-4.1 × 102 kJ.mol−1) respectively. Moreover, the pharmacological activities of the compounds were investigated against some pathogenic fungi and bacteria. According to screening data, the SB ligand showed lower antimicrobial activities than its complexes toward selected microbes so that the cadmium(II) nitrate, thiocyanate and azide were found the most active against B. subtilis, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and E. coli respectively. The evaluation of DNA cleavage potency using the agarose gel electrophoresis technique suggested Cd(SB)Cl2 as the most destructive compound. Furthermore, the antioxidant assessment of the compounds as compared with the standard references by DPPH and FRAP methods proposed Cd(SB)Cl2 and Cd(SB)Br2 as the best antioxidant. In final, the cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds was appraised toward human breast cancer (MCF-7) and prostate cancer (PC3) cell lines employing MTT and nitric oxide level assays. The results suggested Cd(SB)Br2 as more cytotoxic than other complexes against two studied cancer cell lines.

Studying the concentration of xenobiotics in milk and developing the biosensor method for their rapid determination

In this article the content of toxic xenobiotics (heavy metals and pesticides) in cow milk collected from 5 districts of Eastern Kazakhstan was examined and their cumulative properties were determined. The content of organochlorine pesticides (HCCH, DDT) was not detected in the analyzed milk. The content of mercury and arsenic in milk samples does not exceed the maximum allowable concentration (0.005 and 0.05 mg/kg, respectively). The content of cadmium above the maximum allowable concentration (0.03 mg/kg) was found in milk sampled from Shemonaikha and Katon-Karagai districts. The content of lead and zinc above the maximum allowable concentration (0.1 and 5.0 mg/kg, respectively) was found in milk samples taken from all 5 studied districts. The content of copper above the maximum allowable concentration (1.0 mg/kg) was found in milk samples collected from 4 districts under study (Borodulikha, Beskaragai, Shemonaikha and Katon-Karagai). Based on the analysis of information data the need to develop an accelerated method of determining toxic xenobiotics in milk was substantiated. The basic directions of modernization of the biosensor for determination of cadmium and lead salts in milk and dairy products were selected. A new approach to the process of immobilization of the enzyme on the surface of a substrate for cadmium and lead salts determination in milk has been developed. The efficiency of using a polymeric plate with a graphite conducting layer as a basis for the enzyme biosensor was established.

Выявление токсического воздействия тяжёлых металлов на фитопланктон с помощью анализа индукционных кривых флуоресценции хлорофилла методами машинного обучения

The creation of a network of autonomous stations for bioindication of water bodies state requires the development of methods for analyzing large data arrays. The combination of machine learning methods with traditional statistical methods is used to identify implicit patterns in the dataset for the effect of heavy metals on natural phytoplankton. The array of experimental data consists of 465 fluorescence induction curves measured on phytoplankton samples from 9 water bodies of the Pskov region, and reflecting the dynamics of electron transfer in the photosynthetic apparatus. Each curve is characterized by 14 JIP-test parameters, some of which directly describe the shape of the curve; the others connect the shape of the curve with the energy flows that occur in the photosynthetic apparatus under illumination. Cluster analysis based on a set of JIP-test parameters was used to distinguish photosynthetic activity first among phytoplankton samples in control and then under long-term exposure to cadmium and chromium salts. In the control samples, two groups were identified that differ in the photosynthetic activity of phytoplankton. It is assumed that the lower photosynthetic activity of phytoplankton samples is associated with anthropogenic pressure on the water bodies. It was shown that the samples with initially low photosynthetic activity responded to the toxic effect of heavy metals at later periods of incubation compared to more active samples. The proposed approach can be easily scaled to analyze large arrays of experimental data that makes it a promising tool for the early detection of toxic pollution of natural waters.

The Anion Impact on Dimensionality of Cadmium(II) Complexes with Nicotinamide

Three novel cadmium(II) coordination compounds, the dimeric [Cd(CH3COO)2(nia)2]2 (1), the polymeric {[Cd(nia)4](ClO4)2}n (2), and the monomeric [Cd(H2O)3(nia)3](ClO4)2·nia (3), were prepared in the reactions of the nicotinamide (pyridine-3-carboxamide, nia) with the corresponding cadmium(II) salts. All prepared compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR spectroscopy, TGA/DTA, and single crystal X-ray analysis. The impact of anions (acetate, perchlorate) and solvent used on the dimensionality of cadmium(II) complexes and the cadmium(II) coordination environment was investigated. The bridging capabilities of acetate ions enabled the formation of dimers in the crystal structure of 1. It was shown that the dimensionality of perchlorate complexes depends on the solvent used. The coordination polymer 2 is isolated from an ethanol solution, while monomeric compound 3 was obtained by using a water/ethanol mixture as a solvent. The pentagonal-bipyramidal coordination of cadmium(II) was found in the presence of chelating and bridging acetate ions in 1. In the presence of non-coordinating perchlorate anions in 2 and 3, the coordination geometry of cadmium(II) is found to be octahedral. The supramolecular amide-amide homosynthon R22(8) was preserved in the hydrogen-bonded frameworks of all three compounds.

Coexposure of heavy metals and piracetam destroys adaptive behaviour

In experiments on rats, it was found that lead, cadmium and cobalt salts inhibit the acquisition of an avoidance responses. Cases of increased neurotoxic effect of heavy metals on learning and memory in rats with their combined administration with piracetam have been noted. Ascorbic acid counteracts this neurotoxic impact of the heavy metals and piracetam cooexposure on the adaptive behaviour.

Electrodeposition of CdTe thin films using an acetate precursor for solar energy application: The effect of deposition voltage

Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) thin films were synthesized using a low-cost two-electrode electrodeposition configuration in potentiostatic mode and from an aqueous acidic solution. More commonly used cadmium salts for electrodeposition of CdTe include CdSO4, CdCl2 and Cd (NO3)2. In the present work, a less commonly used salt, cadmium acetate, was used as a cadmium precursor for the growth of CdTe thin films. The thin films were deposited on a coated glass fluorine- doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates. The deposition voltage was varied from 1230 to 1270 mV with a 10 mV increment. The structure, optical, conductivity, surface morphological, elemental composition, and surface roughness properties of the as-deposited thin films were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–VIS spectrophotometry, Photoelectrochemical cell analysis (PEC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning probe microscopy (SPM), respectively. The XRD results showed that the CdTe thin films displayed a higher intensity at 1250 mV deposition voltage. UV–VIS spectroscopy measurements revealed that the band gap of the CdTe thin films was near that of the bulk CdTe at 1250 mV deposition voltage. The PEC measurement indicated that at a low voltage of 1230 mV, the conductivity of the film was p-type and Te-rich. When the deposition voltage was 1270 mV, the CdTe films became n-type and Cd-rich. EDS results confirmed the presence of both Cd and Te with more stoichiometric values at the growth voltage of 1250 mV. The SEM images showed that the surface morphology changed with deposition voltage. SPM results indicated that the highest average surface roughness value of 94.9 nm was obtained with a deposition voltage of 1250 mV. These results indicate that the film prepared at a deposition voltage of 1250 mV, may have better potential application as an absorber layer in solar cell device.

Superbright quantum dots with inorganic caps

Inorganic semiconductor nanocrystals, or quantum dots, are widely used in commercial displays and imaging technology. They could be used in additional optoelectronic applications if their charge-transport properties could be improved without dimming their intense luminescence. A new study reports a way to do that by treating the crystals with metal salts to customize the quantum dots’ surface chemistry ( Nat. Commun. 2023, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35702-7 ). Quantum dots are typically capped with long-chain hydrocarbon ligands to control crystal growth and stabilize the particles in colloidal suspensions. They also form electrically insulating barriers that impede charge flow between particles, a property needed for electronic applications. Replacing the organic ligands with inorganic ones can boost charge transport, but that approach can reduce luminescence by over 75%. Yuanyuan Wang of Nanjing University, Dmitri V. Talapin of the University of Chicago, and coworkers treated organically capped quantum dots with salts of cadmium, zinc, and other