Significant Differences In Cu Research Articles

Effect of Trace Elements from Consumption of Crops Cultivated on Mine Domes (Spoils): A Case Study of Jos Plateau and Environs, Central Nigeria

The study was conducted on the Jos Plateau metropoly and its environs in Jos North, parts of Jos South and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State, Central Nigeria. The studied area covered south eastern part of Naraguta sheet 168 NE, extends down North eastern part of Kurra sheet 189NE bounded by Longitude 8˚50΄E to 9˚00΄E and Latitude 9˚ 26΄N to 9˚43΄N respectively. This area sampled covers a land mass of about 586.25 square kilometer. This study begins from May, 2009 to March, 2016 at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom. The aim was to investigate the effect of trace elements from consumption of crops cultivated on mine domes (spoils). The results presented in this paper refer to Tomato and Irish-potato, which are the most popular crops planted in that area in 2009-2016 respectively. Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry(ED-XRFS) method was employed for the analysis of Cu, Fe, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cr and Mn. This study concluded that all those concentrations are well below threshold limit values accepted in Nigeria. No significant differences in Cu, Pb and Cr concentrations between the tested Tomato and Irish-potato were found. Zinc concentration in Potato was significantly lower than in Irish potato. Generally, the study concluded that plant samples were found to have major, minor and mostly trace elements’ concentrations below the safe values. However, Pb that has high concentration above the safe value (threshold limit) in Potato is advised not to be cultivated around mine domes, because of its health adverse effects on the inhabitants.

Oral subchronic exposure to silver nanoparticles in rats

Because of their extremely small size, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) show unique physical and chemical properties, with specific biological effects, which make them particularly attractive for being used in a number of consumer applications. However, these properties also influence the potential toxicity of AgNPs. In this study, we assessed the potential toxic effects of an in vivo oral sub-chronic exposure to polyvinyl pyrrolidone coated AgNPs (PVP-AgNPs) in adult male rats. We also assessed if oral PVP-AgNPs exposure could alter the levels of various metals (Fe, Mg, Zn and Cu) in tissues. Rats were orally given 0, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day of PVP-AgNPs. Silver (Ag) accumulation in tissues, Ag excretion, biochemical and hematological parameters, metal levels, as well as histopathological changes and subcellular distribution following PVP-AgNPs exposure, were also investigated. After 90 days of treatment, AgNPs were found within hepatic and ileum cells. The major tissue concentration of Ag was found in ileum of treated animals. However, all tissues of PVP-AgNPs-exposed animals showed increased levels of Ag in comparison with those of rats in the control group. No harmful effects in liver and kidney, as well as in biochemical markers were noted at any treatment dose. In addition, no hematological or histopathological changes were found in treated animals. However, significant differences in Cu and Zn levels were found in thymus and brain of PVP-AgNPs-treated rats.

Pollutant exposure at wastewater treatment works affects the detoxification organs of an urban adapter, the Banana Bat

The Banana Bat, Neoromicia nana, exploits pollution-tolerant chironomids at wastewater treatment works (WWTWs). We investigated how pollutant exposure impacts the detoxification organs, namely the liver and kidney of N. nana. (i) We performed SEM-EDS to quantify metal content and mineral nutrients, and found significant differences in essential metal (Fe and Zn) content in the liver, and significant differences in Cu and one mineral nutrient (K) in the kidneys. (ii) We performed histological analysis and found more histopathological lesions in detoxification organs of WWTW bats. (iii) We calculated hepatosomatic/renalsomatic indices (HSI/RSI) to investigate whole organ effects, and found significant increases in organ size at WWTWs. (iv) We quantified metallothionein 1E (MT1E), using Western Blot immunodetection. Contrary to predictions, we found no significant upregulation of MT1E in bats at WWTWs. Ultimately, N. nana exploiting WWTWs may suffer chronic health problems from sub-lethal damage to organs responsible for detoxifying pollutants.

Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae defective in vacuolar function confirm a role for the vacuole in toxic metal ion detoxification.

To directly define vacuolar role(s) in metal detoxification, we have examined the responses of vacuole-deficient mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to several potentially toxic metals known to be mainly detoxified in the cytosol (Cu, Cd) or the vacuole (Co, Mn, Ni, Zn). Three mutants, deficient in targeting of vacuolar proteins, were used with JSR18 delta 1 being devoid of any vacuole-like structure while ScVatB and ScVatC were deficient in specific protein subunits of the V-ATPase. The results obtained show that the absence of a vacuole or a functional vacuolar H(+)-ATPase was associated with increased sensitivity and a largely decreased capacity of the vacuole-deficient strains to accumulate Zn, Mn, Co and Ni, confirming an essential role for the vacuole in detoxification of these metals. In addition, the lack of vacuolar involvement in detoxification of Cu and Cd was confirmed since these metals did not exhibit increased toxicity towards the vacuolar mutants nor were there significant differences in Cu or Cd accumulation between parental and mutant strains.

Maternal-fetal status of copper, iron, molybdenum, selenium and zinc in insulin-dependent diabetic pregnancies.

The objective was to assess the status of essential trace elements such as copper, iron, molybdenum, selenium and zinc in insulin-dependent diabetic pregnancies at term and to compare the data with a control group. Fetal-maternal ratios of the elements and copper:zinc ratio were also computed in the control and study populations. Samples from maternal vein, umbilical artery and umbilical vein of diabetic and control women were collected at the time of spontaneous delivery or cesarean section and activities of trace elements evaluated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Cu, Fe, Mo, Se and Zn concentrations in maternal venous blood averaged 2,156, 2,020, 13, 102 and 656 microg/l in control women (n=17) while in the diabetic group (n=14), the corresponding values for the trace elements averaged 3,135, 3,675, 15, 85 and 628 microg/l respectively. Values for copper and molybdenum were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the study group compared to control while those of zinc, iron and selenium were not significantly different (p>0.05). Iron and molybdenum values were significantly higher (p<0.05) and that of zinc significantly lower (p<0.05) in umbilical arterial samples of diabetic group compared to controls. In the case of molybdenum, copper the values were significantly higher (p<0.05) in umbilical venous samples of diabetic group compared to that of control. Significant differences in Cu:Zn ratio of maternal venous and umbilical samples and fetal-maternal ratios of some elements were noted between control and study group as well. We speculate that altered status of some essential trace elements and altered antioxidant mineral ratio observed in insulin dependent diabetic patients could have deleterious influences on the health of the mother as well as the fetus and newborn.

Accumulation of copper, chromium, and arsenic in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) from laboratory and field exposures to wood treated with chromated copper arsenate type C

AbstractLaboratory and field experiments were conducted to examine the uptake of Cu, Cr, and As leached from southern yellow pine (SYP) treated with chromated copper arsenate type C (CCA‐C), as well as effects on mortality and growth, in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis). Mussels were exposed to CCA‐C‐treated wood at a preservative retention of 40 kg/m3 and control (nontreated) SYP in laboratory flow‐through sea table and field exposure experiments for 9 months in 1994 and 3 months in 1995. Mussels were sampled at regular intervals to evaluate possible short‐ and long‐term exposure effects. Individual mussels were measured to determine the length, dry weight, and condition index. Mussel tissues were then analyzed for Cu, Cr, and As. Results showed few significant differences in condition index, dry weight, and length between CCA‐C‐exposed and control mussels. In addition, no statistically significant differences in mortality were found between the mussels exposed to CCA‐C‐treated and nontreated SYP in the laboratory flow‐through sea table and field exposure experiments. Significant differences in Cu, As, and Cr contents in mussel tissues between treatments were few, and generally cannot be attributed to exposure to CCA‐C‐treated SYP. The lack of Cu, Cr, and As uptake from CCA‐C‐treated SYP was attributed to the low, although continuous, rate of release of these elements from CCA‐C‐treated wood and to the experimental design, which allowed continuous flushing, prohibiting the accumulation of these elements in the water surrounding the mussels.

Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae defective in vacuolar function confirm a role for the vacuole in toxic metal ion detoxification

To directly define vacuolar role(s) in metal detoxification, we have examined the responses of vacuole-deficient mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to several potentially toxic metals known to be mainly detoxified in the cytosol (Cu, Cd) or the vacuole (Co, Mn, Ni, Zn). Three mutants, deficient in targeting of vacuolar proteins, were used with JSR18Δ1 being devoid of any vacuole-like structure while ScVatB and ScVatC were deficient in specific protein subunits of the V-ATPase. The results obtained show that the absence of a vacuole or a functional vacuolar H +-ATPase was associated with increased sensitivity and a largely decreased capacity of the vacuole-deficient strains to accumulate Zn, Mn, Co and Ni, confirming an essential role for the vacuole in detoxification of these metals. In addition, the lack of vacuolar involvement in detoxification of Cu and Cd was confirmed since these metals did not exhibit increased toxicity towards the vacuolar mutants nor were there significant differences in Cu or Cd accumulation between parental and mutant strains.

Environmental variation between habitats and uptake of heavy metals by Urtica dioica

The observation from previous surveys, that Urtica dioica plants that had grown in metal contaminated soil in the floodplains of the former Rhine estuary in different habitats, but at comparable total soil metal concentrations, showed significant differences in tissue metal concentrations, led to the hypothesis that variation in other environmental characteristics than soil composition and chemical speciation of metals between habitats is also important in determining uptake and translocation of metals in plants. A field survey indicated that differences in root Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations might partly be explained by variation in speciation of metals in different habitats. However, shoot concentrations showed a different pattern that did not relate to variation in soil metal concentrations. In a habitat experiment Urtica dioica plants were grown in artificially contaminated soil in pots that were placed in the four habitats (grassland, pure reed, mixed reed, osier bed) that were also included in the field survey. After seven weeks the plants showed significant differences in Cu and Zn concentrations in roots and aboveground plant parts and in distribution of the metals in the plants between habitats. It was concluded that variation between habitats in environmental characteristics other than soil composition can explain as much variation in plants as can variation in soil metal concentrations and/or speciation. The implications for assessment of soil metal contamination and uptake by plants are discussed.