Accumulation Of Toxic Elements Research Articles

Health assessment of medicinal herbs, celery and parsley related to cadmium soil pollution-potentially toxic elements (PTEs) accumulation, tolerance capacity and antioxidative response.

Celery and parsley are recognized as medicinal herbs and nutraceutical vegetables due to their valuable pharmacological properties and numerous health benefits. However, in recent years, soil loadings with various PTEs have become a serious concern across the world, leading to plants pollution, which can consequently diminish their quality and safety for humanconsumption. Therefore, we attempted to quantify quality and safety of celery and parsley grown in Cd polluted soil. We examined the presence of PTEs: As, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu and Cd in soil and selected herbs, as well as their physiological responses to different Cd exposures (control-without Cd addition, 3 and 6µg/g Cd of dry soil). Following elevation of Cd in plants, both species showed increasing trend of As, Pb and Cu in plants, which overcome safe limits, with exception for Cu. Further, celery showed strong phytoextraction ability (99.9µg/g Cd of dry weight) with high potential to tolerate Cd due to the efficient antioxidative machinery. Besides that herbs pollution was evident on the basis of target hazard quotients (HQ), hazard index (HI) and cancerogenic risk (CR), revealing that chronic consumption of contaminated herbs can consequently endanger human health. HI was greater than 1, while CR exceeded safe limits in treated plants, with exception for As. In the point of view of toxicology and food safety, growing of medicinal plants should be strictly regulated and distinguished based on the purpose of growing, and further herbs usage.

Accumulation of toxic elements in soil and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) through fertilizer application

Dates are the staple food for Arabs as well as the major export crop in the Middle East. In this work, we analyzed the concentration of toxic elements in commonly used fertilizers and evaluated metal accumulation in soil and date palm. Different types of fertilizers randomly selected from fertilizer dealers in the UAE were investigated for their toxic metals. Soil and plant samples collected from continuously fertilized date plantations were analyzed. Sandy loam soil (0–30 cm) samples were collected from date palm plantations continuously fertilized for more than 10 years (11 samples) and unfertilized date palm plantations (11 samples). A significant increase in chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd) was observed in the leaves of the fertilized date palms, whereas, in date palm fruits, the concentration of copper (Cu) was higher. A distinct correlation was observed between the total and the available metal concentrations in the soil for Cd and Cu. The average concentrations of toxic metals, however, remained within the limits of those used worldwide. It is important to encourage manufacturers to indicate the concentrations of toxic elements on the fertilizer labels due to environmental and health implications.

Response of wheat and barley seedlings on soil contamination with bromides.

Environmental pollution is becoming one of the most important global problems. Understanding the main factors affecting accumulation of toxic trace elements in consumed crops is of particular value. Unfortunately, possible toxicity of many trace elements is still poorly studied. The development of measures on identification of new potentially toxic trace elements is critical for high quality and safety of food. In the research, we performed greenhouse pot experiments with two major crops, wheat and barley, that were grown in the soil contaminated with bromides of ammonium and neodymium. The concentrations of elements in the plants and soil were determined by ICP-MS/ICP-OES after leaching the samples with tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide. Additionally, variations in the biomasses and concentrations of pigments in the plant leaves were studied. Although wheat and barley are botanically similar and were grown under the same conditions, concentrations of several elements in the plants were rather different. Both wheat and barley were capable of accumulating high concentrations of bromine (Br) when the plants grow in the soil contaminated with this trace element, but demonstrated different response on the soil contamination. The Br concentrations were always higher in barley, while the concentrations of pigments in barley leaves were lower than in leaves of wheat. During first days, biomass of the plants grown in the soil contaminated with bromides was slightly lower than biomass of the wheat and barley grown in uncontaminated soil. However, with time the bromides exhibited positive effect on the plant biomass.

Technology for detecting highly productive animals based on elemental status assessment

The studies were conducted on bull-calves of the Kalmyk breed (n = 100), age 12 months, live weight 326.4 ± 6.4 kg. In the course of the research, we performed a sampling of animal biosubstrates. The article studies a single nucleotide polymorphism of the growth hormone gene (rs135322669). The elemental composition of biosubstrates was determined by 25 indicators, by atomic emission and mass spectrometry (AES-ICP and MS-ICP). It was found that the frequency of occurrence of CC alleles in the sample was 62.0 %, CG – 26.0 and GG – 12.0 %, χ2Эмп=39.924,2 test – 5.99. Evaluation of the elemental status of calf bull revealed significant differences depending on the polymorphism in the bovine growth hormone gene. In bulls with the CC genotype, the exchange pool Ca, K, Na, Co, Cr, Cu, J, Se, B, Si, Li, V was significantly higher compared to the CG genotype; and Ca, K, Na, J, Se, B, Li in comparison with the GG genotype. CC genotypes to GG were characterized by the accumulation of toxic elements: Al, Pb, Hg, Cd. Consequently, under the same ecological conditions of breeding in calf bull with the CC genotype, the detoxification mechanisms are higher, which is reflected in the reduced concentration of toxic elements in the wool. A technology for identifying highly productive animals is proposed based on the selection of bulls by the level of toxic elements in wool, calculated on the basis of the sum of moles: Al, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sn, Sr at 8 months of age, which allows increasing productivity by 9.4-15.6%. It was concluded that there is a need to continue the research with the obligatory safety assessment of the toxic elements of the resulting meat products.

Characteristics of Trace Element Balance in Children with Pollution-Related Dental Diseases

Summary. Introduction: The necessity to assess, prevent and correct element-dependent diseases, increase the level of safety, predict and reduce the risk of exposures to industrial contaminants in the development of dental diseases in the child population is an important and promising area of modern hygiene. The objective of our study was to establish concentrations of trace elements in dental tissues of children exposed to various levels of industrial pollution. Materials and methods: We used atomic absorption spectrophotometry to measure 13 trace elements in extracted healthy and carious primary teeth in two groups of children aged 7–11. The first group consisted of 56 children living in the area with a significantly high level of anthropogenic burden (Caveraged total = 1.17 units) and a high prevalence of caries (86.9 %) while the second group consisted of 68 children living in the area with a relatively high level of anthropogenic burden (Caveraged total = 0.68 units) and a mean prevalence of caries (77.1 %) according to WHO criteria. Results: Our findings indicate that accumulation of toxic microelements in hard dental tissues of children in the first group was higher than in children of the second group: concentrations of lead, bismuth, cadmium and strontium were 2.6, 1.8, 2.5, and 1.2 times higher, respectively. We also observed higher accumulation of environmental toxicants in carious teeth compared to healthy ones. Thus, lead, cadmium and bismuth levels in carious teeth were 3.04, 1.2 and 3.13 times higher than in healthy teeth, respectively, while the level of strontium was, on the opposite, 2.5 times lower. Conclusions: The study revealed specific features of the interaction of essential trace elements in children in the form of antagonistic effects between cadmium and zinc, copper and manganese, and synergism in the content of copper, iron, nickel, zinc, and cobalt in healthy teeth, the mechanism of which is based on competition for a bond with a carrier substance and replacement of one element with another. In addition, we established that changes in the microelement balance in the hard tissues of healthy and carious teeth are not unidirectional in nature, thus reflecting complex interactions between the child’s organism and anthropogenic factors. The results proved that accumulation of toxic trace elements in hard dental tissues promotes caries development and causes a sharp decrease in the content of essential trace elements, especially chromium, manganese, iron, and copper. The study showed that hard dental tissues are a depot for lead, cadmium, bismuth, and strontium in children environmentally exposed to high levels of industrial chemicals. Features of developing an imbalance of biotic concentrations of essential elements and accumulating toxic microelements in children with pollution-related tooth pathology were also established.

Carcinogenic-potential ecological risk assessment of soils and wheat in the eastern region of Konya (Turkey).

The drainage channel where the wastewater of Konya city center is discharged, the solid waste storage center, the soils surrounding the industrial area, the potential accumulation of toxic elements (PTE) accumulated in the wheat grown in these soils, and their effects on human health were examined. Between 1977 and 2010, the water in the drainage channel was used for a variety of crops, mainly wheat grown in the nearby agricultural areas until the commissioning of the wastewater treatment plant. Industrial facilities, solid waste landfills, and military firing areas are actively used and are thought to be important factors in heavy metal accumulation in soils. In addition, the investigation area is on the sediments of the deposits stored in the large Konya Lake depending on the geological structure around Konya and caused geogenic heavy metal accumulation as a result of the separation and transportation of ophiolitic, magmatic, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks in the region. In the research, PTE accumulation was determined in the samples of N1 (Pb, As, and Hg), N9 (Cd, As), and N10 (Cd and As) and N8 (Pb) in wheat. The carcinogenic risk factor of Ni, Al, Mn, and Cr elements in the territory of the region has been found as "medium" for children and adults. It has been determined that the potential source of toxic elements does not only depend on anthropogenic events but also occurs as a result of geological events.

Accumulation of Toxic Elements in Bone and Bone Marrow of Deer Living in Various Ecosystems. A Case Study of Farmed and Wild-Living Deer.

Simple SummaryToxic elements (TE) such as Be—beryllium, Al—aluminum, As—arsenic, Cd—cadmium, Sb—antimony, Ba—barium, Pb—lead, V—vanadium, Ni—nickel, Tl—thallium may negatively impact bone cells even at low concentrations. This is especially undesirable when they are released from the bone marrow. Therefore, in this study, the concentrations of TE in the bone marrow and bones of wild and farmed red deer were compared to evaluate the influence of the external environment on the absorption and accumulation of various harmful elements. The obtained results show that higher accumulation was detected only in the case of As, Ba, and Pb in the bones of the wild red deer, compared to the farmed group. In turn, higher levels of Al in the bone marrow and bones, as well as Cd in the bones were recorded in the farmed animals. Although the study involved animals living in an area that is regarded as being unpolluted, the concentrations of some heavy metals were higher than values reported from industrial regions.The aim of the study was to determine the concentrations of toxic elements accumulated in the bone marrow and bones (Cervus elaphus). The studies were carried out on two groups of young stags: farmed (n = 6) and wild (n = 9). Their body weights were measured and bone and bone marrow samples were collected. The concentrations of toxic elements were analyzed using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique. The mean aluminum content in the bone marrow and bones of the farmed animals was significantly higher than in the wild group (p < 0.05). The mean concentration of arsenic, barium and lead in the bones of the wild red deer was significantly higher than in the bones of the farmed animals (p < 0.05), while the cadmium concentration in the bones of the farmed red deer exceeded the value determined in the wild animals. A significant difference was found between the mean concentrations of aluminum, arsenic, barium, lead, vanadium and nickel in the bone marrow and bones of both red deer groups (p < 0.05). Although the study involved animals living in an uncontaminated area, the concentrations of some heavy metals were higher than values reported from industrial regions.

ACCUMULATION AND MOBILE FORMS OF SOME HEAVY METALS IN ROADSIDE URBAN SOILS

The accumulation of heavy metals and toxic elements in the topsoil horizon of urban areas is a big environmental problem as they could have long-term implications not only for the soils themselves but also on the human health and well-being. Many studies have shown that there is a clear relationship between the level of urbanization, volume of traffic, intensity of anthropogenic activities and heavy metal load.&#x0D; We aimed to analyze the accumulation of heavy metals at urban roadside soils and to assess the proportion of their mobile forms. The total content and mobile forms of Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn in soils samples collected along the main boulevards of Plovdiv (Bulgaria) was determined by two instrumental methods - ICP-OES and ICP-MS.&#x0D; The maximal concentrations were found in the Central and Eastern administrative regions of the city of Plovdiv. This finding well correlated with the wind rose characteristics and urban gradient theory. Our results revealed that the mobile forms of Mn represented 1.38-2.21% of total content and the mobile forms of Zn represented 8.48-11.81% of total content in studied urban soils. Mobile forms of Cu and Pb varied significantly and were in the range of 7.04-14.2% and 7.3-18.67% of the total content, respectively.

Biosolid compost amendment increases soil fertility and soybean growth

This study evaluates the effect of soil amendment with biosolid compost with wood shavings and yard trimmings on soil fertility, and soybean (Glycine max) biomass, productivity, nutrient uptake, and potential accumulation of toxic elements, like Pb. Soil from agricultural fields under intense crop production were amended with compost at 0%, 5% and 10% w/w rate, and incubated under controlled conditions before planting. Then, a greenhouse experiment was performed to study soybean growth, physiological indicators of productivity, and antioxidant response (chlorophylls, carotenes, antioxidant power, soluble sugars and proteins), as well as nutrient (Mg, Cu, Mn, and Zn), and Pb accumulation. Moreover, soil nutrient status (pH, cation exchange capacity, organic matter, nitrogen, sulfur, extractable cations, and soil microbial activity) were analyzed. The results showed that compost improved soil fertility and microbial activity, including nodulation in soybean roots. Biomass production was strongly increased; content of chlorophyll, carotenes, sugars, and protein also increased. Grains were produced only in the compost treatments. Compost addition also reduced nutrient deficiencies in leaves and grains, and Pb accumulation in soybean. Our findings contribute with information about the role of biosolid compost in sustainable agriculture: allowing the recovery of soil fertility in agricultural soils under intensive production and, consequently, improvement of crop growth.

Selenium Biofortification and Interaction With Other Elements in Plants: A Review.

Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans and animals and its deficiency in the diet is a global problem. Crop plants are the main source of Se for consumers. Therefore, there is much interest in understanding the factors that govern the accumulation and distribution of Se in the tissues of crop plants and the mechanisms of interaction of Se absorption and accumulation with other elements, especially with a view toward optimizing Se biofortification. An ideal crop for human consumption is rich in essential nutrient elements such as Se, while showing reduced accumulation of toxic elements in its edible parts. This review focuses on (a) summarizing the nutritional functions of Se and the current understanding of Se uptake by plant roots, translocation of Se from roots to shoots, and accumulation of Se in grains; and (b) discussing the influence of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) on the biofortification of Se. In addition, we discuss interactions of Se with major toxicant metals (Hg, As, and Cd) frequently present in soil. We highlight key challenges in the quest to improve Se biofortification, with a focus on both agronomic practice and human health.

Geochemistry landscape classification: toxicity of chemical elements and their impact on human health

In the article, the following were considered: classification of geochemical landscapes of the investigated territory, migration and accumulation of toxic chemical elements and their impact on human health. The research article was carried out in two directions: the first part-migration patterns of the chemical elements. The migration of chemical elements by landscape types has been identified, and a map has been developed showing the migration of chemical elements across the landscape. The second part of the article explores the toxicity of chemical elements that are common in the area and examines the relationship between the diseases observed in areas where the toxic elements are most commonly encountered and their effects on human health. The article is devoted to the study of the peculiarities of the geochemical transformation of landscapes in the research area (of the Kura intermountain basin) based on the patterns of concentration and migration of macro-compounds and trace elements found in samples of mountain rocks, soil, plants and water, for which a comparative method of research and the relationship of landscape components was used. For the first time, a medium-scale "Geochemical classification of landscapes" and then "map scheme of diseases caused by anomalous concentration of microelements" of this region were compiled. The article reveals the characteristic features of the compiled maps and the features of the geochemical transformation of the study area. The geochemistry of landscapes studies the patterns of migration of chemical elements in the Earth's geographical shell. It deals with patterns of substance migration in that shell of the Earth that is the place of human life. The landscape is a fundamental concept of natural science as "chemical element," mineral, "soil." The landscape is a large and complex nonequilibrium dynamic system of the Earth's surface, in which the elements of the lithohydrology and atmosphere are interpenetrated.

Potentially toxic element accumulation in badgers (Meles meles): a compositional approach

Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Badgers (Meles meles), otherwise known as heavy metals, are unique amongst environmental pollutants occurring, both naturally and anthropogenically. PTEs have a broad range of negative health and environmental effects, therefore identifying their sources and pathways through the environment is imperative for public health policy. This is difficult in terrestrial systems due to the compositional nature of soil geochemistry. In this study, a compositional statistical approach was used to identify how PTEs accumulate in a terrestrial carnivorous mammal, Eurasian Badgers (Meles meles). Compositional principal component analysis (PCA) was used on geochemical data from the Tellus survey, the soil baseline and badger tissue data to map geo-spatial patterns of PTEs and show accumulative trends measured in time. Mapping PCs identified distinct regions of PTE presence in soil and PTE accumulation in badger tissues in Northern Ireland. PTEs were most elevated in liver, kidney and then muscle tissues. Liver and kidney showed the most distinct geo-spatial patterns of accumulation and muscle was the most depleted. PC1 and 2 for each type were modelled using generalised additive mixed models (GAMM) to identify trends through time. PC1 for the liver and muscle were associated with rainfall and ∂N15 in the liver, showing a link to diet and a bioaccumulation pathway, whilst PC2 for both tissues was associated with mean temperature, showing a link to seasonal activity and a bioaccessibility pathway. However, in kidney tissue these trends are reversed and PC1 was associated with bioaccessibility and PC2 with bioaccumulation. Combined these techniques can elucidate both geo-spatial trends in PTEs and the mechanisms by which they move in environment and in future may be an effective tool for assessing PTE bioavailability in environmental health surveys.

Environmental Investigations and Tissue Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Grey Mullet from the Black Sea (Bulgaria) and the Ionian Sea (Italy).

Simple SummaryThe environmental monitoring of dangerous chemicals and how these affect the aquatic biota is of fundamental importance in defining the health status of fish. Pollution with chemical elements is of great environmental concern, since fish and marine organisms can uptake various toxicants and subsequently transfer them to man through the food web. Moreover, the accumulation of toxic elements could be a cause of pathology insurgence in fish. These organisms represent a good indicator of the status of coastal water. Flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) is a coastal species, bottom dwelling and feeding on detritus, invertebrates, and algae. The main aim of the present study was to determine the total concentration of nine elements (Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) in the fish species M. cephalus and in coastal marine waters collected from various sampling points along the Black Sea (Bulgaria) and the Ionian Sea (Italy) and to apply those results to the prediction of the pollution status of those coastal marine environments. To achieve this goal, metal concentrations were analyzed in various fish tissues (gills, liver, and muscle) of grey mullet (M. cephalus) and in marine water samples collected from the sampling stations across both areas (Ionian Sea (Italy) and Black Sea (Bulgaria)). The results revealed significant differences within the tissues examined and the marine water samples, principally attributable to the pollution of the area, the bioavailability of metals, and the hydrological conditions. The present study represents the first attempt to compare the data obtained from analyzing sampling points in order to define the different elemental concentrations in M. cephalus muscle tissue and how they reflect environmental ones.The environmental monitoring of chemical toxicants has been a widely studied topic in the last few decades. The main aim of the present study was to determine the total concentration of nine elements (Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) in the fish species grey mullet (M. cephalus) and in the coastal marine waters collected from various sampling points along the Black Sea (Bulgaria) and the Ionian Sea (Italy). Further, those results were applied to predict the pollution degree in those coastal marine environments. The fish samples were subject to acid digestion followed by appropriate analytical determination. The metal concentrations in marine water samples collected from the Black Sea (Bulgaria) and the Ionian Sea (Italy) were also analyzed. Unpaired Student’s t-test and the one-way ANOVA were applied for the statistical analysis of the data. The statistical results revealed a significant variation (p < 0.0001) in the concentration of various fish tissues. The accumulation of toxic and essential elements differs significantly in grey mullet species caught from the Black Sea (Bulgaria) and the Ionian Sea (Italy). The results from this study may serve as a convenient approach during marine pollution programs set by both countries (Italy and Bulgaria).

Growth and metal uptake of spinach with application of co-compost of cat manure and spent coffee ground

Cat manure (CM) possesses high level of nutrients for growing food crop. However, animal manure may contain toxic elements that may contaminate food crop. Spent coffee ground (SCG) may be used to reduce mobility of heavy metals and reduce crop uptake. In this study, SCG was composted with CM for 31 days to produce a co-compost (SCG-CM) for growing spinach (Spinacia oleracea). The growth rate of spinach was assessed until its maturity, and the metal uptake of spinach shoot was determined thereafter using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The effect of soil treatment with SCG-CM on the height and elemental composition of spinach were compared with that of chicken manure compost (CMC). The prepared composts were primarily organic matter (72.9–81.4 % w/w) with the rest are ash (13.3–23.4 % w/w) and moisture (1.2–2.6 % w/w). Zinc content in SCG-CM (1261 ± 0.1 mg/kg) is significantly higher than that of soil and CMC (p < 0.05) and has exceeded the maximum permissible limit set by European Union Standard (2002) and the Malaysian Compost Quality Standard and Guidelines (2000). Matured spinach reached maximum plant height after 33 days. The amendment of SCG-CM significantly increased the height of spinach (32 ± 6 cm) compared to that of CMC (13 ± 1 cm) (p < 0.05). However, contents of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd were not increased for spinach grown in the SCG-CM-amended soil, and the level of those elements are below permissible limit set by the Malaysian Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985. This study shows that SCG-CM is effective in improving yield without causing accumulation of toxic trace elements in spinach.

Brazilian Genetic Diversity for Desirable and Undesirable Elements in the Wheat Grain

Micronutrient deficiency affects billions of people, especially in countries where the diet is low in diversity with inadequate consumption of fruits, vegetables, and animal-source foods, and higher consumption of staple food, i.e., cereals, that have low concentrations of micronutrients. Genetic biofortification is a strategy to mitigate this problem and ensure nutritional security. Wheat is a target of genetic biofortification since it contributes significantly to the caloric requirement. The biofortification process involves a screening related to the presence of genetic variability for grain mineral content. Also, the accumulation of toxic elements must be considered to ensure food safety, because if ingested above the allowed concentrations, it represents health risks. In this sense, this study aimed to quantify the micronutrients iron, zinc, copper, selenium, and manganese and toxic elements arsenic and cadmium in a Brazilian wheat panel grown in Southern Brazil. The presence of genetic variability for the accumulation of micronutrients in the grain was detected; however, we observed that only the copper and manganese accumulation meet the human daily requirements. Iron, zinc, and selenium were detected in insufficient concentration to meet the daily demand. Arsenic and cadmium accumulation were not detected in wheat grain. The wheat genotypes grown in Brazil displayed a similar profile to that found in other countries which may be due to common high-yield breeding goals and the narrowing of the genetic variability, observed worldwide. Thus, the wheat genetic biofortification success in Brazil depends on the introduction of foreign genotypes, landraces, and wild relatives.

Effect of land-use types on edaphic properties and plant species diversity in Mediterranean agroecosystem.

Land-use intensification, contrary to sustainable land management, has an impact on the healthiness of the environmental agroecosystem. To assess the environmental implications in abandoned land, olive groves and maize crops, the most sensitive and reliable edaphic indicators were measured to estimate plant species diversity and potentially toxic elements in soil, among different types of land-use. Species diversity presents a decrease in maize crops and olive groves compared to abandoned land. The families with the greatest species diversity were Poaceae, Asteraceae and Fabaceae in each land-use. From the results of the canonical correspondence analysis among species, sampling sites and selected environmental variables, a clear separation between species and sampling sites belonging to different types of land-use was found, presenting strong correlation with specific edaphic parameters (pH, Soil Organic Matter, Silt, Electrical Conductivity, Total Nitrogen, , P, K, Zn and Cu). Species diversity was reduced in maize crops due to anthropogenic interventions such as the excessive use of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers and herbicides. Despite the fact that the lowest richness of plant species was found in olive groves, non-removal of crop residue preserves soil organic matter. In 7.4% of soil samples in olive groves, concentrations were over 100 mg kg−1 denoting polluted soils, while the potentially toxic concentrations of bioavailable copper fraction ( probably lead to a decrease of species diversity. Future researches should therefore focus on the accumulation of toxic elements in agricultural land to preserve species diversity and a healthy environment.

Long-term simulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) accumulation and breakthrough in infiltration-based stormwater management practices (SMPs)

Stormwater management practices (SMPs) rely on infiltration and adsorption capabilities of soil and vegetative cover to mitigate the harmful impacts of contaminants in stormwater runoff, including potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Under chemical equilibrium conditions, the soil-water distribution coefficient (Kd) quantifies the relationship between the solid and aqueous phase PTE concentrations, and thus the PTE removal efficiency and mobility through the SMP soil layers during the infiltration process. The SMP loading ratio (LR), the ratio of the drainage area to the SMP infiltration area, combined with runoff concentration determines SMP mass loading and is also expected to impact PTE transport. In this study, a simulation model was developed to investigate PTE breakthrough and build-up in SMP media, considering the impacts of Kd and LR. Eight PTEs were simulated (Cl−, Cr, Fe, Zn, Cu, As, Cd, and Pb), and Cl− was the only PTE that showed high mobility and reached the groundwater table (e.g., ~ 1 year for breakthrough). Conversely, other PTEs were effectively immobilized in the top ~60 cm of soil for a simulated lifespan of 20 years. Soil and porewater contaminant indices, as indicators of SMP lifespan, were estimated based on the ratio of PTE porewater and soil concentrations after 20 years to published standards, suggesting the following order of environmental significance (most concern to least): Cl− > Cr > As > Pb > Fe > Cu > Cd > Zn. After 20 years of simulated use, only Cl− pore water concentrations at the groundwater table exceeded regulatory values, with porewater contamination index values of 4 to 7.5. Chloride also exceeded the surficial media soil contamination index, as did As and Cr, though these exceedences were largely associated with media background concentrations. Generally, higher LR and Kd contributed to higher accumulation of PTEs in top layers; however, simulations showed that the combination of low LR and high Kd may result in lower PTE accumulation in the media, such that the PTE concentration in soil may decrease in deeper layers. In these scenarios, a notable fraction of PTE load was adsorbed on top layers and considerably lower PTE concentrations reached the lower layers. Sensitivity analysis revealed that dispersion, infiltration rate, and kinetically-limited sorption did not impact the PTE accumulation and mobility to a practical extent. The results from this simulation may be adapted to various environmental conditions to enhance the design and maintenance of SMPs.

Isolation and characterization of lead (Pb) resistant microbes and their combined use with silicon nanoparticles improved the growth, photosynthesis and antioxidant capacity of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) under Pb stress

Rapid global industrialization has increased the chances of toxic trace element accumulation in plants and other living things via the food chain. Thus, there is an urgent need to find suitable techniques with the aim to alleviate the stress of toxic trace elements in crops to feed the ever-increasing population with quality food. This research was based on the hypothesis that the growth traits of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) plants can be improved by the combined application of lead (Pb) resistant microbes and silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs) under Pb stress. Two Pb-resistant strains of the microbes were isolated under different Pb concentrations, and then these strains were characterized for different traits. The strains were inoculated in the Pb-spiked (500 mg/kg) soil, and Si-NPs (1.5 mM) were foliar sprayed at different time (three times, two-week interval). The growth and stress tolerance of the plant were assessed by measuring the morphological traits, chlorophyll contents, proline, electrolyte leakage, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities of the leaves. Results demonstrated that Pb stress had significant negative impacts on all the traits of the coriander. Si-NPs application or bacterial inoculation reversed the Pb-induced toxicities in plants, which was indicated by the improved growth, photosynthesis, and antioxidant enzyme activities of the plants under Pb stress. The effect of the combined use of Si-NPs and microbes was more pronounced than the treatments alone. It can be concluded that Pb-resistant microorganism and Si-NPs could effectively be used to alleviate Pb stress in coriander.

Sensitive bioindicator plants studies, under the environmental conditions of climate change impact

Abstract Air pollution is a serious problem in many heavily populated and industrialized areas in the world. It affects vegetation, and also human health. The diversification of emission sources, among them vehicles, industrial processes, waste burnings and fuel storage, creates zones with different species and concentrations of air pollutants. In this paper was studied the excessive accumulation of toxic metals such as Al, Cr, Ni, Zn, Pb in vegetation as a risk factor for ecosystem and also for human health. The purpose of the study was to establish an optimal method of determination for toxic elements accumulation in leaves, using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). These results made to suppose that, visible and analyzed responses of in in-situ exposed bio monitors compared with heavy metal accumulation depended on the atmospheric situation during the period of exposure, which could assess the efficiency of biomonitoring programs in the region. The advantage of this study consists in new and appropriate approach using a friendly methodology for air monitoring and favoring the development of a circular and sustainable economy.

PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING OF TECHNOGENIC XENOBIOTICS IN THE FOOD-ANIMAL-PRODUCTION SYSTEM

One of the main reasons that significantly affect the functional state of the organism, animal and human health, scientists and practitioners consider the environmental state of the environment. This is primarily due to the content of toxicants, in particular heavy metals in feed grown in areas of man-made pollution, the feeding of which leads to impaired metabolism in the animal body. Certain heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, As, etc.) are highly toxic and can affect the body even in very small quantities. Therefore, monitoring the toxic elements in the soil-plant-feed-animal-production-human-chain trophic chain is considered a priority area in research, under conditions of man-made loading. The works of a number of leading scientists, in particular R. Y. Kravtsiv, O. I. Razputny, I. V. Kalinin, Yu. I. Savchenko, R. Fedoruk, indicate that the ability to the accumulation of toxic elements by organisms is determined not only by the geochemistry of the environment, but also by their biological nature and the biogeochemical chain through which the connection between organisms and the environment (soil-plant-animal-human). Unfavorable ecological situation in some regions is caused by violation of requirements for chemical fertilizers, plant treatment with pesticides (herbicides, pesticides, etc.), which is especially characteristic nowadays, when large agro-industrial structures (holdings, concerns, etc.) for the cultivation of intensive crops.&#x0D; The mentioned reasons include animal and poultry growth promoters, certain groups of medicines, uncontrolled industrial emissions, man-made accidents, pollution of the environment by motor vehicle emissions, etc. As a result, the compounds of Plumbum, Cadmium, Hydrargyrum, Strontium and other heavy metals also enter the atmosphere. And what is characteristic (according to literature sources) is that some of them, together with atmospheric moisture, form even more toxic compounds, which in the form of rain fall on farmland and ponds, from where they enter plants and organisms of animals and food, in particular milk and meat. That is why it is necessary to carry out physiological and environmental monitoring, respectively, and control of the migration of harmful elements in the environment, in particular, their receipt and concentration in soils, plants of food groups, feeds, animals and food. In view of this, it is especially important to improve the diets of animals fed under conditions of techno-genic loading using sorbents and their biologically active additives. Such adsorbents R. Y. Kravtsіv and coauthors, O. O. Kalinin include zeolites that have adsorbing, ion exchange, catalytic and other properties, although their use should be carried out taking into account agro-environmental conditions, as well as the forms and properties of xenobiotics, which requires research with scientific and practical substantiation.