Search Results (32)

Phytostabilization of metals involves the inactivation of metals in the soil through the use of various materials as soil amendments, which reduces the bioavailability of metals, and then the introduction of vegetation. There are limited data comparing the effectiveness of different phytostabilization amendments under the same soil and environmental conditions. Therefore, the aim of this research was to compare the effectiveness of a range of soil amendments on reducing the extractability of metals, metal uptake by plants, microbial activity in soil and nutrient availability to plants. Eight materials potentially limiting metal availability were used in a pot experiment: two composts (CG, CM), municipal biosolids (SB), bentonite (BEN), phosphorus fertilizer (PF), amorphous iron oxide (FE), waste rock material (WR), calcium carbonate (LM); and these materials were compared with typical fertilization (NPK) and an untreated soil as the control (CTL). The following trace metal-contaminated soils were used in the pot experiment: soil taken from the area of strong dust fall from the zinc and lead smelter (soil P); soil taken from an outcrop of ore-bearing rocks near a smelter waste heap (soil H); soil artificially polluted through smelter dust spill in the 1990s (soil S). In general, the greatest yields of plants (oat and white mustard) were recorded for compost-treated soils. Changes in the solubility of zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) after the application of various amendments largely reflected changes in soil pH. Biosolids caused a significant increase in extractable Zn and Cd, which was related to the decrease in soil pH, while a significant reduction in Cd extractability was observed across soils after the application of both composts, especially the compost characterized by alkaline pH. Interestingly, low extractability of Cd in the soil with the addition of another compost was observed, despite the pH decrease, as compared to the control pots. This fact proves the high sorption capacity of the compost towards Cd. The microbiological analyses revealed the highly beneficial effect of composts for dehydrogenases and nitrification activities, and for soil respiration, whereas soil amendment with iron oxide caused an increase in respiration activity across soils. Full article

Emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, heavy metals, and microplastics are a growing ecological risk affecting water and soil resources. Another challenge in current wastewater treatments includes tracking and treating these pollutants, which can be costly. As a growing concern, emerging pollutants do not have lower limit levels and can be detrimental to aquatic resources in minuscule amounts. Thus, the assessment of multiple emerging water pollutants in community-based water sources such as surface water and groundwater is a prioritized area of study for water resource management. It provides a basis for the ecological health management of arising diseases such as cancer and dengue caused by unsafe water sources. Accordingly, by utilizing artificial intelligence, wide-range and data-driven insights can be synthesized to assist in water resource management and propose solution pathways without the need for exhaustive experimentation. This systematic review examines the artificial intelligence-assisted modelling of water resource management for emerging water pollutants, notably machine learning and deep learning models, with proximity dependence and correlated synergistic health effects for both humans and aquatic life. This study underscores the increasing accumulation of these emerging pollutants and their toxicological effects on the community and how data-driven modelling can be utilized to assist in addressing research gaps related to water treatment methods for these pollutants. Full article

Rodlet cells (RCs) are specialised immune cells found in teleost fish, recognised for their unique morphology and potential roles in both immune responses and environmental adaptation. Herein, current knowledge on RCs is reviewed, focussing on their responsiveness to toxicants and environmental stressors. The historical context of RC research is discussed, including key milestones in the identification and characterisation of these cells. Recent studies highlight RCs’ quantitative and qualitative changes in response to various pollutants, such as heavy metals, organic chemicals, and microplastics, underscoring their utility as biomarkers for environmental monitoring and assessment of ecological health. The underlying mechanisms that govern RC responses are explored, noting the limited research available at the molecular level, which hampers a comprehensive understanding of their functionality. Despite this, the consistent patterns of RC responses position them as valuable indicators of environmental health within the One Health framework, linking aquatic ecosystem integrity to broader human and animal health concerns. Additionally, the potential equivalence of RCs in other vertebrates is examined, which may provide insights into their evolutionary significance and functional roles across different species. The urgent need for further research is emphasised to enhance the understanding of RC biology and its applications in toxicology and environmental pathology. Full article

This study investigates the process of long-term (bio)degradation of polyethylene (PE) in an old municipal waste landfill (MWL) and its implications for environmental and human health. Advanced techniques, such as ICP–ES/MS and IC–LC, were used to analyze heavy metals and anions/cations, demonstrating significant concentration deviations from control samples. The soil’s chemical composition revealed numerous hazardous organic compounds, further indicating the migration of additives from PE to the soil. Toxicological assessments, including Phytotoxkit F^TM, Microtox^® bioassay, and Ostracodtoxkit^®, demonstrated phytotoxicity, acute toxicity, and high mortality in living organisms (over 85% for Heterocypris Incongruens). An unusual concentration of contaminants in the MWL’s middle layers, linked to Poland’s economic changes during the 1980s and 1990s, suggests increased risks of pollutant migration, posing additional environmental and health threats. Moreover, the infiltration capability of microorganisms, including pathogens, into PE structures raises concerns about potential groundwater contamination through the landfill bottom. This research underscores the need for vigilant management and updated strategies to protect the environment and public health, particularly in older landfill sites. Full article

Today, the distribution and consumption of canned products have become widespread due to the convenience of using processed fish products. This study aims to evaluate elements of toxicological concern and essential elements (Cd, Al, Cu, Cr, Mn, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Zn), the fatty acid composition, and the fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant pigment contents of various canned fish products purchased on the Bulgarian market. The estimated weekly intake and human health benefit–risk ratio based on metal elements and n-3 LC-PUFA contents in canned fish products were assessed. The contents of the analyzed elements in the canned samples were found to be below the limits set by various health organizations. Al was detected in only one sample. The profile of fatty acids showed that the canned fish had high PUFA/SFA ratios, EPA + DHA contents and low SFA, AI and TI values. The analyzed canned fish contained significant contents of fat-soluble vitamins. The Atlantic bonito in a jar sample was characterized by a high percentage of vitamin A (26.7% RDI) and vitamin D3 (142% RDI) per 100 g portion. The calculated EWI value shows that the consumption of canned fish products did not present any risk. The benefit–risk ratio indicates that the canned fish species are safe for human consumption, except for one sample regarding Cr. Full article

Interactions between proteins and metal ions and their complexes are important in many areas of the life sciences, including physiology, medicine, and toxicology. Despite the involvement of essential elements in all major processes necessary for sustaining life, metalloproteomes remain ill-defined. This is not only owing to the complexity of metalloproteomes, but also to the non-covalent character of the complexes that most essential metals form, which complicates analysis. Similar issues may also be encountered for some toxic metals. The review discusses recently developed approaches and current challenges for the study of interactions involving entire (sub-)proteomes with such labile metal ions. In the second part, transition metals from the fourth and fifth periods are examined, most of which are xenobiotic and also tend to form more stable and/or inert complexes. A large research area in this respect concerns metallodrug–protein interactions. Particular attention is paid to separation approaches, as these need to be adapted to the reactivity of the metal under consideration. Full article

Heavy metals pollution associated with oil spills has become a major concern worldwide. It is essential to break down these contaminants in the environment. In the environment, microbes have been used to detoxify and transform hazardous components. The process can function naturally or can be enhanced by adding nutrients, electron acceptors, or other factors. This study investigates some factors affecting hydrocarbon remediation technologies/approaches. Combinations of biological, chemical, and eco-toxicological techniques are used for this process while monitoring the efficacy of bacterial products and nutrient amendments to stimulate the biotransformation of contaminated soil. Different hydrocarbon removal levels were observed with bacterial augmentation (Beta proteobacterium and Rhodococcus ruber), exhibiting a total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) reduction of 61%, which was further improved to a 73% reduction using bacterial augmentation combined with nutrient amendment (nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus). A heavy metal analysis of the polluted soils showed that the combination of nutrient and bacterial augmentation resulted in a significant reduction (p-value < 0.05) in lead, zinc, and barium. Toxicity testing also showed that a reduction of up to 50% was achieved using these remediation approaches. Full article

Metals are widely used in various industrial applications due to their advantageous properties, but they often exhibit signs of degradation over time because of prolonged exposure to environmental conditions. To prevent corrosion, coatings have gained popularity owing to their practicality in maintaining the original shape and dimensions of the object being protected. Nevertheless, traditional coatings may pose significant toxicological and environmental concerns, leading researchers to explore eco-friendly alternatives such as chitosan-based coatings. Chitosan, a biopolymer derived from chitin, is abundant in nature and has been extensively studied for its physicochemical properties, including its potential in the development of new materials. Chitosan-based coatings have shown promise as effective corrosion inhibitors, and this study aims to develop a crosslinked chitosan-based coating from shrimp waste as an alternative to expensive, commercial coatings. Chitosan, and chemically modified polyethylene glycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and ammonium paratungstate chitosan coatings of high- and medium molecular weight prepared by the sol-gel technique, were used for the study of corrosion protection of aluminum in 3.5% synthetic seawater. The molecular interactions and structural alterations following cross-linking of chitosan-based coatings was supported by FTIR-ATR. Surface morphology analysis by AFM indicated good coating adsorption on aluminum surfaces. Contact angle measurements showed hydrophilic properties with contact angles >62° and <90°. Physicochemical characterization (molecular weight (kDa), deacetylation (%), humidity (%), and ash (%)) was also carried out. The corrosion inhibition effectiveness was assessed by gravimetric tests after immersion studies, and the results highlighted the MMW-Chi-based coating’s performance. Full article

Ag nanoclusters (AgNCs) have gained widespread applications in recent years due to their excellent antimicrobial efficacy and distinctive molecule-like characteristics. However, concerns about their potential effects on environmental and human health have been raised. Despite the fact that abundant research has been carried out to examine the possible ecotoxicology of AgNCs in a variety of living organisms, these studies have mostly concentrated on the toxicology of individual organisms and only a few have attempted to look into the impact of AgNCs across the aquatic food chain. This work evaluated the transcriptome level genotoxicity of AgNCs and their degraded Ag ions in two model species food chains: the aquatic green algae Scenedesmus obliquus and the invertebrate Daphnia magna. Daphnia magna’s digestive system and glycerophospholipid metabolism were hindered after feeding on Ag-containing algae as a result of down-regulation of the crucial gene PLA2G(SPLA2) that codes for secretory phospholipase A2. Our research also showed that the genotoxicity of AgNCs to Daphnia magna was mediated by a synergic interaction between the particulate form of AgNCs and their degraded Ag ions. The current work offers a fresh viewpoint on the mechanisms underlying AgNCs’ harmful effects and the possible ecological concern that metal-based nanoparticles provide to aquatic life. Full article

The ubiquitous presence of microplastics (MPs) is a topic of great concern. Not only do MPs themselves represent potential toxicants for human health, they are never found alone in the environment and interact with and adsorb a variety of toxicologically significant pollutants. This review summarises recent work on interactions between MPs and heavy metals in the environment, with a special focus on arsenic, one of the most widespread and problematic water contaminants. Evidence for the adsorption of arsenic onto MP surfaces is given and the recent research into the consequences of this phenomenon for freshwater, marine, and soil environments presented. Finally, the lack of research into the significance of interactions between arsenic and MPs during drinking water treatment is highlighted. The performance of arsenic removal technologies is governed by a multitude of different factors, and with MPs detected in water sources all over the world, data on how these MPs impact the removal of arsenic and, indeed, other major water contaminants are urgently needed. Full article

There is increasing concern about the adverse impact of exposure to microplastic, as an emerging pollutant, on wild organisms, and particularly on organisms co-exposed to microplastic and other environmental contaminants. It has been widely reported that the combination of microplastics and heavy metals showed obvious toxicity to organisms in terms their growth and development. The present study was performed to determine the impact of binary metal mixtures of cadmium (Cd) and polystyrene microplastic (PS-microplastic) on Tigriopus japonicus, a typical marine model organism, using a titration design. Increasing concentrations of PS-microplastic (2 μg/L, 20 μg/L, and 200 μg/L) were titrated against a constant concentration of Cd (15.2 μg/L). The results showed no significant impact of exposure to this dose of Cd or co-exposure to Cd and the lowest dose of PS-microplastic examined (2 μg/L). However, the feeding rate, filtration rate, oxygen consumption rate, and hatching number declined significantly in T. japonicus co-exposed to Cd and higher concentrations of PS-microplastic (20 μg/L and 200 μg/L) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the development of F1 larvae from nauplius stage (N) to adult stage (A) was markedly delayed when co-exposed to Cd and higher doses of PS-microplastic (20 and 200 μg/L), and the effects persisted to the F2 larval stage. Interestingly, the present titration design did not affect the sex ratio or number of oocysts in either the F1 or F2 generation. These results indicated that the current marine environmental concentrations of Cd and microplastic are safe for wild organisms. Further studies are required to address the knowledge gap regarding toxicological effects at the cellular and molecular levels. Full article

The inhalation of metallic compounds in e-cigarette (EC) aerosol emissions presents legitimate concerns of potential harms for users. We provide a critical review of laboratory studies published after 2017 on metal contents in EC aerosol, focusing on the consistency between their experimental design, real life device usage and appropriate evaluation of exposure risks. All experiments reporting levels above toxicological markers for some metals (e.g., nickel, lead, copper, manganese) exhibited the following experimental flaws: (i) high powered sub-ohm tank devices tested by means of puffing protocols whose airflows and puff volumes are conceived and appropriate for low powered devices; this testing necessarily involves overheating conditions that favor the production of toxicants and generate aerosols that are likely repellent to human users; (ii) miscalculation of exposure levels from experimental outcomes; (iii) pods and tank devices acquired months and years before the experiments, so that corrosion effects cannot be ruled out; (iv) failure to disclose important information on the characteristics of pods and tank devices, on the experimental methodology and on the resulting outcomes, thus hindering the interpretation of results and the possibility of replication. In general, low powered devices tested without these shortcomings produced metal exposure levels well below strict reference toxicological markers. We believe this review provides useful guidelines for a more objective risk assessment of EC aerosol emissions and signals the necessity to upgrade current laboratory testing standards. Full article

Muscle and liver tissues from Italian heavy pigs were analyzed to investigate whether the chronic consumption of these products by local consumers could represent a health risk in relation to the contamination by some toxic metals and metalloids (TMMs). The concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sn, U, and Zn were measured with an inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometer, while Hg analysis was performed by using a mercury analyzer. Fe, Zn, and Cu were the most abundant elements in both tissues, while U was detected only at ultra-trace levels. As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, U, and Zn showed significantly higher concentrations in livers compared to muscles (p ≤ 0.01), with Cd and Cu being 60- and 9-fold more concentrated in the hepatic tissue. Despite this, concentrations of all TMMs were found to be very low in all the samples to the point that the resulting estimated dietary intakes did not suggest any food safety concern. Indeed, intakes were all below the toxicological health-based guidance values or resulted in low margins of exposure. Nevertheless, in the calculation of the worst-case exposure scenario, the children’s estimated intake of Cd, Fe, and Zn through the sole consumption of pig liver contributed to more than 23, 38, and 39% of the tolerable weekly intakes of these elements, while the combined consumption of pig liver and pig muscle to more than 24, 46, and 76%. These findings alert about the probability of exceeding the toxicological guidance values of Cd, Fe, and Zn though the whole diet, suggesting long-term negative health effects for the younger population. Full article

As heavy metals are easy to accumulate and have strong biological toxicity, they pose a potential threat to human health by entering the human body through the cumulative effect of marine life. Land-based input is an important source of heavy metals in the ocean, which has a great influence on coastal water quality. In this study, the spatial distribution characteristics of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr, As) in the coastal waters of the desulfurization process outlet of a power plant in Zhanjiang Bay were investigated, and the enrichment behavior of heavy metals by organisms (oysters and barnacles) were also studied. The results showed that, before the seawater desulfurization system was closed, there were high concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Cr) in the surface seawater near the drainage outlet. The concentrations of these heavy metals in the surface seawater were higher than those in the bottom seawater within 100 m of the drainage outlet. After the seawater desulfurization system was closed, the average concentrations of Cu, Cr and As in seawater at each station decreased by 17.04%, 37.52% and 29.53%, respectively, while the average concentrations of Zn, Cd and Pb increased by 17.05%, 32.87% and 48.77%, respectively. Single factor pollution index (SFI) and bio-concentration factor (BCF) showed that there was a potential high accumulation risk of Zn in oysters and barnacles near the drainage outlet of desulfurization wastewater (0.5 < SFI < 1 and BCF > 1000). The SFI and BCF of each metal in oysters and barnacles decreased with the increase in distance from the drainage outlet. Generally, the coastal water quality of desulfurization process drainage area in Zhanjiang Bay were below the class Ⅱof the “Seawater quality standard” (GB 3097-1997) of China. However, the heavy metals content in seawater and organisms near the drainage outlet is slightly higher. This suggested that if the seawater desulfurization process runs for a long time, it will have a negative impact on the coastal water and organisms. Full article

More than one and a half centuries ago, adverse human health effects were reported after use of a cadmium-containing silver polishing agent. Long-term cadmium exposure gives rise to kidney or bone disease, reproductive toxicity and cancer in animals and humans. At present, high human exposures to cadmium occur in small-scale mining, underlining the need for preventive measures. This is particularly urgent in view of the growing demand for minerals and metals in global climate change mitigation. This review deals with a specific part of cadmium toxicology that is important for understanding when toxic effects appear and, thus, is crucial for risk assessment. The discovery of the low-molecular-weight protein metallothionein (MT) in 1957 was an important milestone because, when this protein binds cadmium, it modifies cellular cadmium toxicity. The present authors contributed evidence in the 1970s concerning cadmium binding to MT and synthesis of the protein in tissues. We showed that binding of cadmium to metallothionein in tissues prevented some toxic effects, but that metallothionein can increase the transport of cadmium to the kidneys. Special studies showed the importance of the Cd/Zn ratio in MT for expression of toxicity in the kidneys. We also developed models of cadmium toxicokinetics based on our MT-related findings. This model combined with estimates of tissue levels giving rise to toxicity, made it possible to calculate expected risks in relation to exposure. Other scientists developed these models further and international organizations have successfully used these amended models in recent publications. Our contributions in recent decades included studies in humans of MT-related biomarkers showing the importance of MT gene expression in lymphocytes and MT autoantibodies for risks of Cd-related adverse effects in cadmium-exposed population groups. In a study of the impact of zinc status on the risk of kidney dysfunction in a cadmium-exposed group, the risks were low when zinc status was good and high when zinc status was poor. The present review summarizes this evidence in a risk assessment context and calls for its application in order to improve preventive measures against adverse effects of cadmium exposures in humans and animals. Full article