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• Lead increased levels of osmoprotectants and phenol compounds in the metallicolous Matthiola flavida. • Reduced root-to-shoot translocation and enhanced Pb accumulation in the root, under drought stress, is responsible for reduced toxic effects of Pb in the shoot of the metallicolous species. • Lead stimulates drought resistance in the metallicolous species by the accumulation of reducing sugars, phenolic compounds and antioxidant enzymes. Plants growing on quarry tailings at the Irankouh Pb/Zn mine encounter both drought stress and high levels of Pb. To better understand the role of drought and Pb in plant adaptation to Pb/Zn quarry tailings, we compared effects of drought stress (simulated by polyethylene glycol - PEG) and Pb, individually and in concert, to determine how these stressors affected two plant species: the metallicolous species Matthiola flavida (M) and the non-metallicolous congener, M. incana (NM). Plants were exposed to Pb (Pb(NO 3) 2) and three levels of PEG-6000 (0, -0.25, and -0.75 MPa) in a complete factorial design. Pb had non-significant effects on growth and oxidative stress but enhanced levels of osmoprotectants and phenol compounds in the M species M. flavida , whereas in M. incana the effect of Pb was non-significant on the same variables (except for anthocyanins and the osmoprotectants, proline and glycine betaine). Compared to M. incana , the M species M. flavida was tolerant of Pb, showing strongly reduced root-to-shoot translocation and enhanced Pb accumulation in the root (especially when under drought stress), which reduced toxic effects of Pb in the shoot. Tolerance of Pb by the M species M. flavida was aided by the accumulation of reducing sugars and phenolic compounds, as well as by greater catalase activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk is a highly nutritious food to the human diet. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the quality of it for people consumption. In this study, we determine the essential nutrients (protein and fat) and heavy metal concentrations (Pb and Cd) of raw cow's milk from 15 milk collection centres in East Azerbaijan province, Iran. Sampling was carried out during a one-year period according to the standard method. Heavy metals and nutritional parameters were analysed using MilkoScan FT 6000 and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) instrument, respectively. Our results showed that the mean concentration of lead (Pb) (0.010 ± 0.001 mg/kg) and cadmium (Cd) (0.007 ± 0.001 mg/kg) in milk samples were within the recommended codex standard. While, in 65% and 54.4% of this data, the protein and fat contents of selected samples were less than the recommended Iranian standard, respectively. On the other hand, the obtained data did not show the significant difference between these tested factors and time changes during the assessment. The results of this research can be used by organisations related to the quality assessment of milk such as the Food and Drug Administration and the Ministry of Agriculture of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to lead can cause adverse health problems incorporating hypophosphatemia, heart and liver disease, cancers, neurological and cardiovascular diseases, central nervous disorders, and sensory disorders. This study investigated the blood lead level in the general Iranian population with environmental exposure to lead. In the presented systematic review and meta-analysis, the authors searched Iranian dataset, including Magiran, SID, Iranmedex, and Nopa, and the main dataset, comprising PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science, all available articles until 12 January 2019, and extracting 55 studies (with 63 data for analysis) to a meta-analysis. A comprehensive meta-analysis software, pooled standard deviation, mean, sample size, and the utterly random effects model was analyzed in this study. The results showed that the overall mean BLL (95% CI) in total inquiries was 6.41 μg/dL (5.96 to 6.87). Besides, the results for gender and age subgroups were as follows: mean BLL, 6.47 μg/dL, 95% CI, 5.79, to 7.15, mean BLL, 6.44 μg/dL, 95% CI, 5.96, to 6.91, respectively. Conclusively the mean BLL in the Iranian population was higher than the recommended level by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Results indicated that the mean BLL in men and adults was more elevated than in women and children, respectively. Therefore, BLL monitoring and screening of the general Iranian population are is necessary to determine a reference value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal areas of Iran are heavily affected by urbanisation, industrialisation, and maritime activities. One consequence of this environmental pressure is the contaminants accumulation, as heavy metals, into the marine ecosystem. In this review, the coastal areas in the north and south of the country were assessed for lead (Pb) contamination of, one of the most toxic metals found in the environment. All studies conducted during 2006-2016 with at least 10 specimens that reported the mean and standard deviation of Pb were considered in this review. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using the Q and I2 statistics. The Pb mean concentration overall studies was estimated to be 21.88 µg/g (95% CIs: 16.25-27.50). Random effect model showed no statistical difference in mean Pb concentration levels between south and north coasts. However, the variability in Pb mean concentrations within southern coasts was considerable and statistically significant. Moreover, the Pb concentrations in the northern coasts of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, in south of Iran, decreased in the following order Hormozgan > Khuzestan > Sistan-VA-Balluchestan > Bushehr while in the southern coasts of Caspian Sea, in north of Iran, decreased in the order Guilan > Mazandaran > Golestan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The topic of food safety has become a major public health issue worldwide. Over recent decades, the growing concern for food safety has brought about greater research regarding the risks associated with the consumption of produce that has been contaminated by pesticides, heavy metals and/or toxins. Objective: The study was conducted to determine the concentration of Pb in the muscle of buffalos slaughtered in the northwest regions of Iran (Ardabil, Urmia and Tabriz cities). Methods: The present was a descriptive cross-sectional study in the northwest regions of Iran during 2013 to 2014. A total of 30 muscle samples from individual buffalos were analyzed for Pb concentrations using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (ASS). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 17.0. All results were computed as mean standard deviation and subjected to one-way analysis of variance to establish whether the differences in Pb concentrations in meat samples from different cities were significant or not. The Statistical significance was determined at p<0.05. Results: The results showed that the mean concentration of Pb in muscle samples were measured 0.043±0.035 ppm. The highest Pb concentration (0.11 ppm) was detected in the buffalo muscle samples from Urmia city. In total, 25 muscle samples (80.33%) were contaminated with Pb and concentration of Pb in 3.33% of contaminated samples exceeded the permissible limits advised by the European Commission (EC) (0.1 ppm). Conclusion: We recommend identifying Pb sources in order to eliminate or control Pb contamination of food, and monitor environmental exposures and hazards to prevent lead poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to measure the Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Co, Ni, and Fe concentrations in organs of Cyprinus carpio and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, in Zabol Chahnimeh reservoirs, Iran. The highest Pb, Cu, Co, Ni, and Fe concentrations in both fish species were observed in the gill of C. carpio at 0.70, 3.7, 0.7, 0.8 and 31.2 µg/g, respectively; while the highest concentrations of Cd, Zn, and Cr were found in the gill of H. molitrix at 0.13, 22.5, and 0.5 µg/g, respectively. The maximum allowable fish consumption rate for an adult person (71.5 kg body weight) were 10.64, 0.677, 0.558, 1.17, and 0.92 kg/day based on Cd, Cu, Cr, Zn, and Fe levels respectively. Results showed that the Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb (except of Pb in H. molitrix) concentrations in the muscle of both fish species are below levels of concern for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals are persistent pollutants in aquatic ecosystems. They are not biodegradable and due to this property they can enter food chains or accumulate in aquatic invertebrates. Marin bivalves, such as oysters are usually used for biomonitoring and evaluating of the ecosystems health. This study was carried out to measure Cu, Pb and Ni concentrations in soft and hard tissues of rock oyster distributed in intertidal zone of Iranian coasts along the Oman Sea. Oysters were collected from five different stations and digested using concentrated nitric acid and metal concentrations were measured using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Results showed that Cu, Pb and Ni concentrations in the soft tissues ranged from 84.96 to 371.16 μg/g, 3.83 to 5.26 μg/g and 6.05 to 7.19 μg/g respectively. Similarly metal concentrations in the shells ranged from 14.16 to 16.67 μg/g, 11.30 to 14.92 μg/g, and 5.47 to 7.97 μg/g. concentrations of Cu in soft tissue was found to be much more higher than shells, while Pb concentrations in shells was higher than the soft tissues, suggesting that metals accumulations in different tissues is dependent to their essentiality to the oyster. Generally, metals concentration in the soft tissues of studied oyster was found to be higher than available standards. From the results, regular and more detailed monitoring studies in the study area are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate L-asparaginase activity in relation to some soil physical and chemical properties and to assess the effects of Cr, Cd, and Pb on the enzyme activity. L-asparaginase activity was significantly correlated with organic carbon (r = 0.867, P < 0.001), total nitrogen (r = 0.784, P < 0.001) and biological index of nitrogen availability (r = 0.816, P < 0.001), whereas it was not correlated with sand, silt, and clay contents. L-asparaginase activity was negatively correlated with electrical conductivity of saturation paste extracts (r = -0.59, P < 0.01) and sodium adsorption ratio (r = -0.58, P < 0.01). Multiple stepwise regression revealed that 80.4% of L-asparaginase activity variation was due to organic carbon and sodium adsorption ratio. Cd and Pb inhibited soil L-asparaginase to a similar extent (by 23%), and did so to a greater extent than did Cr (13.5%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is argued that breakdown of β-amyloid in the brain causes deposition of senescent plaques and therefore Alzheimer's disease (AD). One of the influential factors for increasing level of this protein is exposure to lead. Our aim was to compare blood lead levels (BLLs) between patients with AD and healthy controls., Methods: This case-control study was performed on all patients with cognitive impairment who were referred to the Neurological Clinic of Birjand in 2016 to 2017. Patients were referred to the laboratory for measurement of their serum levels of lead. The controls and patients were matched by age and sex., Results: In the AD case group, the average BLL was 22.22 ± 28.57 μg/dL. Mann-Whitney U test showed that BLLs were significantly higher in the patients than in the controls. The unadjusted odds ratio for BLL among the patients was 1.05 (95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.09; P = .01) compared to the controls., Conclusion: In the present study, BLL was associated with AD.

The present study aimed to measure the concentrations of Sn, Pb, Zn, Hg, Cu, Ni and Cd in the muscle and liver of 40 Common Moorhens (Gallinula chloropus) hunted from four stations in Anzali Wetland (Pirbazar, Ghalam-Koudeh, Selkeh and Abkenar). The histopathologic alteration index (HAI) of liver and kidney was also assessed in these birds. The highest concentrations of selected metals were measured in the liver of birds collected from Ghalam-Koudeh (Pb: 4.59±0.21, Sn: 6.663±0.282, Zn: 29.867±2.011, Cu: 24.07±1.84, Hg: 7.5±0.257, Ni: 6.85±0.52, Cd: 1.879±0.4mg kg(-1) dw). The lowest concentrations of metals were measured in the muscle of birds caught from Abkenar (Pb: 0.799±0.207, Sn: 1.873±0.066, Zn: 18.533±1.582, Hg: 0.86±0.08, Ni: 0.53±0.117, Cu: 6.63±1.114, Cd: 0.08±0.002mg kg(-1) dw). Also the highest and lowest concentrations of metals were recorded in sediment of Ghalam-Koudeh and Abkenar stations, respectively. These stations were located next to multi-industry Anzali Port. However, the concentration of Sn and Zn in sediment and tissues of Common Moorhens collected from different stations was lower than the permissible limit suggested by WHO and Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). But, Pb, Hg and Ni concentration in sediment and birds caught from all stations was higher than the permissible limit defined by WHO and CCME. Cu and Cd concentration in tissue samples and sediment of Ghalam-Koudeh and Pirbazar was also higher than the permissible limit defined by WHO and CCME. Hemorrhage, melanomacrophage aggregations, sinusoidal congestion and hepatocyte vacuolation were the most pathological changes found in the liver. Reduction of the Bowman space, melanomacrophage aggregations and hemorrhage also were observed in the kidney. The HAI means of G. chloropus collected from Ghalam-Koudeh and Pirbazar were significantly higher than other sites. Based on the HAI values and metal bioaccumulation in the tissues of G. chloropus, Ghalam-Koudeh and Pirbazar could be considered as having the worst environmental quality., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)